As such, any divers who wish to dive the wreck must do so in conjunction with a PADI Deep Adventure Dive (which will contribute to their Advanced Open Water certification). Log a dive or post a picture at The Rainbow Warrior Wreck. The boat was sunk off Matauri Bay, quite close to the Cavalli Islands. Log a dive or post a picture at The Rainbow Warrior Wreck. After sufficient information had been gathered, Camas and Kister attached two limpet mines to the Rainbow Warrior berthed at Marsden Wharf. Since early 1985, the ship was based in the southern Pacific Ocean, where its crew campaigned against nuclear testing. A collection of audio about Rainbow Warrior. Then the Rainbow Warrior was sunk, by two limpet mines, and a deep silence fell over the nation as the freshly painted vessel rested on the floor of Auckland harbour. In 1985 eight South Pacific countries, including New Zealand and Australia, signed a treaty declaring the region a nuclear-free zone. With Jon Voight, Sam Neill, Bruno Lawrence, Kerry Fox. Dive the world famous Rainbow Warrior Wreck! After a series of high-profile campaigns in the North Atlantic, in… Rainbow Warrior Wreck. In 2005, a supergroup of New Zealand musicians and artists recorded a cover of "Anchor Me", by the New Zealand rock band The Mutton Birds, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the bombing. The bombing of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior by the French foreign intelligence services in Auckland's port on the 10 July 1985 changed our view of France, and of New Zealand's place in the world of international espionage. [7], Since being acquired by Greenpeace in 1977, Rainbow Warrior was active in supporting a number of anti-whaling, anti-seal hunting, anti-nuclear testing and anti-nuclear waste dumping campaigns during the late 1970s and early 1980s. [14], Several agents, including Jean-Luc Kister, one of the bombers, had posed as tourists. At that time, French nuclear tests in the Pacific were halted. They were acting on orders."[17]. This is the story of that salvage and how the many problems encountered were overcome. The Rainbow Warrior was named after a North American Cree Indian prophecy: “When the world is sick and dying, the people will rise up like Warriors of the Rainbow…” On its bow she proudly carried a dove of peace carrying an olive branch – never leaving any doubt about her non-violent mission. Rainbow Warrior May 2019 Monthly Madness Prize – PADI Enriched Air Course. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Can you tell us more about the information on this page? Note: The Rainbow Warrior lies in water deeper than 18m/60ft. Contact: ph. [43] The New Zealand government announced there would be no extradition request since the case was closed. Some of New Zealand’s famous sunken shipwrecks have become attractions for divers. Dive The Rainbow Warrior & HMNZS Canterbury Paihia Dive is the Bay of Islands best little dive shop in Northland, offer dive trips to the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior, the Canterbury wreck and scenic reef dive sites in the Bay of Islands along with dive training all under the one roof. As such, any Open Water divers who wish to dive the wreck must do so in conjunction with a PADI Deep Adventure Dive (which will contribute to their Advanced Open Water certification). [33] He acknowledged the existence of three teams: the yacht crew, reconnaissance and logistics (those successfully prosecuted), plus a two-man team that carried out the bombing. The Rainbow Warrior was a former UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food trawler, later purchased by the environmental organisation Greenpeace. Bombed in Auckland Harbour by French Secret Service agents on July 10th 1985, the wreck was relocated off the Cavalli Islands two years later. The Rainbow Warrior had taken part in protests against French nuclear testing in the Pacific.French Secret Service (DGSE) agents were sent to prevent it leaving for another protest campaign at Mururoa Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago. This site is produced by the History Group of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. I’ve dived the Waikato previously but I have been longing to check out the Rainbow Warrior, and here was my opportunity. After she was identified as a participant in the operation, Auckland police requested that the Israeli authorities detain her. In the wake of the bombing, a flotilla of private New Zealand yachts sailed to Moruroa to protest against a French nuclear test. The ship was named by Greenpeace co-founder Susi Newborn after the book Warriors of the Rainbow which she had been given by another Greenpeace co-founder, Robert Hunter. Dive The Rainbow Warrior & HMNZS Canterbury Paihia Dive is the Bay of Islands best little dive shop in Northland, offer dive trips to the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior, the Canterbury wreck and scenic reef dive sites in the Bay of Islands along with dive training all under the one roof. On 14 October 2011, Greenpeace launched a new sailing vessel called Rainbow Warrior III, which is equipped with an auxiliary electric motor. [citation needed], Prieur and Mafart pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 22 November 1985. See also an image of the Rainbow Warrior just prior to sinking. [opinion] The French embassy in Wellington denied involvement, stating that "the French Government does not deal with its opponents in such ways". Pictures, dive logs, reviews and articles. In Auckland harbor in New Zealand, Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior sinks after French agents in diving gear plant a bomb on the hull of the vessel. [citation needed], Once it was realised that the bombing was the action of the government of a friendly state, the New Zealand government stopped referring to it as a "terrorist act", instead calling it "a criminal attack in breach of the international law of state responsibility, committed on New Zealand sovereign territory". Session Length. [citation needed] However, the crew did not react to the first explosion as the agents had expected. The Warrior is an one of the world's premier wreck dives, and truly is the 'Jewel of the North'. The story of the Rainbow Warrior wreck will forever stand out from all others. The "breach of international law" aspect was referred to in all communications with the United Nations in order to dissuade any arguments from the French government that might imply justification for their act. Christine Cabon, whose role had ended before the bombing, had left for Israel immediately prior to the sinking. The Rainbow Warrior sank four minutes later. [29][30] He said it was "to turn the page in the relationship and to say, if we had known each other better, this thing never would have happened". The book's rhetoric included this passage: "The world is sick and dying, the people will rise up like Warriors of the Rainbow". Tell me more... Pre-1840 contact, Holidays and events, The arts and entertainment, Disasters, Transport, Health and welfare, Decade studies, Sport, Crime and punishment, Immigration, Lifestyle, Places, The great outdoors, Memorials, Political milestones, Protest and reform, Treaty of Waitangi, Maori leadership, Heads of State, Parliament and the people, The work of government, New Zealand in the world, New Zealand's internal wars, South African War, First World War, Second World War, Post Second World War, Other conflicts, Memorials, mascots and memorabilia, Contexts and activities, Skills, Historical concepts, Education at Pukeahu, Useful links, Interactives, Videos, Sounds, Photos, Site Information, Quizzes, Calendar, Biographies, Check out the links below to like us, follow us, and get the latest from NZHistory, All text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 New Zealand Licence. From the beach, you’ll have plenty of fun launching our 7.5m inflatable boat, bringing you to the Rainbow Warrior wreck after a short but sweet 8-minute ride. Wreck of the Rainbow Warrior. Pre-1840 contact, Holidays and events, The arts and entertainment, Disasters, Transport, Health and welfare, Decade studies, Sport, Crime and punishment, Immigration, Lifestyle, Places, … After the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior was ceremoniously sunk in a New Zealand bay in December 1987, Greenpeace invested part of the compensation package in a new flagship; the second Rainbow Warrior. Images and media This costs an additional $50. Navy divers who retrieved his body at 4am discovered that the blast came from outside the hull of the ship and a murder enquiry was launched by New Zealand police. This article summarises Gavin Apperley's official report on the role the Navy had in salvaging the Greenpeace Ship Rainbow Warrior and in preserving evidence for the police investigation. [37], In 2005, in an interview with New Zealand state broadcaster TVNZ, Louis-Pierre Dillais acknowledged his involvement with the bombing. The wreck of the Rainbow Warrior was refloated on 21 August 1985 and moved to a naval harbour for forensic examination. Kister considered the mission "a big, big failure".[15][45][46]. The Rainbow Warrior lies in water deeper than 18m/60ft. Rainbow Warrior Wreck. The agents may have intended the first mine to cripple the ship so that it would be evacuated safely by the time the second mine was detonated. Please allow a full day for this experience The song "Little Fighter", by the Danish/American band White Lion, is about the sinking, which is also referenced in the song Walkampf by German punk band Die Toten Hosen. [38] [35], A 20th anniversary memorial edition of the 1986 book Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior by New Zealand author David Robie – who was aboard the bombed ship – was published in July 2005. I remember being in the Greenpeace office the day after the bombing, trying to work out what to do, and no one knew what was appropriate. [27], In June 1986, in a political deal with Prime Minister of New Zealand David Lange, presided over by United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, France agreed to pay NZ$13 million (US$6.5 million) to New Zealand and apologise, in return for which Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur would be detained at the French military base on Hao Atoll for three years. Pictures, dive logs, reviews and articles. photos Rainbow Warrior wreck - darkometer rating : 3 - The story sounded too James-Bondsy to be believable at the time but it really happened: in 1985, the French were preparing for nuclear testing at their Pacific Moruroa test site, and the environmentalist organization Greenpeace was preparing for a protest mission. On 7 August 2006, judges Hammond, O'Regan and Arnold dismissed the former French agents' appeal and TVNZ broadcast their guilty pleas the same day. The Friendship Fund has provided contributions to a number of charity and public purposes. Once at Matauri Bay we set up scuba gear making sure everything is working, put drysuits or wet suits on, and do the safety briefing. All non-text content is subject to specific conditions. Fernando Pereira’s family and New Zealand were also compensated. [23][24] It also paid compensation to the Pereira family, reimbursing his life insurance company for 30,000 guilders and making reparation payments of 650,000 francs to Pereira's wife, 1.5 million francs to his two children, and 75,000 francs to each of his parents. Bajo el lema ‘En marcha por el clima’ el buque insignia de Greenpeace, Rainbow Warrior, visitará en julio nuestro país.Dentro de una gran campaña europea (8 países, 14 puertos), el velero ecologista recalará en Barcelona, Málaga y Vigo para demandar medidas urgentes contra la crisis climática y lanzar a políticos, empresas y ciudadanía el mensaje ‘Cambia la energía, no el clima’. May 1, 2019 October 3, 2018 albanystaff Leave a comment Courses, Special Offers. Note: The Rainbow Warrior lies in water deeper than 18m/60ft. This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Please allow a full day for this experience Because they were carrying Swiss passports, their true identities were discovered, along with the French government's responsibility. Note: The Rainbow Warrior lies in water deeper than 18m/60ft. Duration: 8 Hours (approx.) Download it and make more creative edits for your free educational & non-commercial project. Perhaps you have a related experience you would like to share? Directed by Michael Tuchner. The Rainbow Warrior was a former UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food trawler, later purchased by the environmental organisation Greenpeace. The removal of the agents from Hao without subsequent return was ruled to be in violation of the 1986 agreement. After the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior was ceremoniously sunk in a New Zealand bay in December 1987, Greenpeace invested part of the compensation package in a new flagship; the second Rainbow Warrior. Operation Satanic was a public relations disaster. Rainbow Warrior Wreck and Reef Trip. The Rainbow Warrior is one of the world's premier wreck dives, and truly is the 'Jewel of the North' giving life to the phrase, "When man has destroyed the world through his greed, the Warriors of the Rainbow will arise to save it again". The Rainbow Warrior was Greenpeace’s flagship.On its way to protest France’s nuclear testing on the Mururoa Atoll when it was sunk by French saboteurs on July 10, 1985, in Auckland Harbour. From 2 Dive Day Trip - Rainbow Warrior Wreck & Reef Dive . [31] During a visit in 2016, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls reiterated that the incident had been "a serious error". The third Leander class frigate to be sunk in New Zealand waters in 2007, this wreck is recent, upright, and a great training ground. For the 1985 tests, Greenpeace intended to monitor the impact of nuclear tests and place protesters on the island to monitor the blasts. Divers will find themselves surrounded by schools of golden snapper, kingfish and john dory. Note: The Rainbow Warrior lies in water deeper than 18m/60ft. Come and explore the historical and controversial Greenpeace flagship, The Rainbow Warrior. DGSE agent Christine Cabon, who had previously worked on intelligence missions in the Middle East, posed as environmentalist "Frederique Bonlieu" in order to infiltrate the Greenpeace office in Auckland. The blast hole in the keel is still clearly visible on the starboard side and it is possible to fully penetrate the wreck. El Rainbow Warrior (Guerrero del arcoíris) era el buque insignia de la organización no gubernamental internacional Greenpeace.Fue construido en Aberdeen en 1955 e inicialmente utilizado por el ministerio de agricultura británico como barco de investigación. Rainbow Warrior after the bombing. You must be a certified diver to dive the wreck. [40], In 2006, Antoine Royal revealed that his brother, Gérard Royal, had claimed to be involved in planting the bomb. Wreck Diving with Dive Now Whangarei. The boat was sunk off Matauri Bay, quite close to the Cavalli Islands. The Waikato The first Leander class frigate built for the Navy, and the first to be purpose sunk, the Waikato has purpose cut holes, and is designed to be dived. On 12 December 1987, two years after it was blown up in Auckland Harbour, the Rainbow Warrior was scuttled to become a dive site. These include the wrecks of the Wairarapa, Elingamite and Mikhail Lermontov. As such, any Open Water divers who wish to dive the wreck must do so in conjunction with a PADI Deep Adventure Dive (which will contribute to their Advanced Open Water certification). Their sister is French Socialist Party politician Ségolène Royal who was contesting the French presidential election. [38][39] At that time, Greenpeace was still pursuing the extradition of Dillais for his involvement in the act. Más adelante se convirtió en barco de pesca en el mar del Norte hasta su adquisición por Greenpeace en 1978. Please contact Paihia Dive to check availablity, we do not accept open tickets as these trips fill up during peak season. [11] The first bomb went off at 23:38, blasting a hole about the size of an average car. Greenpeace had grown in strength in the aftermath of the attack. The Rainbow Warrior and Mikhail Lermontov; Underwater history; External links and sources; Previous Map of diving wrecks Next. The Rainbow Warrior was eventually put to rest on the seabed in 1987 at the Cavalli Islands off the Northland coast. Session Length. This costs an additional $50. Soon after the publication, former Admiral Lacoste came forward and gave newspaper interviews about the situation, admitting that the death weighed on his conscience and saying that the aim of the operation had not been to kill. During previous nuclear tests at Mururoa, protest ships had been boarded by French commandos after sailing into the shipping exclusion zone around the atoll. Both were questioned and investigated. Prieur and Mafart were identified with the help of a Neighbourhood Watch group, and arrested. We meet our charter at Matauri Bay where we launch the 7.5m inflatable boat from the beach. PikPng encourages users to upload free artworks without copyright. However, the two agents had both returned to France by May 1988, after less than two years on the atoll. :-) Hope to see you back again one day for another dive. Commercial re-use may be allowed on request. We then make our way to one of the inviting beaches on the Cavalli Islands after the wreck dive to enjoy lunch or go snorkelling, and to allow any reef/DSD divers joining us to have their first dive. While the ship was initially evacuated, some of the crew returned to the ship to investigate and film the damage. Bombed by French secret service agents while moored safely in Auckland Harbour, it sank quickly while photographer Fernando Pereira died from the second bomb explosion. She was deemed irreparable and scuttled in Matauri Bay, near the Cavalli Islands on 12 December 1987, to serve as a dive wreck and fish sanctuary. Rainbow Warrior was a Greenpeace boat active in supporting a number of anti-whaling, anti-seal hunting, anti-nuclear testing and anti-nuclear waste dumping campaigns during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Cheers, Craig, Paihia Dive. I think he wanted to be understood." Hi Joshua, We love what we do and I'm glad you can tell! When The Times and Le Monde contradicted these findings by claiming that President Mitterrand had approved the bombing, Defence Minister Charles Hernu resigned and the head of the DGSE, Admiral Pierre Lacoste, was fired. French agents posing as interested supporters or tourists toured the ship while it was open to public viewing. A diving trip with Dive HQ Hibiscus Coast in January 2010 to dive the Rainbow Warrior at the Cavalli Islands out of Matauri Bay, New Zealand. The bottom line is that the Rainbow Warrior is not a bad little wreck in the world of wrecks for now. The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, codenamed Opération Satanique,[1] was a bombing operation by the "action" branch of the French foreign intelligence services, the Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure (DGSE), carried out on 10 July 1985. The Rainbow Warrior is one of the world's premier wreck dives, and truly is the 'Jewel of the North' giving life to the phrase, "When man has destroyed the world through his greed, the Warriors of the Rainbow will arise to save it again". In 2007, the New Zealand Green Party criticized the government over its purchase of arms from Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal, whose U.S. subsidiary was led by Dillais. Her masts had been removed and put on display at the Dargaville Maritime Museum. It is in fact still beautiful but in the end also destined to become a heap of rust. This data is indicative and based on historical data and observations. [2], Following the breach of the arrangement, in 1990 the secretary-general awarded New Zealand another NZ$3.5 million (US$2 million), to establish the New Zealand / France Friendship Fund. The Rainbow Warrior was refloated for forensic examination. On 12 December, 1987, two years after it was blown up in Auckland Harbour, the Rainbow Warrior was scuttled to become a dive site. The Warrior is an one of the world’s premier wreck dives, and truly is the ‘Jewel of the North’. As such, any divers who wish to dive the wreck must do so in conjunction with a PADI Deep Adventure Dive (which will contribute to their Advanced Open Water certification). The Rainbow Warrior was refloated for forensic examination. Photo: Gil Hanly. Air temperature The Rainbow Warrior is strictly a NON PENETRATION wreck dive. THE SALVAGE OF THE RAINBOW WARRIOR by the Royal New Zealand Navy Greenpeace had been very active in the peace flotilla at Mururoa in 1973. When the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior was sunk in the Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985, it promptly became a crime scene. The ship then took on a new life. The Rainbow Warrior Wreck Dive Site near Waipapa, Kerikeri, Russell, Paihia, Kaikohe, Whangaruru & Kaitaia New Zealand. [citation needed], The other agents of the French team all escaped from New Zealand. [9][10] While working for the Auckland office, Cabon secretly monitored communications from the Rainbow Warrior, collected maps, and investigated underwater equipment. Two more agents, Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart, posing as the newlywed couple "Sophie and Alain Turenge", picked up the mines and delivered them to the bombing team, consisting of the divers Jean Camas ("Jacques Camurier") and Jean-Luc Kister ("Alain Tonel"). Bombed by French government saboteurs in Auckland harbour in July 1985, the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior was later re-floated and scuttled off Matauri Bay. France initially denied responsibility, but two French agents were captured by New Zealand Police and charged with arson, conspiracy to commit arson, willful damage, and murder. [22], In 1987, after international pressure, France paid $8.16m to Greenpeace in damages, which helped finance another ship. [16] Such an action would have crippled the New Zealand economy, which was dependent on agricultural exports to the United Kingdom. Book Now. One crew member, Fernando Pereira, had been killed. [25], The failure of Western leaders to condemn a violation of a friendly nation's sovereignty caused a great deal of change in New Zealand's foreign and defence policy. The song peaked at #3 in the New Zealand singles chart. Home They identified two of the French agents, Captain Dominique Prieur and Commander Alain Mafart, as possible suspects. 094248513 email. A crew member died when French secret agents mined the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior in Waitematā Harbour, Auckland.. Bay of Islands Day Trip Snorkelling or Passenger. Rainbow Warrior Wreck and Reef Dive Trip; Overview. Sitting on the sand at 26m, the shallowest part is 14m. Kister, who retired from the DGSE in about 2000, admitted his lead role and feelings of responsibility for the lethal attack. [41][42] Other sources identified Royal as the pilot of the Zodiac inflatable boat that carried the bombers. Not all comments posted. A Portuguese-Dutch photographer, Fernando Pereira, returned below decks to fetch his camera equipment. On 11 July 1985, news spread of dramatic explosions on the Auckland waterfront. Today, The Rainbow Warrior truly embodies its name. The sinking, and subsequent investigation, was the subject of several films, including The Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy (1988) and The Rainbow Warrior (1993). She, too, was freed and later promoted. This film tells the true story of the sinking of the Greenpeace ship, the Rainbow Warrior (commanded by Jon Voight), in Auckland Harbor in 1984, and the subsequent investigation by the New Zealand Police (led by Sam Neill) which revealed French government responsibility. [21] Her masts had been removed and put on display at the Dargaville Maritime Museum. They took a ferry to the South Island, went skiing at Mt Hutt, and then left the country using false documents about 10 days later. The salvage task was a daunting one; Rainbow Warrior had sunk onto hr starboard side, burying the huge (2.4 x 1.5m) hole in the hull in the soft mud of the seabed. [citation needed], France launched their own commission of enquiry headed by Bernard Tricot [fr] which declared the French government innocent of any involvement in the terrorist act, claiming that the arrested agents, who had not yet pleaded guilty, had merely been spying on Greenpeace. At 23:45, the second bomb went off. Diving conditions and the best time to dive "Rainbow Warrior Wreck @Cavalli Islands". The Wreck Of The Rainbow Warrior, a song by Michael Reddy on Spotify. [15] Another agent, Louis-Pierre Dillais, possibly the commander of the operation, was also never captured. This artificial reef has matured into an ever growing host to marine life. Comments will be reviewed prior to posting. Wreck to reef-the transfiguration of the Rainbow Warrior On a clear day the sea mirrors the rose tint of dawn across the Cavalli Islands. They spent a little over two years confined to the French island of Hao before being freed by the French government. After relocating 300 Marshall Islanders from Rongelap Atoll, which had been polluted by radioactivity by past American nuclear tests, it travelled to New Zealand to lead a flotilla of yachts protesting against French nuclear testing at the Mururoa Atoll.[8]. The wreck drawing attached here is of a much more complete Rainbow Warrior of days past and nowadays most of the upper cabin area is now gone, along with the masts. Meet the NZHistory.net.nz team. [44], In September 2015, TVNZ's Sunday programme tracked down Jean-Luc Kister, one of the two bombers. [18], A Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior benefit concert at Mt. The footage had remained sealed since shortly after the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. [4][5][6], France began testing nuclear weapons in 1966 on Mururoa Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. New Zealand, Map, Country, Flag, Geography - Rainbow Warrior Wreck Site Clipart is a handpicked free hd PNG images. The two agents opposed release of the footage—despite having both written books on the incident—and unsuccessfully took the case to the New Zealand Court of Appeal and, subsequently, the Supreme Court of New Zealand. The advantage of transparent image is that it can be used efficiently. The scandal resulted in the resignation of the French Defence Minister Charles Hernu, while the two agents pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to ten years in prison. Wreck of the Rainbow Warrior On 12 December 1987, two years after it was blown up in Auckland Harbour, the Rainbow Warrior was scuttled to become a dive site. The 40 metre/131 foot ship is covered in colourful jewel anemones and macro critters.