University Park, Pa. - "Andrea Doria: Dive to Adventure and Danger" is the first in a three-part lecture series, "Lost at Sea," that highlights research on shipwrecks at Penn State. The "Andrea Doria" presentation will take place April 13 at 7 p.m. in Room 26 of Hosler Building on the Penn State campus.

David Bright, Penn State alumnus and president of Nautical Research Group, Inc. of New Jersey, will present a multifaceted view of the Andrea Doria from her initial planning and construction to salvage dives in the 260 feet of cold North Atlantic waters.

The Andrea Doria was an Italian steamship with 1705 passengers and crew on board that was struck in fog off the coast of Rhode Island by the Swedish-American liner Stockholm. The ship was traveling from Genoa, Italy to New York City in 1956. The 29,000-ton liner sank in 11 hours.

Bright is an experienced shipwreck historian and deep technical diver. He studied the Titanic for more than 30 years and in 2003 and 2005, as part of scientific research, dove 3 miles to the wreck site of the ship on the Atlantic floor. He has studied the degradation of the ship caused by increased microbial activity. He has also worked on the wreck of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor. He is considered the foremost historical authority on the Andrea Doria.

With the help of multimedia digital technology, attendees will virtually board the ship and receive a tour of the accommodations, meet the officers of both the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm, be rescued by a lifeboat and taken aboard the Ile de France. Capping the presentation will be a virtual dive to the ship to view her watery remains.

The conclusion of the series will take place in the Fall.



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