Michael C. Barnette

Barnette was born in September 1971 in Fredericksburg, VA.{{cite journal |author=Hobbs, Gene |author-link=Gene Hobbs |title=DAN Member Profile: Michael Barnette |journal=Alert Diver |year=2014 |publisher=Divers Alert Network |url=http://www.alertdiver.com/DAN-Member-Profile-Michael-Barnette |access-date=May 20, 2014 }} In 1989, he graduated from Stafford Senior High School. Then, he attended the University of South Carolina, graduating in 1995 with a degree in Marine Biology. Barnette is married and currently resides in Saint Petersburg, FL.

Barnette works for the NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service as a marine biologist.{{cite journal |author=National Marine Fisheries Service |date=January 12, 2006 |title=Status report on the continental United States distinct population segment of the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) |pages=49 |url=http://beta.sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdf/Final_Status_Report_on_the_Goliath_Grouper.pdf |access-date=June 5, 2009}}{{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Authorized use of restricted tow times for shrimp trawlers in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and certain parts of Texas |journal=Southeast Fishery Bulletin |volume=FB05-064 |date=November 24, 2005 |url=http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/bulletins/pdfs/2005/FB05-064.pdf |access-date=June 5, 2009}} His current duties include protecting sea turtles by making sure fishing fleets worldwide are utilizing turtle excluder devices.{{cite journal |title=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 50 CFR Part 223; Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Sea Turtle Conservation Requirements |journal=Federal Register |volume=72 |issue=52 |date=March 19, 2007 |pages=12749 |url=http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/frdoc/07/07scalamend13noa.pdf |access-date=June 5, 2009}} Barnette was made a fellow of The Explorers Club in March 2009.

Barnette has been actively diving and researching shipwrecks since 1990, resulting in the identification of over 30 wreck sites. In 1996, Barnette founded the Association of Underwater Explorers (AUE), an organization dedicated to expanding understanding of submerged cultural resources.{{cite web |title=AUE: about us |publisher=Association of Underwater Explorers |url=http://uwex.us/about.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 }}{{cite news |author=Cocking, Susan |title=For shipwreck-hunting crew, a diving passion runs deep |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=August 8, 2002 |url=http://uwex.us/auemiamiherald.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 }}

In 2005 Barnette participated in the recovery of a B-25c Mitchell bomber from Lake Murray (South Carolina), working with divers from AUE, the Rubicon Foundation, and Woodville Karst Plain Project{{cite web |url=http://rubicon-foundation.org/Projects/b-25-recovery-and-preservation-project/ |title=Rubicon Foundation: B-25c Project |publisher=Rubicon Foundation, Inc |access-date=June 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128065604/http://rubicon-foundation.org/Projects/b-25-recovery-and-preservation-project/ |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |url-status=usurped }} under Explorers Club flag number 103.{{cite web|url=http://www.explorers.org/expeditions/field/field2005.php |publisher=Explorers Club |title=Into the Field: Approved Flag Expeditions |access-date=June 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011062150/http://www.explorers.org./expeditions/field/field2005.php |archive-date=October 11, 2008 }} This bomber had been ditched in the lake on April 4, 1943, and remained {{convert|45|m|ft|sp=us}} below the surface for 60 years. The recovery effort was headed by Dr. Robert Seigler and supervised by Gary Larkins of the Air Pirates.{{cite web |author=Vartorella, Bill |title=B-25 WWII plane retrieved from depths of Lake Murray |publisher=The Columbia Star |url=http://www.thecolumbiastar.net/news/2005/0916/Front_Page/001.html |access-date=June 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518020306/http://www.thecolumbiastar.net/news//2005/0916/Front_Page/001.html |archive-date=May 18, 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |author=Air Pirates |url=http://www.airpirates.com/gallery/Lake-Murray-B-25C-Recovery |title=Lake Murray B-25C Recovery |date=May 4, 2006 |access-date=June 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316125744/http://www.airpirates.com/gallery/Lake-Murray-B-25C-Recovery |archive-date=March 16, 2006}} The project was documented by the History Channel and televised on their show Mega Movers. The plane is now being preserved by the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama.

A year later, in 2006, Barnette was part of the History Channel's expedition to {{HMHS|Britannic}} led by explorers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler.{{cite web |author=Kohler, Carrie |title=The 2006 History Channel H.M.S Britannic Expedition |publisher=Silent Diving Systems LLC |url=http://www.silentdiving.com/britannic.htm |access-date=June 5, 2009 }} Titanic's Achilles Heel was the first documentary to be released from this expedition, on June 17, 2007.{{cite web |title=Titanic's Achilles Heel (2007) (TV) |website=The Internet Movie Database |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1264114/ |access-date=June 5, 2009 }} The documentary Titanic's Tragic Sister also featured details from this expedition, and first aired on October 14, 2007.{{cite web |title=Titanic's Tragic Sister (2007) (TV) |website=The Internet Movie Database |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1280552/ |access-date=June 5, 2009 }}

Barnette's recovery of Oculina varicosa from the Gulf of Mexico in 2006 allowed researchers to confirm its existence as a species of concern in abundance in the Gulf.{{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |year=2006 |title=Observations of the deep-water coral Oculina varicosa in the Gulf of Mexico. |journal=NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-535 |pages=12 |url=http://uwex.us/GOMoculina.pdf |access-date=June 4, 2009}} In 2009, Barnette returned to collect coral samples for testing that identified the species as genetically identical to Oculina varicosa found off the eastern coast of Florida.{{cite web |author=Armstrong, Brian |author-link=Brian Armstrong (diver) |title=Oculina Coral Collection |date=September 5, 2009 |url=http://www.darksidediving.com/Dark_Side_Diving/Diving_Trips/Entries/2009/9/5_Panama_City%2C_FL.html |access-date=May 12, 2011 }}{{cite web |author=staff |title=Gulf of Mexico Oculina varicosa Project |publisher=Rubicon Foundation |url=http://rubicon-foundation.org/Projects/oculina-varicosa-project/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326000836/http://rubicon-foundation.org/Projects/oculina-varicosa-project/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 26, 2012 |access-date=September 21, 2011}}

When the Eagle's Nest cave system needed new guidelines in 2007 Barnette and AUE took on the task of replacing the old line as well as removing unnecessary lines.{{cite web |author=Barny00 (Michael C. Barnette) |title=Eagle's Nest status |publisher=Cave Diver's Forum |url=http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6108 |access-date=June 5, 2009 }}

In January 2020 Barnette, along with fellow explorers, discovered what they believed to be a 95-year-old ship, the SS Cotopaxi, which had disappeared near the Bermuda Triangle in 1925.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kake.com/story/41633806/wreck-found-believed-to-be-95-year-old-ship-that-vanished-near-bermuda-triangle|title=Wreck found believed to be 95-year-old ship that vanished near Bermuda Triangle|website=www.kake.com|language=en|access-date=April 3, 2020}} The boat had departed from Charleston, South Carolina, carrying 32 passengers and never made it to its final destination, Havana, Cuba. Barnette sought help from historians and researchers to ensure that it was the SS Cotopaxi. In doing so, he learned that the ship had sent a distress signal two days into its voyage from a location that aligns with where the wreckage was found. The discovery was featured on a February episode of Shipwreck Secrets, a Science Channel series. In 2020, he identified the wreck of the Sandra, which was reported lost in the Bermuda Triangle in April 1950; the discovery was featured in the History Channel documentary "History's Greatest Mysteries: Expedition Bermuda Triangle." Barnette has been featured in multiple television documentaries on shipwrecks associated with the Bermuda Triangle that have aired on The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, History Channel, and The Learning Channel.{{cite web |title=Return To The Bermuda Triangle |publisher=The Learning Channel |date=October 24, 2010 }}{{cite web |author=Armstrong, Brian |title=the Bermuda Triangle. |url=http://www.darksidediving.com/Dark_Side_Diving/Diving_Trips/Entries/2010/7/9_Cape_Canaveral%2C_FL.html |access-date=May 12, 2011 }}

Barnette has been active in the identification of numerous shipwrecks that include:

• The steamer Arratoon Apcar{{cite news |author=Morgan, Curtis |title=Underwater trail highlights shipwrecks off Miami |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=July 10, 2005 |url=http://uwex.us/biscayneshipwrecktrail.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091650/http://uwex.us/biscayneshipwrecktrail.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 }}
• The yacht Esmeralda{{cite news |author=Cocking, Susan |title=Shipwrecked Esmeralda found off Key Biscayne |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=August 25, 2002 |url=http://uwex.us/esmeraldaarticle.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091655/http://uwex.us/esmeraldaarticle.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 |url-status=dead }}
• The tug Gwalia{{cite news|author=Tomalin, Terry |title=Mystery solved |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=June 18, 2004 |url=http://uwex.us/gwalia.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091859/http://uwex.us/gwalia.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 }}{{cite journal|author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Identity Crisis - Finding a Name for the Middlegrounds Wreck |journal=Advanced Diver Magazine |issue=17 |url=http://uwex.us/ADMgwalia.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091639/http://uwex.us/ADMgwalia.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 }}
• The tanker Joseph M Cudhay{{cite web |publisher=Electric Blue Fishing |title=AUE (Association of Underwater Explorers) IDENTIFY the MUNGER T BALL and the JOSEPH M CUDHAY in the Gulf of Mexico. |url=http://www.electricbluefishing.com/shipwrecks_of_florida.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202135116/http://electricbluefishing.com/shipwrecks_of_florida.htm |archive-date=February 2, 2009 |url-status=dead }}
• The steamer Leif Eriksson{{cite news |author=Hicks, Brian |title=Anchor Wreck: A century after the Leif Eriksson was lost to the sea, divers think they have solved a shipwreck mystery |newspaper=The Post and Courier |date=October 20, 2007 |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2007/oct/20/anchor_wreck19709/ |access-date=June 4, 2009 }}
• The tanker Munger T. Ball
• The luxury yacht Nohab (ex Lensahn (III)){{cite news |author=Tomalin, Terry |title=The mystery of the South Jack Wreck |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=September 5, 2008 |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/article797751.ece |access-date=June 4, 2009 }}
• The tanker Papoose{{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Scrambled History: A Tale of Four Misidentified Tankers |journal=Wreck Diving Magazine |year=2006 |url=http://uwex.us/NCtankers.pdf |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928054953/http://uwex.us/NCtankers.pdf |url-status=dead }}
• The steamer Peconic{{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=But For a Single Wave: The tragic loss and recent identification of the steamship Peconic. |journal=Wreck Diving Magazine |year=2005 |url=http://uwex.us/peconicarticle.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091706/http://uwex.us/peconicarticle.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 |url-status=dead }}
• The tug Point Chicot{{cite web |author=Barnette, Michael C |title=Trip report May 9–10, 2009: Point Chicot |url=http://uwex.us/051109.htm |publisher=Association of Underwater Explorers |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719125630/http://uwex.us/051109.htm |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
• The Queen of Nassau{{cite web |author=Barnette, Michael C |url=http://uwex.us/qonarticle.html |title=THE QUEEN OF NASSAU: HOW ONE OF CANADA'S FIRST WARSHIPS ENDED UP OFF THE FLORIDA KEYS |access-date=June 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091711/http://uwex.us/qonarticle.html |archive-date=May 18, 2009 }}{{cite journal |author=Casserley, T |title=A Ram Bow in the Keys: Latest findings from the Investigation of the Steamer Queen of Nassau. |journal=In: SF Norton (Ed). 2003. Diving for Science...2003. Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Scientific Diving Symposium |publisher=American Academy of Underwater Sciences |location=Greenville, North Carolina |year=2003 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4739 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415171951/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4739 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |access-date=June 4, 2009}}
• The tanker San Delfino
• The schooner barge Vitric
• The freighter Cotopaxi
• U.S. Coast Guard Albatross #1240{{cite news |author=Tomalin, Terry |title=Underwater discovery unravels mystery: A Coast Guard plane was lost in 1967 answering a distress call. |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=March 5, 2007 |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/05/Sports/Underwater_discovery_.shtml |access-date=June 4, 2009 }}{{cite journal |author=Sondra-Kay, Kneen |title=Albatross Discovered |journal=Coast Guard Magazine |year=2007 |issue=4 |url=http://uwex.us/USCGalbatross.pdf |access-date=June 4, 2009}}
• The tanker W.E. Hutton
• The steamer Valley City{{cite web |title=AUE identifies the VALLEY CITY (Formerly the USS VALLEY CITY) |date=September 9, 2009 |publisher=Association of Underwater Explorers |url=http://uwex.us/AUEsummer09.htm |access-date=September 14, 2009}}
• The paddle steamer Idaho
• The steamer Munisla
• The freighter Holstein
• The tanker Pan Massachusetts
• The sailboat Kringeline
• The freighter Sandra

• {{cite book |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Shipwrecks of the Sunshine State: Florida's Submerged History |publisher=Association of Underwater Explorers |year=2003 |url=http://uwex.us/floridawrecks.html |isbn=0-9743036-0-7 |access-date=June 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219003644/http://uwex.us/floridawrecks.html |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |ref=none }}
• {{cite book |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Florida's Shipwrecks |year=2008 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-5413-6 |ref=none }}
• {{cite book |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Encyclopedia of Florida Shipwrecks: Volume I, Atlantic Coast |publisher=Association of Underwater Explorers |year=2010 |url=http://uwex.us |isbn=978-0-9743036-1-1 |ref=none }}

• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=M/S Rhein |journal=Advanced Diver Magazine |issue=9 |year=2002 |url=http://uwex.us/msrhein.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |ref=none}}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Looking Deeper Into the Florida Keys |journal=Advanced Diver Magazine |issue=10 |year=2002 |url=http://uwex.us/lookingdeeper.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091926/http://uwex.us/lookingdeeper.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |ref=none }}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Looking for a Needle in a Sea of Haystacks |journal=Divers |issue=March – April |year=2003 |url=http://uwex.us/media.html |access-date=June 4, 2009 |ref=none}}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Don't Like the Weather in Hatteras -- Just Wait an Hour: Murphy's Law and the Battleship Virginia |journal=Divers Ocean Planet |issue=1 |year=2004 |url=http://uwex.us/DOPUSSVA.pdf |access-date=June 4, 2009 |ref=none}}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=German U-Boat Attacks Off Florida Coast |journal=Wreck Diving Magazine |issue=1 |year=2004 |url=http://uwex.us/csewreckdiving.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091722/http://uwex.us/csewreckdiving.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 |ref=none }}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Two for the Price of One: Diving the RBJ |journal=Florida Scuba News |date=March 2004 |url=http://uwex.us/FSNRBJarticle.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |ref=none}}
• {{cite journal|author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Identity Crisis - Finding a Name for the Middlegrounds Wreck |journal=Advanced Diver Magazine |issue=17 |url=http://uwex.us/ADMgwalia.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091639/http://uwex.us/ADMgwalia.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 |ref=none }}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=The Loss of the Holstein |journal=Advanced Diver Magazine |issue=18 |url=http://uwex.us/Holstein1.pdf |access-date=June 4, 2009 |ref=none}}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=But For a Single Wave: The tragic loss and recent identification of the steamship Peconic |journal=Wreck Diving Magazine |year=2005 |url=http://uwex.us/peconicarticle.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091706/http://uwex.us/peconicarticle.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |ref=none }}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |year=2006 |title=Observations of the deep-water coral Oculina varicosa in the Gulf of Mexico |journal=NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-535 |pages=12 |url=http://uwex.us/GOMoculina.pdf |access-date=June 4, 2009 |ref=none}}
• {{cite web |author=Barnette, Michael C. |year=2006 |title=Florida Shipwrecks: Fishing for History: Thousands of wrecks, thousands of fishing spots and countless fascinating tales |publisher=FloridaSportsman.com |url=http://www.floridasportsman.com/features/florida_shipwrecks_0606/ |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802003643/http://www.floridasportsman.com/features/florida_shipwrecks_0606/ |archive-date=August 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |ref=none }}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=Scrambled History: A Tale of Four Misidentified Tankers |journal=Wreck Diving Magazine |year=2006 |url=http://uwex.us/NCtankers.pdf |access-date=June 4, 2009 |ref=none |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928054953/http://uwex.us/NCtankers.pdf |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite journal |author=Barnette, Michael C. |title=U-2513: The First True Modern Submarine |journal=Advanced Diver Magazine |year=2009 |issue=29 |ref=none}}

• USS Narcissus (1863){{cite news |author=Tomalin, Terry |title=History is hiding beneath gulf sands |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=January 11, 2005 |url=http://uwex.us/narcissusarticle.htm |access-date=June 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518091854/http://uwex.us/narcissusarticle.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2009 |url-status=dead }}
• Oculina varicosa

{{Reflist}}

• [http://uwex.us/ Association of Underwater Explorers]
• [http://www.redbubble.com/people/mbarnette Barnette's photography]

{{Underwater diving|unddiv}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnette, Michael C.}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:American male non-fiction writers

Category:American underwater divers

Category:People from Fredericksburg, Virginia

Category:Fellows of the Explorers Club

Category:21st-century American explorers