ON THE OCCASION OF THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINKING OF THE BARON GAUTSCH
Memorial Dive to the Shipwreck
The Tourist Association of Rovinj in cooperation with the Diver Sport Center organized this year yet another memorial dive in honor of the 91st anniversary of the sinking of the Austro-Hungarian steamship Baron Gautsch. On July 13, 1914 the steamboat turned into a minefield six nautical miles southwest of Saint John Lighthouse at the open sea, and took 240 passengers to their eternal resting place at the bottom of the sea.
A press conference was held before the dive, which was organized with a purpose to lay laurels of red roses on the shipwreck in honor of the victims. The attendees paid their respects to the unfortunate passengers recorded in history as the first civilian victims of the First World War.
Besides Mr. Dario Činić, Director of the Tourist Association of Rovinj, who dove to the depth of 40m himself to lay a laurel on the shipwreck, Davor Mandić, Director of the Istrian County History Museum, and Silvio Brunelli, Vice President of the Town Council who was there on behalf of the Town, also paid their respects to the victims of this maritime tragedy.
Besides another ten divers who dove to the shipwreck, the world free diving champion, Majkl Marich, managed to do the same only without a mask and the necessary equipment.
