When Brandi Mueller was exploring off the coast of a Pacific island, she never expected to find this.
Under the Sea
Brandi Mueller was always fascinated by nature, travel, and photography.
Brandi’s pursuit of her passions lead not only to an impressive collection of uniquely beautiful underwater photographs, but also the discovery of something that lied much deeper than anyone knew…
A Diver in the Making
At the age of 15, Brandi became interested in scuba diving, and learned how to dive while in New Zealand during a student exchange. During her years in college, she explored the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and Tasmania in an effort to expand her knowledge of botany and ecology…
Traveling the World
She then backpacked around South America for six months. Eventually, Brandi became a diving instructor in various locations throughout the Pacific, such as Hawaii and the Caribbean.
The Marshall Islands
In 2015, Brandi discovered something incredible while on a diving expedition.
She was diving off the coast of the Marshall Islands, which are a series of coral atolls and volcanic islands, situated in the central Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and the Philippines.
Learning the Skills
Her Favorite Place
At the age of 31, Brandi still claims her favorite diving destination is the Marshall Islands. She was there on an expedition three years ago when she discovered something miraculous.
Exploring the Island
Brandi had been diving five miles off the coast of Roi-Namur, an island in the north part of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. She was there to capture the extraordinary wildlife that was native to the region.
Something Strange
She noticed that the ocean floor was littered with mysterious detritus.
The Discovery
Upon closer inspection, it was soon revealed that what she initially believed to be useless was actually the remains of precious artifacts.
Searching Deeper
Enormous pieces of oxidized steel snaked from enormous tubes and rusting metal bodies; plates of broken glass ominously beetled from the sand.
A Photographer’s Duty
Brandi knew that whatever this was, it had to be documented. She began to photograph the historical relics…
The Preservation of History
Brandi had unwittingly come across planes from the World War II era.
How Many Were There?
The Marshall Islands are located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II, which was a major theater of war between the Allies and the Empire of Japan.
But why were there so many planes scattered across the seabed?
Still Intact
Somehow, despite the passage of time, the planes remained intact. This was because rather than crashing into the ocean, they were dumped into deep waters after the war had ended. But Brandi didn’t realize just how many planes she had discovered…
An Unexpected Number
Brandi’s arbitrary diving expedition lead to the uncovering of over 150 planes from World War II.
Why the Dauntless?
Among these aircrafts were the F4U Corsair, TBF/TBM Avengers, Curtiss C-46 Commando, Helldivers, B-25 Mitchell, F4F Wildcats, and Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers.
Brandi grew curious as to why the Dauntless had been discarded along the seabed.
Bombers Deployed Throughout the Pacific Ocean
This dates all the way back to 1941 during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Americans suffered a devastating blow, but this tragedy made them even more determined to defeat the enemy.
As a defense measure, the U.S. deployed multiple bombers throughout the Pacific Ocean—including the Marshall Islands.
The Pacific Theater
Although the majority of World War II conflicts were recognized throughout the European theater, the Pacific theater was intense in its own right.
Reclaiming Land
On the Marshall Islands, over 50,000 members of the American armed forces attempted to reclaim precious territory from the Japanese…
Taking the Lead
American forces gained a steady advantage once they secured the island. This was a significant factor which ultimately helped lead the Allied powers to victory.
An Incredible Find
Without Brandi’s accidental discovery, these historical artifacts would have likely remained buried at the bottom of the ocean for the foreseeable future.
Brandi’s Return
She was so fascinated by her findings that she has since returned to the area over and over again…
What Next?
Who knows what else Brandi Mueller’s unique talents will lead her to find in the depths of the ocean?