The Gertrude Wreck
A 3D model of an inland shipwreck.
The Gertrude was my first wreck dive and is a well known site for recreational divers in Waterton Lakes National Park. The wreck lies in very shallow water, which makes it accessible but also means it is deteriorating quickly due to ice movement, wind, and wave action. Creating a detailed 3D model felt like an opportunity to capture a snapshot in time before further structural loss occurs.
This model was created primarily for other recreational divers, but also for public interpretation. Divers in Alberta are often asked what they actually see underwater, and photogrammetry offers a much more immersive and intuitive way to communicate that experience than photos alone.
Conditions were a major challenge. It ultimately took three separate trips to the site before visibility was good enough for photogrammetry, and the cold water imposed strict limits on dive time, dexterity, and camera battery life. These constraints made careful planning essential.
Photogrammetry was especially valuable at this site because it is extremely rare to see the entire wreck clearly during a single dive. The bow, in particular, usually sits in very poor visibility, and the completed model revealed details I had never seen in person. One unexpected complication was fish life. Longnose suckers resting on the boiler remained so still that they were captured in the model and had to be manually removed during processing.
The final model supports diver planning, education, public engagement, and site monitoring, and it now forms part of Parks Canada’s official records, preserving the current state of The Gertrude for future reference.
2025-01-14