I have been observing anchors underwater for thirty odd years, an interest that deepened when trying to decide which anchor to choose when upgrading my primary one in 2008. My decision to purchase a New Zealand made Rocna 55 was based on years of paying close attention to other anchors around us (via snorkelling or when colder using a bathyscope from the dinghy). I find it fascinating observing how anchors behave underwater. The clear waters of the Mediterranean (coupled with little else to see) have made it easy to continue indulging in this interest. The purchase of an underwater camera early in 2014 enabled me to share photos of what I have actually been observing over the years.

Sailing experience:
We have owned yachts for almost three decades now. Twenty years were spent intermittently cruising and racing in Australia and the South Pacific. Since retiring, close to eight years have been spent essentially full time here in the Mediterranean with occasional visits back to Australia where we can't resist being on the water at every available opportunity :).

Photos of anchors:
All the underwater photos of anchors I have presented have been taken by me or my wife Angela (aka "my mermaid"). I have also posted images of some above water photos of anchors with problems such as bent toes and bent shanks and corrosion. I have come across and personally photographed all these anchors myself.
I have posted anchor photos on several forums, but mainly on this thread in Cruisers Forum:
Photos of Anchors setting

Here are examples of some of the photos we have taken.
This is our Mantus anchor:



As this photo shows, I also find it fascinating observing the anchors of other boats:



Independent opinions:
All my views are independent and are simply my personal opinions.
We have no affiliation with anyone involved in the anchor industry other than purchasing anchors and agreeing to test one that we subsequently paid for. We have never received renumeration in any form from anyone in the anchoring industry.
And for the record, nor are we related to anyone or even personal friends of anyone in the anchor industry.

Some of the accusations flying and conspiracy theories proposed have been simply mind boggling. Mantus being a front for Rocna, as posted publicly on one of the sailing forums, has been amongst the several bizarre accusations!

Photos of my mermaid duckdiving:





Underwater camera:
The camera is an Olympus TGi 2. It is waterproof down to 15m on its own, but we use it with an underwater housing that is waterproof to 40m.
It was purchased in February 2014. I had been inspired to buy an underwater camera after using a friend's to capture shots of a very cute octopus that had made a home under our Rocna's anchor fluke in 2013.
This is the camera and housing:



Dive equipment:
Snorkels and masks, freediving fins, weight belts. Bikini is optional for my mermaid :).

Location:
The Mediterranean. While here, we have cruised mainly Croatian, Italian and Greek waters and are currently in the Aegean.

Boat:
48' aluminium cutter rigged sloop, one off design

Chain used:
100m of 10mm G7

Anchors we currently carry on board:
Mantus 56.5 kg (our primary anchor since April 2014), Rocna 55 kg (our primary anchor from 2008-2013), CQR, Fortress FX-37, Guardian.

The Rocna was purchased for full retail price from a Greek distributor on the 19th December 2008. The price shown of 1358.10 is in euros:



In October 2013 on one of the Cruisers Forum's anchor threads, Greg from Mantus asked if I wanted to try out a Mantus anchor (see post #44):
Ultra Anchor Review

It was a very bold and confident move on Greg's part, given how happy I obviously was with our Rocna and also given that the anchor would be subject to severe conditions at times. We anchor out during winter in the Mediterranean, something rarely done by others and considered by many to be unsafe due to prevailing conditions.

The Mantus was dispatched in October 2013 with a now superseded mild steel shank. This document shows the date of shipping:



The anchor arrived while we were hauled out, so we did not commence using it until April 2014.

After sustaining 40-50 knot winds for a couple of days early in July 2014 (exacerbated by a katabatic effect), this old version shank bent during retrieval in what were adverse conditions. This was fully reported on the Cruisers Forum thread: Photos of Anchors setting .
The anchor had dived deeply in moderately hard sand, with just the very top of the roll bar visible and was very firmly embedded. This is how the Mantus looked before it was retrieved:



Mantus have a warranty that covers bending of their anchors. We were sent one of the current shanks. They are now made of ASTM 514 steel (I think the change was made in December 2013).

Purchase of the Mantus:
I value my reputation highly and in order to remove myself from any perceived bias in accepting an anchor at no charge to try, in October 2014 I decided to purchase the Mantus. The anchor was performing too well to return. We had become more than a little attached to it :).

The amount paid was $845 ($939 as still listed on the Mantus website, less a 10% discount as given on the Cruisers Forum Mantus Giveaway the month before, which Angela and I had both entered). I reported the purchase of the Mantus on Cruisers Forum in post #1104 of this thread:
Photos of Anchors setting

This is a copy of the VISA statement showing that the transaction occurred on the 28th October 2014:



This is a long explanation, but one I feel is necessary to give, as there have been malicious rumours spread extensively about us lately. Unfortunately, something about anchor discussions just seems to bring out the worst in some people :(.

John