RPM Nautical's George Robb and Dr. Jeff Royal pose with Auron Tare and Dr. Adriani Anastasi for the Albanian press. Sarande harbor sits in the background. Photo credit: Derek Smith

RPM Nautical's research vessel, the Hercules, in the bay of Sarande. Photo credit: Derek Smith

The fierce and beautiful Albania flag flies on the dive boat as it transits to the site. Photo credit: Liz Smith

The Waitt Albania 2009 team: Liz, Joe, and Derek.

Waitt DSO, Joe Lepore, helps fill tanks for the next day's dives. Photo credit: Liz Smith

A future Albanian diver?? Photo credit: Derek Smith

Ancient map of the Ionian Sea at Sarande, Albania.

A map of 3rd century BCE shipwreck sites shows the relative location of the South Butrint I site. Image credit: RPM Nautical Foundation

The RPM and Waitt teams go out for Albanian pizza in Sarande harbor. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Multimedia Producer, Liz Smith, and the team head out the Hercules. Photo credit: Derek Smith

RPM's Archaeological Director, Dr. Jeff Royal, and Waitt's DSO Joe Lepore aboard the Hercules. Photo credit: Liz Smith

The bottom half of an amphora, nestled against a rock. Photo credit: Derek Smith

An amphora section resting on the sea floor. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Close-up of a broken amphora - several sea creatures live along its edges. Photo credit: Derek Smith

The slope of the wreck site is littered with amphoras from the 3rd century BC. Photo credit: Derek Smith

RPM Nautical's Chief Engineer, Geoff Dixon, operates the ROV winch. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Ardiola Alikaj - archaeologist and Albanian translator for the expedition. Photo credit: Liz Smith

The exterior of this amphora is entirely covered with living sponges. Photo credit: Derek Smith

The team prepares for a second dive. Photo credit: Derek Smith

The Waitt Institute expedition team prepares for a dive on the site. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Liz Smith floats at the surface after a dive. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dropping into the shipwreck site. Photo credit: Derek Smith

An intact amphora rests precariously on the site slope. Photo credit: Derek Smith

A broken amphora rests amongst the rocks. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Numerous sea creatures currently make homes of the amphoras. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Portions of an amphora lay on the sea floor. Photo credit: Derek Smith

This amphora top section was found not far from what is believed to be its bottom half. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Amphora A8, found fully intact. Photo credit: Derek Smith

A lone amphora waits to be studied on the site slope. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dr. Anastasi oversees the site survey. Photo credit: Derek Smith

The wreck site slopes down into deeper waters. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Ardiola Alikaj - archaeologist and Albanian translator for the expedition. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Dr. Nicolle Hirschfeld and scientific diver, Derek Smith, discuss the dive plan for surveying the site. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Dr. Adriani Anastasi of the Albanian Institute of Archaeology joined the Waitt expedtion team for dive surveys of the site. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Liz and Nicolle discuss the site before a dive. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Joe Lepore drives the Waitt expedition to the site, where he will oversee diving as Dive Safety Officer. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Dr. Adriani Anastasi and Dr. Nicolle Hirschfeld discuss plans for documenting the site below. Photo credit: Liz Smith

The coastline near where the original amphora-laden ship met its fate. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Joe Lepore takes a GPS mark where an amphora is raised for conservation. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Albanian archaeologist, Dr. Adriani Anastasi, returns from a dive on the site. Photo credit: Liz Smith

The hub of operations on RPM's Hercules. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Dr. Nicolle Hirschfeld enters the water for a dive. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dr. Nicolle Hirschfeld and Dr. Adriani Anastasi swim scan the ancient wreck site from above. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dr. Anastasi makes measurements to determine an amphora's relative position. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dr. Anastasi measures the distance and bearing for an amphora to create a map of the whole site. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dr. Nicolle Hirschfeld and Dr. Adriani Anastasi note the details of the amphora's shape and size. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dr. Anastasi and Dr. Hirshfeld take a closer look at an amphora. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dr. Anastasi prepares to tag an amphora for GPS location marking above. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Dr. Anastasi prepares a lift bag to take an amphora to the surface for conservation. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Local Albanian media interview the RPM and Waitt team about the site. Photo credit: Liz Smith

An amphora section resting on the sea floor. Photo credit: Derek Smith

Waitt team member, Derek Smith, discusses the site with Auron Tare, Director of the Albanian National Trust. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Dr. Nicolle Hirschfeld updates her blog about the expedition from her temporary office. Photo credit: Liz Smith

RPM's Dr. Jeff Royal studies a recently recovered amphora. Photo credit: Liz Smith

The intact amphora is carefully documented aboard the Hercules. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Dr. Jeff Royal measures and documents the amphora to be conserved. Photo credit: Liz Smith

Click the photo to enlarge this mosaic showing one side of the shipwreck. Photo Credit: Derek Smith

Click the photo to enlarge this mosaic showing one side of the shipwreck. Photo Credit: Derek Smith