Latest news with #AtlanticWreckSalvage
Fox News
06-08-2025
- Fox News
'Larger than life' shipwreck explorer dies during deep-sea diving expedition
A dive boat captain and shipwreck explorer died last week during a deep-sea diving expedition off the coast of Massachusetts, his dive company said Friday. Joe Mazraani, 48, was diving about 200 miles offshore on the eastern edge of Georges Bank to explore a shipwreck his team called the Big Engine Steamer when he died on July 29, Atlantic Wreck Salvage said in a statement on Facebook. There was no reason to suspect diver error or equipment failure, the company said, noting that all indications pointed to a medical emergency. The company said a full investigation into Mazraani's death was ongoing. "Joe Mazraani was larger than life," his wife and business partner, Jennifer Sellitti, wrote. "He was kind, compassionate, and generous. A mentor and a student, a friend, brother, son, and partner. Whether motoring aboard D/V Tenacious, diving into deep and dangerous water, or defending his clients in court, Joe demanded the best of everyone around him. Sometimes he demanded it grumpily—but he always demanded by example." Sellitti, a prominent public defender in New Jersey, also co-owned Atlantic Wreck Salvage with Mazraani, who was also a criminal defense attorney. "I loved Joe fiercely, and he loved me back just the same," Sellitti wrote. "We were partners in everything—especially this." Mazraani was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the U.S. at 15 years old, according to his company's website. He became a certified diver in the mid-1990s, "diving sunken wrecks off the Northeast U.S. coast and instantly developed an obsession with exploring the sunken hulks that litter the approaches to New York Harbor," his bio reads. He also led diving expeditions to the Italian liner SS Andrea Doria, and has dived the wrecks of HMHS Britannic – sister ship of the Titanic – and RMS Lusitania, according to the website. As a defense attorney, Mazraani helped free Timothy Puskas in 2024 after Puskas had been wrongfully convicted of murder in the death of 22-year-old former Rutgers student William McCaw. Puskas had served 10 years of a 40-year sentence when Mazraani secured his exoneration. The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender posted a statement online in remembrance of Mazraani. "Joe was larger than life: fearless, kind, and deeply committed to justice," the statement said. "Our hearts are with the Public Defender and his loved ones."
The Independent
05-08-2025
- The Independent
Shipwreck explorer Joe Mazraani dies on deep-sea dive to find lost Atlantic steamer
A respected scuba diver and shipwreck explorer died after a 'medical emergency' during a deep-sea expedition off the coast of Cape Cod. Joe Mazraani, a 48-year-old criminal defense attorney from New Jersey, was exploring a wreck 200 miles off the Massachusetts coast aboard his vessel, the D/V Tenacious, when disaster struck last Tuesday on the eastern edge of Georges Bank. The dive team was able to pull Mazraani back on board the boat before administering CPR, but were unable to revive him, his wife Jennifer Sellitti said in a statement on behalf of their company Atlantic Wreck Salvage. Mazraani's cause of death was not immediately clear. Sellitti, a top New Jersey public defender, said that a full investigation is underway and there is currently 'no reason to suspect diver error or equipment failure.' Mazraani had set out to identify a lost Atlantic steam ship submerged in 200ft of water called the 'Big Engine Steamer.' The wreck had been discovered previously during a search for Le Lyonnais, a French steam ship that sank in 1856, whose story was documented by Sellitti's recently published book The Adriatic Affair. Sellitti was reportedly on the boat when her husband died. 'He was kind, compassionate, and generous. A mentor and a student, a friend, brother, son, and partner,' she wrote. 'Whether motoring aboard D/V Tenacious, diving into deep and dangerous water, or defending his clients in court, Joe demanded the best of everyone around him.' 'I loved Joe fiercely, and he loved me back just the same. We were partners in everything—especially this,' Sellitti concluded. The New Jersey State Office of the Public Defender paid tribute on Instagram, mourning the loss of the 'cherished member of the legal and diving communities' alongside a photograph of Mazraani and Sellitti. After becoming a certified diver in the mid-90s, the Lebanese native had led dives to some of the hardest-to-reach wrecks on the Atlantic seaboard. The explorer used the DV Tenacious to locate several lost vessels in the North Atlantic, including the German submarine U-550, which was sunk off the coast of Nantucket in 1944 by U.S. Navy battleships. Mazraani also led expeditions to the SS Andrea Doria, RMS Lusitania, and HMHS Britannic, the sister-ship to the Titanic. Both Mazraania and Sellitti are U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains, according to their company's website. In his legal career, Mazraani co-founded the law firm Mazraani & Liguori LLP in 2006 after graduating from Seton Hall Law School in Newark. Mazraani helped free Timothy Puskas in 2024, who had served 10 years of a 40-year sentence when he was exonerated after being wrongly convicted for the 2014 murder of former Rutgers University student William McCaw.
International Business Times
05-08-2025
- International Business Times
How Did Joe Mazraani Die? Shipwreck Explorer and Husband of Top New Jersey Lawyer Dies Suddenly During Deep-Sea Diving Expedition
A prominent shipwreck diver, who was married to a top attorney from New Jersey, died while on a deep-sea diving expedition. Joe Mazraani, 47, suffered a fatal emergency on July 29 during a dive to the wreck of "the Big Engine Steamer," located 200 miles off the coast on the eastern edge of Georges Bank, according to his company, Atlantic Wreck Salvage. The company did not reveal the cause of death in its announcement. However, the company said that a full investigation is underway and stated that there is "no reason to suspect diver error or equipment failure." Police have also yet to share further details on Mazraani's sudden death. Unexpected Death Joe Mazraani X "Joe Mazraani was larger than life. He was kind, compassionate, and generous. A mentor and a student, a friend, brother, son, and partner," Atlantic Wreck Salvage shared. "Whether motoring aboard D/V Tenacious, diving into deep and dangerous water, or defending his clients in court, Joe demanded the best of everyone around him. Sometimes he demanded it grumpily — but he always demanded by example." Joe Mazraani's final photo before his death X Mazraani, who was also a criminal defense lawyer, co-founded Atlantic Wreck Salvage with his wife, Jennifer Sellitti, a public defender in New Jersey. Sellitti revealed that she was onboard the vessel at the time of her husband's death. Atlantic Wreck Salvage shared a final photo of Mazraani standing at the bow of the D/V Tenacious, the vessel he used for underwater exploration and historical salvage work, shortly before his death. According to the company's website, Mazraani was born in Lebanon and moved to the United States at the age of 15. A Star in His Own Right He became a certified diver in the mid-1990s and quickly developed a passion for exploring shipwrecks along the Northeast U.S. coastline, becoming deeply fascinated with the sunken vessels scattered near the entrance to New York Harbor. Joe Mazraani with his lawyer wife Jennifer Sellitti Facebook "Shipwreck exploration is a way of life for Joe," his bio reads. "He is president of Atlantic Wreck Salvage and operates the dive vessel 'Tenacious,' which was specifically acquired and outfitted to accomplish several projects, including locating and exploring U-550 and other deep, uncharted wrecks in the North Atlantic," his bio reads. Mazraani also led expeditions to the famed Italian ocean liner SS Andrea Doria and had explored the wrecks of the HMHS Britannic, the Titanic's sister ship, as well as the RMS Lusitania. Joe Mazraani with Jennifer Sellitti Facebook The beloved captain was honored with associate membership in the Boston Sea Rovers, a nonprofit focused on ocean conservation and marine education. The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender paid tribute to Mazraani on Friday following his death. "With deep sadness, we share the loss of Joe Mazraani, beloved partner of Public Defender Sellitti and a cherished member of the legal and diving communities," the office wrote on Facebook. "Joe was larger than life: fearless, kind, and deeply committed to justice. Our hearts are with the Public Defender and his loved ones."
New York Post
05-08-2025
- New York Post
Beloved shipwreck explorer and husband of top NJ lawyer dies during deep sea dive
A prominent shipwreck explorer and husband of one of New Jersey's top attorneys died during a deep-sea diving expedition. Joe Mazraani, 47, suffered the emergency on July 29 while diving to the shipwreck of 'The Big Engine Steamer,' 200 miles offshore on the eastern edge of Georges Bank, according to his company, Atlantic Wreck Salvage. His cause of death was not revealed at the time of the company's announcement. 4 Mazraani suffered the emergency on July 29 while diving to the shipwreck of 'The Big Engine Steamer.' D/V Tenacious However, they stated that a full investigation is ongoing and currently have 'no reason to suspect diver error or equipment failure.' 'Joe Mazraani was larger than life. He was kind, compassionate, and generous. A mentor and a student, a friend, brother, son, and partner,' Atlantic Wreck Salvage shared. 'Whether motoring aboard D/V Tenacious, diving into deep and dangerous water, or defending his clients in court, Joe demanded the best of everyone around him. Sometimes he demanded it grumpily—but he always demanded by example.' Mazraani co-owned Atlantic Wreck Salvage with his wife, New Jersey Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti. He was also a criminal defense lawyer by trade. Sellitti said she was on the boat when her husband died. 4 Joe Mazraani and wife Jennifer Sellitti. Facebook Atlantic Wreck Salvage shared a final photo of Mazraani at the bow of D/V Tenacious, the boat he used for exploration and historical marine salvage, before his death. Mazraani was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the US when he was 15, according to his company's website. In the mid-90s, he became a certified diver and 'quickly took to diving sunken wrecks off the Northeast US coast and instantly developed an obsession with exploring the sunken hulks that litter the approaches to New York Harbor.' 4 Mazraani co-owned Atlantic Wreck Salvage with Sellitti. Facebook 'Shipwreck exploration is a way of life for Joe,' his bio reads. 'He is president of Atlantic Wreck Salvage and operates the dive vessel 'Tenacious,' which was specifically acquired and outfitted to accomplish several projects, including locating and exploring U-550 and other deep, uncharted wrecks in the North Atlantic,' his bio reads. Mazraani also led the expeditions to the famed 'Italian liner SS Andrea Doria and has dived the wrecks of HMHS Britannic, sister ship of Titanic, and RMS Lusitania.' 4 Mazraani was also a criminal defense lawyer by trade. Facebook The beloved captain was inducted as an associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers — a non-profit organization dedicated to marine conservation and education. The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender paid tribute to Mazraani on Friday following his death. 'With deep sadness, we share the loss of Joe Mazraani, beloved partner of Public Defender Sellitti and a cherished member of the legal and diving communities,' the office wrote on Facebook. 'Joe was larger than life: fearless, kind, and deeply committed to justice. Our hearts are with the Public Defender and his loved ones.'
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Husband of top lawyer, 47, suddenly dies during deep-dive expedition to shipwreck in Cape Cod
The husband of a top New Jersey lawyer has tragically died during a deep-dive expedition to a shipwreck off the coast of Cape Cod. Joe Mazraani had successfully conducted countless dives in his work as president of Atlantic Wreck Salvage. On July 29, he was diving with a group from his boat Tenacious when he reportedly suffered a medical emergency. He was hauled back onto the boat and other divers attempted to perform life-saving measures, but he could not be revived. Mazraani's wife, New Jersey Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti, said 'all indications point to a medical emergency.' 'While we are choosing to keep the details private, we currently have no reason to suspect diver error or equipment failure,' she said. The group had been exploring an unidentified shipwreck referred to as 'The Big Engine Steamer' at the time of the tragedy. It was brought back in to New Bedford, Massachusetts the following morning. State and local police, as well as the US Coast Guard, are investigating the circumstances of Mazraani's death. The well-known maritime historian and technical diver had been a scuba diver since the mid 1990s and had cut his teeth wreck-diving off the coasts of New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. He was also a criminal defense lawyer. 'Joe Mazraani was larger than life,' his partner said in a moving tribute. 'He was kind, compassionate and generous. A mentor and a student, a friend, brother, son and partner. 'Whether motoring aboard D/V Tenacious, diving into deep and dangerous water, or defending his clients in court, Joe demanded the best of everyone around him. Sometimes he demanded it grumpily – but he always demanded by example. 'He lived every moment fully, without compromise. He did not want to die doing what he loved – none of us do. 'He wanted to survive it, to grow old doing it. But when you live at the edge, sometimes the edge pushes back.' The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender paid tribute to Mazraani in a Facebook post on August 1, writing: 'With deep sadness, we share the loss of Joe Mazraani, beloved partner of Public Defender Sellitti and a cherished member of the legal and diving communities. 'Joe passed on July 29 in a diving-related incident, believed to be caused by a medical emergency.
