Ballard's underwater search skills are huge, but using TIGHAR exec Gillespie as a source for search areas is problematic. Gillespie ties nearly every item he finds to Earhart, a shoe, a cosmetic bottle, various aluminum items, bones etc. None of the found items have been proven relevant as far as I know.
To conclude that the fuzzy distant reef photo shows an erect landing gear structure from Earhart's plane is nuts IMO. No seasoned tail dragger aviator would try that kind of landing with the gear extended. A nose-over flip would be almost guaranteed. Gillespie goes beyond reasonable speculation when he posits that Earhart successfully landed on the tidal reef gear down and the plane was later washed away leaving but one gear leg embedded.
What I like about the Cooper aviation mystery is that it can be explored and investigated without huge transportation expenses. No need to finance expeditions to remote mid-Pacific islands. No need for deep submersibles and their tenders. Bruce is living proof that wealth isn't a prerequisite for meaningful Cooper work.
Jumping again on Oct 19th with HF SSB radio gear and a trailing wire antenna. Should I be listening for Earhart and Noonan? 
What a joy to still be jumping as I turn 70. Almost all of my late 1960s jumper cohorts have hung up their gear for good. That day will come for me too, but hopefully not too soon. When I step out of that door at 14,500 feet I feel like I am 18 again.
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There is no need to listen for Earhart and Noonan and there is also no need to leave the runway lights on tonight for them either. They are not coming back.
To state again the essence of my remarks about Dr. Ballard before they were distorted. No one questions Dr. Ballard's accomplishments and not all of them are in the public domain. But I think he should have checked out the organization further before joining it. To put it another way, he should have looked further before he leaped.
There is an article out today by the NY Times that Ballard did a very thorough search in the sea completely around Gardner Island and didn't find anything that could be related to Earhart.
Ballard also stated that he had a contract to do some underwater research near Howland Island in 2021 and that he planned to check out the "theory" that Earhart ended up ditching near there. With his equipment, crew, and skill, Ballard will probably have the best chance of finding Earhart near Howland Island that anyone has ever had. And with a bit of luck, he just might find that airplane. As Ballard points out, that airplane is out there somewhere.
