Smokeys Divers Den - Dive Reports

Wreck Specialty Class

I had asked Tom Pritchard to write this report because everyone enjoys his writing style. He said he was “to busy” and asked me to write it instead. Trying to duplicate Tom’s style isn’t easy and I don’t think he will ask me to write another report for him but read on and judge for yourself…

On Sat, Aug 19, I had six students working on their Wreck Diving Specialty. The students were Diana Sholl, Mark Seymour, Lynne Cover, Josh Boyl, Mary Beth Waidley, and Darrel Kirsch. Darrel had a problem with his mask and decided to finish on another day and Mary Beth had an ear infection and will have to finish on another day. Our first two divers were at Dutch a week ago. This Sat we decided to dive at Willow Spring and we dove on the Quest. Tom Pritchard had called me several weeks ago and asked if I wanted a “real wreck diver” at the class. If so, he would gladly help. Then this “real wreck diver” realized we were going to Dutch Springs and he said he wasn’t interested in paying their high fees and driving the long distance to Dutch Springs. I couldn’t believe Tom said that! Tom how far do you drive to the closest boat for a wreck dive? How much do you pay for a boat wreck dive? So these two arguments don’t hold water with me. I think the “real” reason Tom didn’t want to dive Dutch Springs is that Tom is scared of the good visibility! It frightens him to see all the divers and boats from such a long distance. I guess you could call it sensory overload.

We arrive at Willow around 9:30 AM and got started. I asked Tom to share his knowledge of wreck diving and using the wreck reel. He did an excellent job! The students really liked the stories he shared with us including his experience with his Technical Training and Advanced Wreck training classes. Tom explained how he had to enter a wreck and put on a mask with duck tape covering the lens and then was led around the room and had to find the original wreck line. Again proof that Tom is comfortable with no viz. That’s why I think good clear viz bothers him. Just prior to our first dive we did a field trip to Willow ’s front office and examined the drawing Rich Huck did of the Quest.

For our first dive we did a surface swim to the Quest and then we descended to the deck and ran wreck lines all around the wreck. The students also checked out the different hazards on the wreck and the possible entry/exit points for penetration into the wreck. As each buddy team finished their assigned tasks they returned to shore. As I surfaced Mark Seymour was just starting to get out and I asked him if he would like to go with me to check out the caboose. We entered through the arch way and found the rope leading to the caboose. In no time at all we were at the caboose and checked it out. I have been to the caboose several times but this is the first time I could actually see the entire caboose. On previous contacts with the caboose I could only feel it and if I was lucky I could see one or two square feet of the caboose at any one time.

Our final dive of the class was to be a penetration dive into the Quest. Tom had run a wreck line through the wreck on the first dive. So our plan was for Tom to lead the way with Lynne, Diana and Josh following through the wreck. Tom entered the wreck through a hatch on the deck at the bow. He continued through to a hatch at the stern. Then Tom, Lynne, Diana, and Josh followed a rope from the stern of the Quest to the fire engine hook and ladder truck, then to the back of the truck where another rope heading east to a flat-bed truck. From this truck another rope went south through the arch way to the caboose. While Tom, Lynn, Diana and Josh where heading to the caboose Mark Seymour and I penetrated the Quest and retrieved Tom’s wreck reel. We then followed the same ropes toward the Quest. As we arrived at the arch way we found Tom and Josh and they were looking for Lynne and Diana. Unknown to us, Lynne had turned around to see if Diana was still following and then she couldn’t locate the rope she was following so Lynne and Diana had surfaced. I sent Josh to the surface and Tom, Mark S. and I then checked the caboose to make sure Diana and Lynne weren’t already looking at the Quest. We then returned to the arch way and surfaced. We found Lynne, Diana and Josh at the surface. >From there we regrouped and I led everyone back to the caboose. By then the visibility was pretty bad but everyone did a good job and stayed together. Everyone was able to see and/or feel the caboose.

Mary Beth and Lynne also finished there Enriched Air Class and since doing dives is now optional they both were able to finish their certifications for the Enriched Air Specialty in spite of Mary Beth’s ear infection. I will soon schedule a make up day for Mary Beth and Darrel to finish this Wreck Specialty, so if anyone else is interested in doing a Wreck Specialty please call or email me ASAP. Just ask anyone in the class how much they learned and how much fun it is doing this specialty. Don’t forget both the Wreck Specialty and Enriched Air Specialty count towards your Master Scuba Diving Certification and both Enriched Air and Wreck can be integrated into one class with two certifications

This coming Sat and Sun I will be doing Open Water Training Dives, Sat will definitely be at Bainbridge, Sunday maybe at Bainbridge or Dutch. Come on out and “Live the Adventure.”

John Gross

Smokey’s trip to the Resor included an all-star cast of divers including, the always effervescent Huck, Rock, Steve "Show Me The" Mooney, Joe Dormer, Tibs, Josh “The Boil” Boyle, and yours truly. The divers started showing up at the Ol’ Salty II around midnight on Saturday for our 3AM departure to the Resor. The plan was to load our gear and catch a few winks before we arrived at the wreck. It was hot and sweaty in the bunk area, so “a few winks” is about all we got.

The seas were almost flat when we arrived, but they gradually increased to 3-4 ft. with a deceptive surface current that challenged me as I swam to my equipment line on the starboard side. The last time I dove the Resor, we tied in at the stern, which is little more than the ship’s spine and a consolidated debris field. This time we were tied in at the bow – and wow! – what a difference. The 30+ ft of relief consists of multiple ship levels with the innards of the ship exposed enough to safely penetrate. Huck, Steve Mooney, and I dodged the deep current at the tie in by ducking into the ship where we found some lobsters and scallops. I am happy to report that the stonefish-looking fish lounging on the bottom that I poked and prodded were probably impersonators and not real stonefish. “Probably” is the key word: Real stonefish are very poisonous.

The Ol’ Salty Navigation Award goes to Tibs and Rock, who got more than a little lost on their second dive. This special achievement is all the more impressive because they did it with 30-40 ft. viz on the wreck. With 30 minutes of deco under their belts, they decided that any rope to the surface was a good rope – and ascended the anchor line of the dive boat Independence. With the moderate surface current, they had to be passed from granny line to granny line to make it back to the Ol’ Salty. After receiving some well-deserved abuse, Tibs and Rock decided that they'll board the Indy next time to sample the insults of strangers who are unlikely to be as cruel as their friends.

The Ol’ Salty Navigation Award is an impressive granite block, topped with small figurines of Tibs and Rock flanked by two wreck reels. As an aside, I just checked eBay: Tibs and Rock have two wreck reels for auction with a note: “New. Never been used. No instructions.” Some huge bugs and some equally impressive scallops made the trip home. 33 min at 130 fsw, 46 degrees. Get out and dive!

It was a toasty warm 98 degrees as we geared up. By the time I got my kit on, it was 50/50 whether I should jump into the quarry or just swim around inside my dry suit where Tom Soup had formed and was beginning to ferment. The quarry seemed like the better choice. There are a lot of good reasons to dive Willow, but good viz isn't one of them. With Gerhard getting his cherry ready for the Doria trip, I dove with Colin tonight. The viz along the tracks by the cement dock was OK, but as we spilled over the wall and swam east, viz dropped to a foot. We escaped to the north and naved across the center in 5-8 ft viz looking for the line along the north wall. Missing that, we descended and almost ran into the tanker. A quick swim thru and then it was back to the east wall. Viz was 5-8 ft near the jetty but after we dropped into the deep part, the viz plummeted to 6 inches - and it stayed 6 inches. It was so bad I couldn't see my compass, but we plodded on. "May the Force Be With You!" The viz improved slightly as we found the blue boat, then crossed the quarry, and finally found Terry's Bridge. We returned to the RR tracks near the dock, but with air in our tanks, the night was still young. OK, it was closer to middle age, but nonetheless, there was more diving to be done. Colin and I swam to the corrugated pipe and then followed it for awhile before slanting SE to the wall. I introduced Colin to the Mystery Stairs; nobody took their fins off tonight. I must confess - there's a certain thrill when you can find your way thru liquid muck for an hour w/o getting lost. A great dive, if you like muck diving.

Yes, an actual dive report from me - again!! I blew off the "BSC Wednesday Nighters the first week in August because it was just do @#$ hot, but I understand that "Downtown" Jim Brown was back after months of remodeling and moving, and that John Katerenchuk, and James Zimmerman showed up to play with their new rebreathers.

I did show up last week again with my frequent dive partner of the summer, daughter Savannah. My son Jack and wife Karen had lots of fun playing with scooters and snorkels along with James Zimmerman and his son Corbin. Corbin has an amazing recovery period -- from blue and shivering, back to pink and snorkeling within about 10 minutes. There was some discussion if James would know exactly what to do with just a 2mm and a snorkel, or if he could only swim with a pair of doubles and a drysuit on.

While the snorkelers were doing their thing, Savannah and I headed out through the lagoon on scooters. We did a circuit of the lagoon, then headed for the "Rock Pile" over in the bowl area. For those of you who don't know, Rick Huck started this pile as an artistic endeavor while doing his hang at the end of various dives, but it has now turned into a community art project with various divers adding a little bit more to it each week. Instead of a small pile of rocks, it is now tentacles, rings and accessory piles. We headed from the rockpile over to the dauphin statue, then back into the lagoon.

Visibility in the tom 20 feet is still 15 - 20 ft and 80 degrees! Jim Brown reported that he headed towards the hold with Rick Huck and Chris Mayo but turned back around 90 ft. Several of the other divers headed out towards the step van, and confirmed that visibility is still good if you get deeper than 60 ft.