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From Diver Dan
The past few Wed. and Thurs. nightsI've had fun diving at Wabank and Willow Springs with Tom Pritchard and Nate Brommer. The viz has picked up at both places. This week is Ephrata Fair float week; but next week we'll be back diving locally during the week. New and experienced divers welcome. Email Me for more info.
The past 2 weeks the Seeker took new divers to a scuttled wreck called the Ventura Tug. It is upright and intact. The rebreather allowed me to terrorize a bunch of Tautog at the prop area. It was a nice break after the diving and lighting job. Check out the next paragraph. I know its long; but read it anyway!!!!
While the Seeker was on its Sat. Resor trip with Capt. Duane Clause and Capt. Gary Szabo in charge; Seeker Captain Dan Crowell assembled a team to dive an offshore wreck on the small boat the Depth Charge.
At Dan Crowell's request; the name, type of vessel, and exact location of the wreck will be kept confidiential for now.
The wreck is 120 miles offshore and in 260 ft of water. The dive teams were John Chatterton and Richie Kohler of National TV 's NOVA Hitlers Lost Sub fame, Capt. Bill Cleary and Depth Charge mate Craig Gutowski, Capt. Dan Crowell and me. John and Richie wrestled the hook out a bunch of netting at 260 ft to bring it up to the top of the wreck at 230ft. These guys are good. Dan Crowell shot video. I was hired to do lighting for Dan C. We got some nice shots of the bow area. Bottom temps were upper 50's. Viz was 40 to 50 ft. More on Chatterton here
I didn't use my rebreather for this dive. Past 200 ft I have to still carry to much side mounted gas. Back to Open Circuit with 2 backmounted tanks and 2 sling bottles of deco gas. I was jealous since Craig, John and Dan C. all used rebreathers. I used Deco Planner software, It got me out of the water pretty fast. 25 minutes between 230ft and 260 ft. I got out of the water in 85 minutes. My 1st deco stop was at 200 ft. This software has you stopping deeper. Please keep in mind; don't use deco software unless you have the proper training and practical experience. And at 260 ft during a working dive in current lugging lights around; the Mares Abyss breathed like a dive on a 20 ft. reef.
The wreck is a US Navy war grave. The expedition was to shoot documentary video only. The knowledge these guys have about wreck diving, research, UW film and video etc. is amazing. I had just met Dan Crowell shortly before Hitlers Lost Sub aired on National TV; I never dreamed I'd be asked to be a team member for an expedition like this. The team will be diving the wreck again for documentary video work only!!!. Please respect Capt. Dan Crowell's request for confidentiality, by not sending this out to any chatlines, websites, etc. More on the Nova Program.
From Bill Siewic
OPEN WATER CLASS 9-02
The excitement of their first open water check out dive was in the air. The weather couldn’t be better, warm air temp at 75 degrees, and water temp a nice 78 degrees on the surface. 65 on the platforms, and a nice 20 to 30 ft vis. The equipment was set up by students. Amanda Wilson, Greg Wilson, Heather Groff, Bruce Stick, Matt Day and Jim Day with the efficiency of top rate students. Double check by dive master Steve Kissner.
We started out on the platform - next to the monument. You could easily see the dauphins from the platform and you could just make out the outline of the cement mixer. It was a great day. The skills on the platform by this class went as smooth as silk, and they knew what they were doing. We did our tours on the first and second dive, then stopped for the day.
The second day, Sunday, went just as smooth as the first. I was impressed by the compass work and the buoyancy control by each student. We missed Amanda, who was not feeling well enough to come out the second day. (She will finish up her class next month) My hat is off to the student for doing such a find job in completing their open water class and certification.
Congratulations to: Heather Groff, Greg Wilson, Bruce Stick, Matt Day, and Jim Day.
From Cindy
Bainbridge proved to be the location where the amazing feat of 6 divers entering the water, at the same time and location, actually came out of the water together! It must have been do to the fact that yours truly was navigating. Hey Hey I have never been in the water with so many indecisive women ( I mean men?) No one wanted to lead the group. I offered the job to the two DITs , Ralph Spade and Peter Bohling, both of them declined. Then I thought that the two newest divers wanted to take the lead, Chris Mayo and Nate Brommer, both also bowed out gracefully. So Fran Rebert and I took charge. Once we made our rounds, we decided go as far as we could around the south wall of access A. We got farther than I thought we would. I thought it was better to turn around at one point rather than have the women ( I mean men) complain about the surface swim back to the exit. As it was they were complaining about my lightening speed under the water... must be the Mares Volos!
From Bob Hanna
Dutch Springs Saturday 9/21
Ellie and Bob Hanna did two great wall dives. Great VIZ! 3 Mil suit works down to 37 feet. Ellie who has not been diving for the past 3 years has now dove Dutch on consecutive weekends and may try Willow before the season is over.
Ralph Spayd and wife Sandy together with Pete did a Wall dive. Sandy, had great time. This was Sandy and Pete’s first visit to Dutch Springs. (Perfect time and place for getting a nice relaxing dive or two in before the next warm water trip.)
On the second dive Ralph successfully compassed from the helicopter to the Tanker (and will not have to repeat the Navigation portion of his Advanced Diving Class in order finish his Dive Master In Training course.)
Keep on diving and LIVE THE ADVENTURE!!!
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