Wreck Course & The Empress of Ireland
#1
Posted 22 October 2007 - 06:40 AM
Quite a large freighter with huge cathedral like holds. Viz was fairly decent for the area at 20' and little current. Amazing to see 1" steel plating torn like paper. The fish there had no fear. Many of them came within an inch or two of my mask and stared deeply into my dark green eyes. They must have been female...
This was an orientation / navigation dive so no penetrations. That will come next weekend when I return to the HMCS Saguenay next weekend. Looking forward to that as it was prepared for divers before it was sunk as an artificial reef... As an added incentive there is a full set of dive gear somewhere in the hull of the destroyer. The story as told to me: Two AOW divers with no wreck gear or training decided to go into the wreck last year. They got disorientated and separated. One had to ditch their rig in order to wriggle out of a small opening in the ships side. He ended up coming to the surface from 70' on a Spare Air. The other found a way out and got to the surface on fumes.
Added later: On the drive back from the dive site I ended up behind a car with the Trailer Park boys filming a scene going down a road. Different experience seeing Bubbles after diving...
Couple of pictures.
Tech Support - The hard we do right away; the impossible takes us a little longer...
"I like ponies on no-stop diving. They convert "ARGH!! I'M GOING TO DIE" into a mere annoyance." ~Nigel Hewitt
#2
Posted 22 October 2007 - 07:53 AM
#3
Posted 22 October 2007 - 08:05 AM
You teach it at Dutch?Nice, Wreck is one of my favorites to teach around here.
Seriously, I think I might like to take that class.
#4
Posted 22 October 2007 - 10:29 AM
When possible I do the first 2 dives at Dutch and then the last 2 off a boat in the Ocean. Can't always get a boat so I can finish it at Dutch. Boats are getting scarce this time of year.You teach it at Dutch?Nice, Wreck is one of my favorites to teach around here.
Seriously, I think I might like to take that class.
#5
Posted 22 October 2007 - 10:35 AM
Next time I go back to the Veronica and Shakem in Grenada I will make full use of the wreck course... The Bianca C only if I can get my steels down there... WooHoo...Nice, Wreck is one of my favorites to teach around here.
Tech Support - The hard we do right away; the impossible takes us a little longer...
"I like ponies on no-stop diving. They convert "ARGH!! I'M GOING TO DIE" into a mere annoyance." ~Nigel Hewitt
#6
Posted 22 October 2007 - 12:02 PM
When you make fish laugh, they can't bite you.
#7
Posted 22 October 2007 - 12:48 PM
Well, I was thinking more along the lines of next summer.Boats are getting scarce this time of year.
#8
Posted 22 October 2007 - 01:06 PM
#9
Posted 22 October 2007 - 01:11 PM
I hope to hit the St Lawrence and dive the Emperess. Poor viz and strong current but well worth I'm told.
I'll go.
Technical Training Director
PDIC International
#10
Posted 22 October 2007 - 02:21 PM
Well of course I'll run another Wreck course or 3 next spring, summer & fall.Well, I was thinking more along the lines of next summer.Boats are getting scarce this time of year.
#11
Posted 23 October 2007 - 11:59 AM
I hope to hit the St Lawrence and dive the Emperess. Poor viz and strong current but well worth I'm told.
I'll go.
Ditto. Will I need mix?
#12
Posted 23 October 2007 - 12:21 PM
Cool...sounds like the begining of a dive trip. I'll ask around and look into the logistics of it. I think she is at 130' but I could be wrong. I'll do a search on TDS and see what I can find.
#13
Posted 23 October 2007 - 01:04 PM
#14
Posted 23 October 2007 - 03:41 PM
Wiki Page
North Atlantic Dive Reports
GeoDiving Stats
If you do want to come up let me know and I will put you in contact with some local guys who have done it before. Am sure they will be happy to guide and translate for you. Northern NB is French speaking. If you do come all this way don't miss Deer Island on the south shore and dive the Old Sow whirlpool (Largest in the world). With 4-6 knots of current you need a local familiar with conditions to guide you.
Tech Support - The hard we do right away; the impossible takes us a little longer...
"I like ponies on no-stop diving. They convert "ARGH!! I'M GOING TO DIE" into a mere annoyance." ~Nigel Hewitt
#15
Posted 23 October 2007 - 04:04 PM
Thanks for the info...I'll have to get in touch with the charters up that way and see when the best time to dive her is.
Though she is protected, you can still penetrate...right?
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