Cave 2010

This year, I finally broke down and decided to try cave diving.   Back in the dark ages, I tried a cavern dive in Mexico.  While I enjoyed the dive, it was too early in my diving to fully understand the nuance of the dives.

This year, Becky invited us on a Manatee dive down in Florida, and figured I’d stay in the area and take a cave class.   After many discussions on cave instructors, I settled on Paul Heinerth.  I wanted an instructor that would challenge me rather than let me coast through the class. My Trimix instructor (Corey Mearns) introduced me to Paul at a social gathering last fall.   Others echoed the recommendations, so I made plans to stick around and take the class.

Little Devil

The cavern portion of the class involved a number of new of skills.  Many were familiar, some were not.  Much of the class pushed me to the limits of my comfort zone.  However, after it was all done, I felt much more comfortable diving in this environment.   I guess that’s the point.   I want to thank Paul, for suffering with me.  I’m sure he’s dealt with worse, but I know I was a handful. After the class, Becky and Dave were kind enough to take their time to dive with a cave newbie.   I’m sure it can be a bit annoying to dive with a novice.   I appreciate them taking the time to dive with me.  Given all the flooding in Florida, we ended up in Ginnie Springs.  Two days of our class was spent at Ginnie, so I knew a little bit about of the layout.  Diving after the class removed much of the “stress” involved, and we had a lot of fun.  Becky took a lot of photos.   I’ve posted a few here, but check out her website for more great shots.

I returned to the scene of the crime for some more shots of the cavern and caves.  The weather up North (NJ/PA) was not good, so my lovely wife (Val) suggest that I stay in Florida.   Did I mention that I love my wife?!   I spent the next two days practicing my skills, and taking pictures.   I’m not sure if I’m a died in the wool cave diver, but I did have a good time diving with some good friends.

Manatee calf looking for attention

Val and I were invited on a trip to Florida, including a Manatee dive in Crystal River. As it worked out, I did have some time off, so we packed our gear and headed down. Val was going to stay a few days, for the Manatee dive, after that, I was planning to stick around for a cavern/cave class.

Packing went smoothly, except for the snowstorm that covered the area the day before the trip. Most of the roads up here were dry with some salt for good measure. On the trip down we stopped over with our friend Grace in Durham. Their roads were not cleared as well, and the drivers were not accustom to snow. It was not a pleasant situation, but with only minor delays we were back on the road the next morning.

We arrived in Crystal River a bit later than expected, but were up and ready for the dive the next morning. Dive gear, camera gear, and all weather gear packed and ready, we headed out.

This was our first time diving with Manatees. The boat rental required us to watch a video concerning the regulations around Manatee interaction. Bottom line, nothing can prepare you for the actual dive! Becky had invited a group of experienced divers. We hit the water expecting to see a few dozen Manatees. I’m not sure if it was the cold weather, or something else, but there were a few hundred Manatees in the area.

We anchored in a small tributary with river water, and spring water running past a Manatee Sanctuary. Within the roped off sanctuary, there were a dozens of resting Manatees. Back in the springs, the sandy bottom was covered with them. We were all snorkeling on the surface looking to see if any were interested in interaction. Many were resting, but others would swim right up to us.

At first, it’s a bit unnerving to have a 1200lb animal swim up to you. These creatures are 5-6 times our size. It makes you think for a second. Then they roll over and want their belly rubbed. Ok, not so intimidating. The juveniles (calf) are more curious than the older adults, but both were curious about us as divers. I’m not sure why, but my camera seemed to draw their interest. Some would swim up and interact. Several would swim up, play for a bit, and then swim away. Many came back again and again.

After I filled up my still cameras memory card, I switched to the video camera. It was both fun and enlightening interacting with these gentile creatures. As usual, they had to drag me from the water, since I was having so much fun.

If you ever get a chance to dive with Manatees, I highly recommend it. Take your time, and let them come to you. They are both fun and engaging.

I hope they reopen to the recreational market, but in the mean time here are a few shots we took on a training trip during the renovations.

F-14 Ready to Launch

In a past life, I worked as Systems Engineer and/or System Architect on several Navy projects. While I was not in the Navy, I did spend a lot of time aboard ship gathering requirements, training the crew and trouble shooting issues. In our down time, they did allow us to take a few pictures top side.   Obviously the aircraft and crew on the flight deck are constantly in motion.  My hats off to our hard working men and women in uniform!

El Capitan

A few years back, my wife and I took a vacation in California. The trip started in San Diego, and included stops in San Francisco, Yosemite, and Napa Valley. We were there in the fall (September or October) which meant it was cool down in the valley, but cold up in the mountains. We drove from San Francisco up through the steep winding roads of rt 120 to the Yosemite Valley. When we arrived we had to watch the “Don’t leave food in your car” video which depicts a bear ripping a compact car apart to get at the food.  The extent of the damage is quite amazing as one bear rips off the door and takes out the back seat to get into the trunk.  It makes the Jaws of Life look like a toy.

We spent two days touring the park walking through the redwood forest, and taking in the sites. From what we were told, spring is the best time to visit. When the snow thaws in the spring, the waterfalls are in full splendor. As it was, we were still very impressed. Majestic mountain peaks, waterfalls, crystal blue mountain lakes, salmon filled streams, and towering redwoods all added to the rugged beauty of this park.

If you get a chance to visit, I highly recommend the trip.

(Click on the photo for a slide show of Yosemite)

Well, a friend was interested in selling his Film Scanner, so I finally have access to some of my better shots. I must admit, the process is not fast. First load, check for dust and scratches (I loath both now). Next name and organize the output. Finally clean up and resize for publication. The final results are worth it, as I have not broken out the photo albums for years, and now I can share them with others. Over the winter months, I’ll try to post up some of my favorites. Enjoy.

The surface looked clear, but it was the bottom we were concerned about. I was pleasantly surprised to see 20 ft of vis on the wreck top to bottom. The temp was also a constant 55. This was also one of the few times I’ve been on the Stolt where there was no current or surge. We must have arrived at slack tide as the water was completely motionless. At the bottom, I quickly tied off my reel and headed out into the sand in search of ballast. Upon return, I took the standard tour around the bottom of the wreck. Here there were a few small lobsters, a number of large ling cod, seabass and tog. Under the wreck a few large fish could be seen hiding in the dark. Missing were the hoards of cunners that normally school along the top of the wreck. Perhaps with the still water, they were dispersed about the wreck searching for food rather than waiting at the top for morsels of food to float by.

Dive two went much as the first, and we soon headed back. A great day of diving.

With a forecast for northwest winds, and diminishing seas, we headed out for the Stolt. Given all the reports of bad vis inshore, Captain Dan was hoping for reasonable conditions offshore. On the way out there were some rollers from the south, and some chop from the northwest. If the stars aligned, it would all calm down for two dives.

When we reached the Stolt we had some stiff swells, but it seemed manageable, and the NOAA forecast said it was going to die down. I has some gear issues, so after tying in, I came back up and helped the passengers get in. Vis was about 20 ft on the top of the wreck, but I’m sure the bottom was not as clear. Lobster, scallops, and a few fish came up. Everyone agreed that the water was warm, but no one had a temperature.

The surface conditions did not improve during the dive, so we decided to head inshore for dive two. A few weeks ago we dove an intact reef wreck with lots of Tog and Seabass within the state waters. We headed there in hopes that the relief would allow for some vis. Surface conditions were much better inshore, but as expected the vis was not as good.

Everyone was just happy to get in the water after all the blow outs this fall.

By the time we reached the wreck, the sun was a bit higher in the sky, and the conditions were still flat. The surface water was a nice Caribbean blue. Dropping down the line it was clear that there was a good current to the east. This made going a bit slow, but we were soon tied in.

While working with the line, shadowy figures kept appearing in the distance. At first I thought the dogfish were back, but it turned out to be bluefish. We saw them inshore last week. Now there was a school buzzing around us on the Resor. Ever few minutes a few of them would dart by. Down on the sand, there were large fluke and flounder almost side by side. Normally we see one or the other, but here the flounder were hunting while the fluke were resting. Both scurried off when approached. Large tog are always around this wreck, and this was no exception. I spotted a few small lobsters, and one good size one with eggs.

I was nearing my turn time when I spotted a nice new Danforth with a long chain. At least I was not going up empty handed. It turns out that the current and the wind were not aligned, and I spent my deco holding my reel in one hand (attached to the Danforth and lift bag) and the shot line in the other. I was just hoping other divers would not get caught in the line.

My hunting efforts had been thwarted, but many others came up with lobster, tog and some nice size pollack. There were various reports of giant lobsters, deep in the wreck, well out of reach. A few folks had ventured out into the sand for scallops, with varying degrees of success.

All in all it was a great day of diving with 30-40 ft of vis and 65 degrees top to bottom. The wind had picked up as we started to head in, but it was still a comfortable ride home.

After a quick vote, we landed on the Stolt. Frankie had us tied in shortly, and the pool was soon open. The vis on the top of the wreck was a good 30+ ft, with a temp of 68 degrees. Bottom vis was slightly less, but about the same temperature. There was a ripping current coming up over the top of the hull, but the super structure and interior were protected. I dropped in with the video camera, and had fun swimming through some of the open passage ways.

To me the wreck seemed unusually calm. Normally there’s a large school of fish waiting near the top for some morsel of food to float by. Today, they were mysteriously absent. Cunners where here and there, and off in the distance I caught a glimpse of a few Tog, but otherwise it seemed abandoned. Perhaps with the water being warm top to bottom, the fish were more evenly distributed along the wreck. What ever the cause, the wreck did not have it’s normal appearance of “teaming with life”. Even the facade of anemones seemed subdued.

Some of the more adventurous passengers delved deep into the wreck. Many emerged with small tokens of the visit. By the end of the day, the wind and waves we experienced earlier had subsided, and we headed back with calm seas.

The short answer is: not having your camera, but that’s a story in it self. Today’s dive was to the U-869 AKA the U-who. The Independence was filled with quality NJ divers, but most of them had never been on this wreck. I was diving with a student, Tom, who was also visiting the wreck for the first time.

We headed out early in the flat calm seas left in the wake of Hurricane Bill. We made good time to the wreck. Bill and Brandon went into tie in. It often takes a few minutes since you never do anything fast in 230 fsw. I helped the first group of divers get in, then we geared up. After buddy checks, we reviewed the plan one more time, then splashed.

The surface temp was high 70s, no current, and the water was very clear. Brandon and Bill were hanging, and Brandon took the opportunity to snap off a few of his great shots. If I were not with a student, I would have paused a few moments to give him a model, but Tom was dropping fast, and I wanted to catch up. We passed other groups of divers on the way. Many had lobsters in their bags.

The line was completely slack all the way down to the wreck. No current at any level. This is unusual out here. Often the current changes directions at different levels. There was nothing, anywhere. It was obvious that there were many layers. You could see them as you passed through. The vis would change, and you could see the water go from cloudy to clear to cloudy. Some of the layers were thermoclines, and the temp started dropping. Below 120ft we felt the drop down to 46 degrees. After a few minutes it started to get dark, and I switched on my light. Now I could easily signal my position, and could see my buddy. Tom started slowing his decent. I’m not sure if he was waiting for me, or if he just needed more time to clear his ears. Either way, I caught up.

My gauges indicated that we were within 50 ft of the wreck, but nothing was coming into view. We continued to drop. The faint glow of a strobe lit up the area. The vis had dropped to 10 ft, and the wreck suddenly appeared below us. The chain was wrapped around a cylinder on top of the wreck.

With the short vis, I immediately reached from my reel. I’ve never run a reel on this wreck before, but I did not want to miss the line with a student in tow. Given the depth and conditions, I was concerned that Tom might be nervous. This proved completely unfounded, as he soon grabbed a lobster and put it in his bag. Not that we were here for lobster, but when they are right there, what do you do?

Given the conditions, we swam slowly along the wreck trying to identify anything we could. We reached the Bow, and dropped down the side to the sand 230ft. This was perfect timing for our dive plan as it was time to turn around. We returned slowly to the line and arrived ahead of schedule. With a few minutes left we continued aft, and found that we were tied in just ahead of the break. We quickly inspected the blast area, which contains a jumble of ripped and torn steal, then doubled back to the line.

At this point, I was happy I had run the line. The strobes on the anchor were no longer visible. We were only a few feet away, but could see nothing. For a few seconds your heart skips. Replay your steps. Ok, there it is. I was not so concerned for myself, as my gas plan left me lots of reserve. I never know how conservative a student is with there gas estimates. We reached the line with a minute or two to spare, and signaled UP.

The long slow assent starts. The initial stops are still cold, and now that we are not swimming, the cold can be felt. Clearing the 100 ft stop brought the temp up to 55. That’s a huge change and it felt great. Soon we could see other divers above us. Those we passed on the way down the line, were now hanging at their shallower stops. Above 50 ft the temp jumped back into the 70s and vis was fantastic.

Tom had run his numbers with the VR3, while I was running V-planner. As we discussed, I would have longer deeper stops, and shorter shallow stops. This was more evident that I realized. Most of my early stops, I was 10-20 feet below him. At 40 ft we matched up, then at 20 ft he indicated 10 minutes as I was cleared for the surface.

At some point in this evolution, we were hanging with another four divers around the 20 ft stop. Two divers had ascended the anchor line, while the rest of use went up the Caroline line. Time passes slowly, and we were just hanging there for our stops to clear. I looked down and noticed a very large object moving in the water below us In the clear water, I could easily make out the features of a very large shark. The nose had the distinct features of a basking shark. From above we could not see the mouth, but the snout was unmistakable. I looked to my fellow divers who were transfixed on their gauges. I got their attention, and pointed out the shark. It swam slowly around the Caroline line below us, then doubled back to the anchor line. It swam around the lines in a figure eight, then swam slowly off into the distance. Since it swam between the lines, we knew it was only about 20 ft below us. Comparing its size to the divers on the bow line, I estimate it was a minimum of 20ft. I’ve seen Basking sharks before, but never this clearly. It was an awe inspiring sight!

While we were really psyched at the incredibly cool experience, I was chastising myself for not bringing my camera. Given I was with a student, on a deep dive, I did not want the extra task loading. I was planning on grabbing it after the dive, and snapping a few shots of the other divers entering and leaving the water. Well, I did not have it now, and was quite disappointed! We spent the rest of our decompression looking around for the shark to return, or perhaps one of its school (as Basking sharks are know to swim in schools). No such luck.

Once on the surface, we did talk about the shark, and some asked what type it was.  I’m sure it would have been a much more heart pounding experience for those that did not know. I did grab the camera, and swam around the boat taking a few shots. Captain Dan, and Danny jumped in for a dive and to pull the hook. The sea was flat calm, with no current. It was an enjoyable wait just floating in the water.

Before long we were underway for the long trip home. It was a great day, and many will tell the story of seeing a huge basking shark.

If you live in NJ and are interested in diving this wreck, there are a few options. First you can charter a NY boat, get up early, drive to NY, and fight NY traffic on your trip home. Captain Dan has worked out another option. He’s running charters from NJ. Due to the distance, this is more expensive than a standard charter, but can be cost effective over the tolls, gas, and traffic of the alternative.

Billy raising the flags.

With many of the usual suspects in tow, we headed up to Fire Island. Upon arrival, we found a private dive boat tying into the bow. We agreed to tie in toward the stern. Danny had the job done in no time, and Divers started gearing up.

Before long, it was my turn. Just like it’s been down off NJ, the surface was a little snotty, then it opened up around 30 ft. Here the vis remained 30 ft or so down to the top of the wreck. Danny had us tied into the keel near one of the large holes in the hull. My general practice for new wrecks is to do an extended visual tour to get my bearings.

Given the vis, I was confident that I could see the line from either side of the wreck, so no reel was necessary. I headed into the light current, which turned out to be forward. Passing over several large breaks in the hull, I peeked in, then continued forward. Eventually the sweep of the deck became more prominent, and I found the anchor line of the other boat. They were tied into a portion of the keel that formed a loop just prior to sweeping upward. Here also were some smaller holes in the hull that allowed large Tog to swim in and out of the wreck. A large Trigger fish also darted in an out at this point, just keeping out of my reach.

I now knew we were tied in about 200 ft from the bow. It would be a long swim to the stern. I dropped down a bit along the starboard side. The vis below dropped considerably. I could not quite make out the sand, but I could make out the large guns and mounts as I passed them. Again, I peered into each large opening as I passed, pointing my light around. One opening caught my attention. I could see the light of another diver sweeping back and forth as they swam inside the wreck.

Nearing the stern, the prop shafts soon became evident. I was looking forward to seeing what would surly be an impressive set of props. No such luck. They were gone. I found out later, that they had been salvaged years ago, and the salvage effort resulted in the sinking of a savage barge. As it turns out this barge is known to be a good lobster dive.

After swimming the length of the ship, the best bet for penetration seemed to be just forward of our line. After returning to the area, I found Bill making his way in. I didn’t want to stir up the silt on him, so I went further forward where there had been some other large openings. Here the ship is not as wide, and in some of the areas, you can swim completely through. Swim in one side and out the other. Looking through the debris, on the bottom, there were coils of wire here and there, and the ever present silt. One section contained a bulkhead with what appeared to be stacks of shelves. There were openings into deeper sections of the ship, but I was running out of time, and only took the 50cent tour. After poking through a few more openings, I was about out of time, and headed back.

With the proper training and dive buddy, this wreck could be very interesting to explore. As it’s my first visit, I enjoyed just poking around in some of the more open spaces.

On the long trip home, the seas picked up a bit making for slow going, but we were still home for dinner. Had this been a charter from NY, dinner would have been much later.

Franky and I jumped into clear blue water to set the hook. The line was visible for 50-60 feet below us.  Below 80 ft the vis dropped, and the sunlight quickly died out.  Only our dive lights could be seen at this point.  Once on the bottom, we tied in quickly and started to look around.  The bottom temperature was 46 degrees with 40-50 ft of vis.  It was tough to tell since it was so dark.   I was surprised by the lack of fish and lobster.  Normally cunners are everywhere, but not here. On many deep wrecks, the lobsters are out during the day.  Perhaps it’s the lack of light at depth, but they seem to be more active, and often more abundant.  Not today.

Time goes quick at this depth, and it was soon time for the long cold ascent. The thermocline at 80ft was quite welcome.  There was another one at 40 ft that brought the temp up to 75 degrees (almost hot).  Visibility here was over 60 ft, and I could clearly read “Independence II” on the back of the boat.

With Franky and I were aboard, Dan and Bill geared up and jumped in.  While we waited for the other divers, we could see disturbances on the water surface, some 200 ft from the boat.  This occurred several times, then for a brief moment, we could clearly see tuna jumping 4-5 ft out of the water.  While looking for divers on the line, we could see Mahi-mahi swimming under to boat.   Unfortunately the divers did not notice them.

With Capt Dan and Bill aboard, we soon got underway for the trip home.  Just then, a whale breached some 200 yards off the bow.  It’s body nearly cleared the water.   On the trip home, the radar lit up as we passed a group of 20-30.  Checking the charts, this was apparently a popular tuna fishing location.  Well we certainly saw a good number of them.  I’m sure the fleet did also.

Saturday, Divers Den North had a charter to the Stolt. Everybody loves this wreck. The drive out was spent weaving and dodging the flotilla of recreational boats. Apparently there was a fluke tournament, and the masses had turned out.

When we reached the Stolt, Terry jumped in to set the hook.  Watching him descend, it was obvious that surface vis looked much better than the week before.  However, when we pulled up a dragger had passed very close to the wreck.  This raised concerns about the vis on the bottom. Terry had us tied in quickly, and the pool was open.  As divers were rolling in, the Lockness arrived from Long Island, and asked to join us.  Before long they were tied in, with their boat just off our stern.  Captain Dan seems to know everyone.  We were soon exchanging stories of dives, trips, and artifacts.

Divers started returning with bags of scallops, bugs and mussels. A couple of nice tog came up also. From the reports the temperatures had not changed much, but the visibility was just the opposite. of last week. It was clear on the surface, and only 10 feet or so on the wreck.

I rolled in with a student, and we headed for the bottom right along the break. The reports were accurate, the vis was bad, with some surge at the top of the wreck, and current past the hull. We did a quick tour of the break, then headed slowly up the super structure. We poked our heads in a few holes, but the vis was just as bad inside. One interesting observation was the number of scallops on top of the wreck, and on the flat surface of the superstructure.

The Coast Guard takes over the escort

While we were in the water, a boat in distress was reported in our area. We got underway quickly, and sped off to assist. Upon arrival, we could see that the boat was low in the water, but they had stopped taking on water. We escorted them toward shore until the Coast Guard arrived on scene. Nothing like a little drama on the high seas.

As we approached the wreck the sun was getting ready to set behind us. This was a low lying wooden wreck, so Bill looked carefully for a good piece to drop the hook on. By the time I cleared 20ft my light was the only thing visible before me. On the bottom, the line was right on top of a large rib. We were soon tied in, and it was time to reconnoiter.

Given this was my first dive on this wreck, my standard practice is to look around first, then decide on a plan of action. Within a few feet of the line, the telltale signs of lobster were evident. Here, there, everywhere. They were not coming out yet, but there were quite a few in some deep holes. Sea bass were everywhere, and some were quite large. Tog and ling cod where here and there. Sea Robins were all over the sand. Even a nice Conger eel was swimming about freely. It was bit startled by my light. Swimming up the main rib, there were also signs of fluke, and large ones. All of this was very bad, since my weapons were on the boat. After coaxing a 22 inch fluke into my bag, I headed to the surface for reinforcements.

The remainder of my short dive was spent mapping out the wreck in my mind, and collecting fluke along the way. Like most wooden wrecks, there was a nice chain pile at the bow. Many fish and lobster were entrenched here. Some low lying sections stood just a few inches off the sand. Here, Sea bass darted in and out in response to my light.

Back on the surface, the sun had set, and Bill was getting ready to jump in. As the divers came up they all agreed that this was a great dive, and we should do it again. At this point Captain Dan regretted leaving his gear at home. After a short while, we could tell Bill was at his safety stop by the aura of his HID light: 20-30 foot arcs of light. It’s kind of eerie to see the water lit this way at night.

If you’ve never done a night dive here in NJ, I strongly suggest giving it a try.

Upon arrival, I splashed to set the hook. I must admit to being a bit nervous since we had just returned from our North Sea Expeditions, and I had only unpacked my gear the night before. The configuration was a bit different from what we used in Belgium, and I did not have much time to test out the rig. Another trial by fire.

Dropping down the visibility on the surface was not great. Once past the thermocline at 40 ft, it opened up a bit, and I could now see the line before me. Within a few minutes, we were tied in, and I started looking about. Despite the swells above, there was little to no water motion on the wreck. No serge or current. Visibility here was a good 40 ft, but dark due to the murky surface. Large tog were swimming in and out of holes in the wreck, and along the hull. Here they picked at the mussels growing there. Cunners are everywhere on this wreck. One nipped at my glove while I was working with the chain. They keep hang out in front of my mask. I assume they are looking at their reflection, but I’m not taking changes that they want to nip at my lips (the only exposed skin).

At 100 ft, there was a second thermocline where the temp dropped to 46 degrees, and the visibility dropped down to 20 ft. The ocean floor was covered in winter flounder (out of season of course), and skates. A few small lobster were about, and one reasonable one way back under the rudder. Ling cod were about in large numbers, and many of them were large in size. After making a full circle around the wreck, I headed back to the line. I cut the dive short figuring, next dive, I’ll bring a either a weapon, or camera.

At this point, I could see the bubbles of divers rising off in the distance, and the lights of divers on the bottom. Great conditions. Soon, I was back in the surface snot, and the wreck faded from view. On the other hand the temp rose to 72 degrees. On the surface, I informed Brandon of the visibility and suggested he take his camera. I told Bill and Dan that I would do a second dive later with weapon in hand. They handed it to me my spear, and sent me back down the line. So much for a surface interval. (Don’t try this at home.)

Back down on the wreck the visibility seemed to have dropped a bit. Other divers were swimming about, and the tog visible on the first dive were no longer around. The decision was to drop down to the bottom and try for some of the Ling, then wait for the other divers to clear out and see if the tog would show up again. The first part of the plan worked well as Ling are not all that bright. On a previous dive, I recall dragging the line across one wreck, with a ling cod in my face the whole time I was wrapping the line around a beam. Today, even after missing a shot at one, it only retreated a few feet, and I got him on the second shot. Once a few of the larger ones were in my bag, I started to head up to look for some tog.

The other divers were still down on the wreck. In one area, large plumbs of rust colored water billowed from openings. Other areas also showed evidence of activity. I was able to get close to a few of the tog, but none of the big ones. Off in the distance a large gray one darted around the corner. However, he never let me get a clear shot. I guess they don’t get big by being dumb.

Along with my bag of fish, a few lobster came up, a bag of mussels, and a couple of bags of scallops. We headed off to another wreck for the second dive. This was a low lying wooden wreck, with very few spots to attach a chain. Brandon found a good one, and the pool was open. This wreck is often covered with lobster, but this time was also covered in scallops and skates. Many bugs and a few bags of scallops came up. Personally, after spending over two hours on the Stolt, I was done for the day. I splashed to pull the hook, but had no energy left to look around. This was probably good, as I felt a cold trickle down my leg as soon as I hit the water. Somewhere along the line, I must have poked a hole in the suit.

The trip back was on calm seas. It had been a great day of diving, and it was good to be back in NJ.

Here’s a little video clip showing the diver boarding procedures used in the North Sea aboard the Cdt. Fourcault.

Ascent is not up the anchor line, but on a drifting “shot line”. At the top is a large (4 ft) ball. Attached to the ball is a tag line. Once you hit the surface, you hold onto the tag line waiting to be picked up. The RIB picks up one diver at a time and bring them back to the mother ship. Attached to the back of the RIB is a foam raft (boogie board). The diver climbs aboard the raft, and the RIB heads back , diver in tow. In 8 ft seas, this is quite an experience.

Once alongside the diver rolls off the raft, and drifts over to a cage/platform that is lifted up onto the main deck. No ladder!

Last week, a few friends and I had the opportunity to join the North Sea Expedition 2009. This was an all CCR trip to visit some untouched wrecks. The trip was coordinated by a group of Belgium divers who were gracious enough to invite groups from the UK, and the USA. The dive platform was the Cdt. Fourcault, a 150 ft converted military vessel. The owner/captain, Pim, lives aboard with his lovely wife Angel. They hosted the entire group in their “home”.

At the beginning of the week Pim made a comment that the highlight of the week is not the diving, but the people. His words could not have been more accurate. I’m not down playing the diving, but it was overshadowed by the people we met. First, the Belgium dive group did a fantastic job of putting this trip together! I can not say enough about how smoothly and professionally this was carried out! Not only did they plan and coordinate the diving, but also supplies (tanks, weights, sorb …), transportation, and even dinner plans in town. Second, Pim and Angel were two of the best hosts anyone could ask for. Can you imagine having over 20 people staying in your house? Meeting, diving, and spending time with them was one of the trips highlights! They also had a great crew assembled for the trip. They all kept the ship and dive operations running smoothly, and safely all week. In addition they were fun and interesting people to meet and work with.

Group Dive Brief

In addition to our hosts, many other great divers were aboard for this trip. We spent long hours laughing and talking about trips, techniques, and gear: what works, what doesn’t. Just a great group to spend time with.

Now lets talk about the diving.

Dive operations were very different from here in the Northeast US. We have some areas around inlets and sounds (Block Island and Rode Island for example) where dive operations must be scheduled around the slack tides. In the North Sea, all dive operations seem to revolve around the tides. There is a dive window of around 2 hours. At the start of this window the current is dropping down to a manageable range. During the dive the current eventually stops completely, and reverses. The trick is to get back on the line before the current picks up and becomes unmanageable.

Drift to the shot

To operate in these conditions, divers use some different techniques than we use here. The ship does not anchor into the wreck. Prior to dive operations, shot lines are dropped on the wreck. Theses use large weights, and grapnels to drop quickly to the bottom, and hook the wreck. Next the dive vessel is positioned up current of the shot line. If possible, the vessel will anchor in this position. However, based on wind and current, this may not be possible. Divers then jump in and drift to the buoy on top of the shot, then descend to the wreck. The first divers secure the line into the wreck. Each diver attaches a marker to the line, and removes it when they head back up. The last diver unclips the line, and the entire group drifts with the shot line.

Giant stride!

A few techniques that are specific to the Cdt. Fourcault: Jumping into the water involves a 12-15 ft drop from the main deck. Now that’s a Giant stride! Any time divers are in the water, one of the three RIB is standing by to assist. At the end of the dive, the RIB can bring the diver back from the shot line. If conditions are right, the diver can simply drift back in the current. Once alongside the diver swims into a platform that is lifted up onto the main deck. No ladder!

Look Ma, no ladder!

This combination of techniques allows for operations in much heavier seas than we would normal consider locally. Since the sea conditions on the North Sea are normally rougher than we experience here, this is a necessity. The US divers were subjected to a trial by fire on the first dive. Jumping into 8 ft seas and swimming to a buoy barely visible between swells. Once there we descended to the wreck into a strong current. On the wreck we enjoyed searching about for artifacts, as well as seeing an abundance fish life different from our own. During the ascent, we hung on the line like flags in the wind. After the shot line was unclipped we then drifted along like plankton. Back on the surface, we bobbed about in the swells until, the RIB picked us up, one at a time. Attached to the back of the RIB is a foam raft (boogie board). The diver climbs aboard the raft, and the RIB heads back to the mother ship, diver in tow. In 8 ft seas, this is quite an experience.

Riding the Boogie Board

The Dives:

Again, I must say thanks to the Belgium dive team for their work in lining up a number of great dives. Many of the wrecks had not been dived before, and we all accepted that they may or may not be worth the effort. For the most part the risk was worth the reward. Conditions on the bottom varied from 10 ft to over 30 ft of visibility. One advantage of the strong tidal current, there is no thermocline. The water was 60 deg F from top to bottom.

Some of the wrecks were intact or nearly so. Others were debris fields in the sand. One wreck was completely engulfed in a sand bar, leaving only the bow, and small tips of debris visible. Others stood up prominently, providing large areas with easy penetration. Here inside the wrecks many artifacts were recovered. Portholes, plates, bottles, spoons, placards, even a telegraph, were all brought into the daylight for the first time in many years.

I’ll try to add more details on individual wrecks, but this post is long enough. Let me end by saying, it was a great trip! Good dives, good friends, good Belgium beer.

Click the image to see all the slides.

Video: How to board a boat Cdt. Fourcault style!

We had another great trip to the Stolt this Saturday. Once we cleared the inlet, the seas were flat with just a slight breeze from the north. Reaching the top of the wreck we easily had 40-50 ft of visibility. Again the top was quite warm with the thermocline starting a 70. On the bottom the conditions drop to 30 ft of visibility, and about 44 degrees. On the first dive, I headed out in the sand in search of scallops. While I ran into lots of skates, winter flounder, and a number of small bugs, there were no large scallops in range of my reel. I made a sweeping arc back to the wreck, but still no scallop encounters. Not even a moon snail to be found. After spotting a few small lobster, and many more flounder, I started back up to the line.

Back on board, someone mentioned seeing a large monkfish along the side of the wreck. With tog out of season, and my first scallop run coming up empty, I opted to have a go with another monkfish aka goosefish. I dropped down the line and started hunting the creature. The usual flounder, ling, eelpout, and small lobster were readily seen. No Monkfish in sight. Doubling back, to the break, I soon spotted him. A battle soon ensued, and the creature was stuffed into my large catch bag. He did not seem happy about the situation. He barely fit in, and may have been cramped. On the way up the line I made sure to keep my hands away from his gaping maw, and keep his slimy flesh away from my drysuit.

We were soon back at the dock, and I had the unenviable task of cleaning this beast. Many people stopped by to inquire about the creature. Most passers by had no idea what it was. The process of cleaning took a while, and made quite a smelly mess. Still the flesh is quite good, and this guy was large enough for a few meals.

If you see a monkfish on the bottom remember two things: they fight back, someone will have to clean him.

The passengers soon rolled in, and Richie returned with a nice bag of scallops and bugs.   He had us tied into a large pipe next to the engine.  This section of the wreck stood some 20 ft off the silty bottom.  The surface temp was 58.  Bottom temp was 43-48, depending on who you asked, and visibility was a dark 40.  If the sun came out, this would be a fantastic dive.  As it was, it was just great.

The Lillian was a freighter that sunk back in 1939 with a cargo of sugar. It sank in 150 ft of water after a collision in the fog.   The wreck is on the edge of the mud hole, so the conditions can vary depending on the tide.

After seeing all the scallops coming up, I figured I’d have to go out in the sand to find any.  This proved futile, as the scallops were on the wreck itself.  Once I figured this out, I bagged my share just as my reel decided it did not want to go any further. Flounder were all over this wreck.  Some were so large, I had to check twice.  Many were still buried in the sand.  Those I checked three times.   Ling cod were also about, along with a few Eel Pouts.  One unusual item was the large sponges lodged about the wreck.  These seemed out of place here.  Some were close to 3 feet across, just laying in the sand.  Captain Dan told us to keep an eye out for portholes, so I looked closely as I reeled my line back in.

I headed back to the boilers, and was soon comforted by the sight of the strobe in the distance.  These were great conditions for this wreck.    Back on the boat, we all took turns cleaning scallops.  Several of the passengers had bagged their first scallops, and were learning how to clean them under Captain Dan’s tutelage.

We headed home just as the sun broke through the clouds.  Oh well, it was still a great dive!  The scallop dinner was good too!

Details:
NOAA was calling for 10-15 knot winds out of the west, with 2-3ft seas. They were pretty close this time, but there was very little wind. We headed out with a group from The Dive Shop for their first trip to the Stolt. The usual suspects tagged along for the ride. We made good time on the way out as the seas were near flat. Bill had us tied in quickly, and the groups started getting into the water.

Once in the water, you could see the wreck quickly. With no current or wind, the line dropped straight down to the tie in. On the top there was clear water, but you could see the thermocline below where the vis dropped to about 20 ft. I chose to take video this trip, and was rigging the lights on the way down. In the still water, it was easy to drop into some of the large holes in the wreck and film inside.

On the bottom, there was not much to see, other than a few ling cod and eelpouts. Most fish are spooked by bright lights, ling don’t seem to mind. They will even come toward the light. Perhaps they are using the light to look for food. In any event, they are not camera shy.

Swimming along the side of the wreck most of the anemones were out in bright colors. Swimming through some of the upper decks you could see the water mixing in the thermocline. Large schools of cunners darted around, and some large tog swam with them. The port side was above the thermocline. There was a slight surge here, so the school of cunners swayed back and forth with it, looking for some morsel of food to be blown off the wreck. I spent some time passing back and forth through these passages tracking the movement of the school. Like the ling, cunners are not camera shy. Some would even come up to the lens, and try to nip at their reflection.

The camera was out of video tape, so I headed up. Just under the boat, there was a fish swimming back and forth. To my surprise and delight, it was a large trigger! When I hit the surface, I handed up the camera, and someone handed down a pole spear. I quickly invited the trigger home for diner. An invitation he could not refuse. Ocean triggerfish often arrive in August, brought up in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. It’s uncommon to see them this early in the season.

Back on the boat, Rob made his usual long dive, and returned with a large bag of scallops. Bill returned with lobster. Mark and John had been digging inside the wreck. Mark returned with some jars with what appeared to be Norwegian writing. Luke grabbed a bag of mussels. The rest returned with stories of the great conditions, and how good a dive it was.

A few reported seeing dogfish above the wreck. For the second dive, Rob timed his scallop cleaning so that other divers would be on the line. They were entertained by the sight of the dogfish darting after the shells and parts.

We were soon on our way back to the dock after another great day of diving.

In addition to lobster and Sea Bass, reports came up of 48 degree bottom temp, and visibility of 25ft. I opted to bring in the camera rather than the pole spear. It was not clear enough to get an panoramic shots, but the anemones were all out, and the schools of small fish co-operated.

The wreck is the aft end of a tanker blown in two by a mine. The bow section drifted off toward shore, while the stern sank 12 miles off the beach in less than 90 ft of water.

There is still about 20 ft of relief in the bridge section. The engine and boilers also stand up prominently off the bottom. The rest of the wreck is a jumble of twisted hull plates forming a large debris field. The wreck appears to be covered in a new skin of mussels. In a few years they will be large enough to eat. There are also groupings of anemones here and there. A few large Tog popped in and out of the wreck, nibbling on the older mussels still remaining.

The bridge can be penetrated from several locations. The compartments are small with little room to maneuver. Entering one section, a group of Pollock darted away, spooked by the video lights. The bottom is covered in mussels shells from the years of growth. Other than that, the compartments are just bulkheads. Not that interesting on video.

After running out of video tape, I headed for the line. The rest of the divers were finishing their second dive, and we were soon ready to get underway.

Terry and Frankie tied us in. Frankie came back with stories of giant lobster getting the better of him. Terry came back with the lobsters. Both described a large school of dogfish above the wreck.

I jumped in with the video camera and a new video light reflector.

To make a long story short, there were lots of Dogfish. We figured 80-100. I’m still editing the video, but here’s a clip to give you an idea.

The ride was quick since the ocean was mostly flat. There were some rollers, but nothing like last week. We were only in about 90 ft of water, but when dropping down the line, the lights went out quickly! On the bottom the vis varied from 5-10 ft at best. I turned on my light, but the reaction was like high beams in the fog.

It was difficult to tell much about the wreck, but it was obviously wooden and still had at least 10 ft of relief. In the short vis, it was difficult to see all the monofilament on the wreck. However, you could feel it tugging on your gear. (One diver came back up with line and a lead sinker wrapped around his fin.) Seabass were about the wreck, but were not active. Most were hiding under the wooden planks. There were a couple of eelpouts here and there, and even a sea raven. One large winter founder passed by but alas I had not brought the right weapons. I spent most of the time looking under the boards for lobster, but only saw one of consequence. He was way back in a hole with no intentions of coming to visit.

After a while, I started to feel a distinct trickle of water running down my right arm. I tugged on the dry suit zipper, but it was closed. I guess I did not find all those holes after all. The bottom temp had been 44 degrees. Back on the line, the temp started to rise to 50 at 20 ft. From there to the surface, the vis dropped down to a few inches. I could barely see my hand on the line. I could not see the boat until I broke the surface. (No wonder it was dark.)

We pulled the hook and moved over to the Pinta for the second dive. Here, on with a sandy bottom, the vis was closer to 15-20ft, but still very dark. Here there were more fish about with Tog, Seabass and Cunners darting in and out of the wreck. As with last week, the anemones were out, swaying in the moderate surge. I still spent my time hunting the elusive crustacean. I found a few shorts, but nothing to bring home. Before too long, I started to feel that trickle again, and headed back to the line. This week, I’ll be on the deck with the Aquaseal.

Our destination for the day was the Mohawk. The wreck lies in 75 ft of water which allows for some longer bottom time. Danny had us tied into the stern on the starboard side. With only a slight wind and minimal current, the anchor like dropped nearly straight down to the wreck. Reports came back of 44 degrees, and and only 15 ft of vis. That leaves the camera is out. I jumped in to see what the winter storms had done to the wreck. Franky jumped in with Franky Cam 2.0. The addition of a chin strap to prevent loss of the camera.

Sean left his pole spear by the anchor for me, but I left it in favor of just having fun. Perhaps the sun was up higher in the sky, but the vis looked more like 25-30. I swam down the port side inspecting an nook with evidence of excavation. There were a few small bugs, but no keepers. Many holes were occupied by eel pouts rather than lobsters. A few seabass popped up here and there, and a number of smaller tog. Up by the pilot house there were a few nice size tog hanging out. There seemed to be a lot of yellow sponge laying in the debris field. Here and there whole sections of the wreckage were covered with large anemones, outstretched in the still water.

Clearing the wheelhouse, I heard engines off in the distance. Time to get off the wreck. On the way back to the stern, I inspected pieces out in the sand. Again, the holes were mostly empty, with only shorts left. Divers brought up winter flounder, tog Seabass and pictures.

The breeze had picked up enough to blow out the fog, and we had a smooth ride home.

The Independence is heading out May 2 and 3. Contact Capt Dan for spots @ 732-232-7878

With all the rain and storms in March, we were not able to get out on the water.   A few of us broke down and headed to Dutch Springs for opening day.  It was great to see everyone, and finally get wet.  I expected the water to be around 38 degrees, but instead it was more like 43.  Not bad for early April.

Vis was good, and like everyone else, I was checking out some gear modifications.   There was a new reel, patches on the drysuit (I finally found all the holes), and a new dome port for the camera.   Shooting a bag worked well, and I was able to get a few shots in before the camera started complaining about a leak.   Better fresh water than salt water.

After surviving these winter trips, the sleeping bag has stayed with me for years. It has came in very handy. One weekend, I decided to stay on board, and the temp outside dropped to around 20 degrees. A few other crew members had also decided to stay the night, and seemed to be more affected by the cold. Keep in mind that a boats fiberglass hull does not have much insulation. If you’re planning on staying on a boat overnight, make sure you have the proper gear for the task.

The same can be said about keeping warm underwater. A quality wetsuit or drysuit / undergarment will keep you warm! This past weekend I was diving in 38 degree water for over an hour. I was comfortable the whole time. Other divers were complaining of about the cold. If you purchase the proper gear, and maintain the gear properly, it should keep you warm, and last for years.

On closer inspection, there were small spines protruding from the surface.  This was fire coral!  After years of hearing divers warning me to watch out for fire coral, I finally found out what it looks like.   I assume the small fish I was observing were using the fire coral for protection from predators as they darted in and out between the blades.

Fire coral is not actually coral, but a hydroid (more like a jellyfish).  The sharp calcified spines combined with the stinging cells called nematocysts present double trouble for anyone that comes in contact.   Bushing against fire coral can produce a painful sting which last for days.  Cutting your skin on fire coral can take long time to heal.  Since we strive to avoid contact with any coral, I’ve never been stung.  Hopefully these pictures will help others to avoid the burn.

Diving under these conditions can be both exciting, and relaxing! The scenes of tropical reefs and colorful fish are beautiful and serene. The diving is often easy and at many resorts it’s supervised. This is a great place for beginning divers to practice their new skills, and enjoy the wonders of underwater world.

Gear:
We previously talked about basic SCUBA gear, so now let’s add a few items for tropical diving.

Exposure protection:
This will be the major consideration. There are a few variables here:
Water temperature
Air temperature
Your bodies reaction to cold
How many dives are planned

Read the section on Exposure Protection for more details

Signals:
Tropical diving is often done around small islands. Sometimes in strong current. Separation for the boat is a real possibility, and signal devices can be real life savers! If your planning a drift dive, then will need a marker to let the boat know where you are. A visual aid like an SMB is ideal for both situations. Also a audible signal like a whistle, or Dive Alert can get the attention of the dive boat when you’re hard to see. Both of these can be easily carried in a BCD pocket.

Skills:

Buddy Skills: With all the fascinating beauty of the tropical reefs, it’s all too easy to become distracted and lose contact with your buddy. Try to stay within about 10 ft, and don’t forget to check on them regularly.

Depth Control: The clear water can be very deceiving. Remember objects appear closer under water. We can easily go deeper than planned, and run into issues with gas management, or decompression. Keep an eye on your gauges!

Buoyancy Control: Coral reefs are fragile environments! A single kick can kill an organism that has lived for 100 years. We as divers are fascinated by this spectacle, but we must protect it from ourselves. Work on your buoyancy. Practice it whenever you have a chance.

• Thermal protection: The major reason for protection is Thermal protection. Keep in mind that water conducts heat 25 times faster than air. In air, our bodies would be warm at 75 deg F. Underwater, most people would chill very quickly at 75 deg F. Our bodies can not tolerate a drop in temperature. Hypothermia develops after a drop of only a few degrees.
• Abrasion protection: Rocks, shipwrecks, shells, corals can all easily scratch, or cut through exposed skin.
• Marine organism protection: especially in tropical waters, there are many stinging organisms both on the reef, and floating in the water. Sea Urchins, scorpion fish, lion fish and a long list of others have sharp if not poisonous barbs that can easily hurt a diver.
• Sun protection: While not as obvious, the sun in the tropics can burn sensitive skin on the deck of a boat, or even while we are snorkeling in the water.

The type of protection available breaks down into three groups:

• Dive Skin: These provide no thermal protection, but do provide the other three. They are often made of Lycra to hold the suit close to the body and reduce drag.
• Wetsuits: These are made of Neoprene rubber, which consists of thousands of small gas bubbles. The thicker the wetsuit, the more bubbles, and therefore the more thermal protection it provides. The thickness is measured in millimeters (mil) and varies form 0.5 - 7.0. A small amount of water enters the suit (hence the name) but the body quickly warms this water, and the suit insulates it from the outside water. In order to work properly, they must be snug to prevent water from flushing through the suit and cooling the body.
• Drysuits: These provide an airspace under the suit that can be inflated to provide protection. An undergarment holds the air in place around the body and reduces air movement to the highest part of the suit.

Which to use:

Since each diver responds differently to cold, it’s impossible to give an exact answer. Here are some factors that affect how much thermal protection is needed:

• Water temp: Duh. Colder water will need more protection.
• Depth: Often it is cooler down deep, and wetsuits will lose some of their protection as we go deeper.
• Air temp: On an overcast day, it can be cooler in the air than under water.
• The diver: Size, fitness, metabolism, even what was eaten for breakfast will all affect the reaction to cold.
• Length of dive: Longer exposures will require more protection.
• Number of dives: More dives done in a day or over a week can cool our bodies slowly.

There is no right suit for all divers under a given conditions. No one can say “you’ll be warm in a 3 mil suit at 80 deg F.”. However, here are some guidelines:

Dive skins are used in very warm water ( over 85 Deg F ). They have little to no thermal protection, but do provide a layer of protection from sun, scrapes, and stinging organisms. In tropical environments, this protection can be very important. Corals, sea urchins, and shells can cause punctures and abrasions. Also, the Caribbean sun can cause dangerous sunburn very quickly. If you don’t need the thermal protection, it’s still advisable to wear some form of dive skin.

If the water temperature is below 85 degrees, many people should consider a 3 mil wetsuit. At 80 degrees, many will wear a suit between 3-5 mil. On the other hand, some very cold people will where a 7mil suit. As the water get colder, the thickness of the suit can be increased.

Since water temperature varies throughout the year, it can be beneficial to consider layers. A 3 mil shorty can be worn over a 3 mil suit when the weather turns cold. Or, a hooded vest can be warn under a suit to keep the core warm.

Below about 60 Deg F, many people are thinking drysuit. Some will stay with a wetsuit as long as possible due to the cost of a drysuit. For longer dives in colder water, drysuits are heaven sent. With a drysuit, dives under the ice in lakes are possible. To handle cooler temperatures in a drysuit, the undergarment thickness is increased to create a larger air space around the diver. Some exotic materials are often used in the undergarment provide more thermal protection for the same size air space.

Unfortunately, when discussing thermal protection, there is no right answer. It all depends on the diver, and trial and error may be the best approach. One parting point: If you’re warm, you can flush water through the suit, or remove your hood to cool off. If you’re cold, you have to end the dive to warm up. It’s better to error toward the warm side.

After fit, here are some other considerations you may want to keep in mind when making gear selection.

Intended use: Ask yourself a serious question: what type of diving will you be doing in 5 years? Your SCUBA gear will easily last that long. I still regularly dive the first SCUBA regulator I ever bought. Many fall victim of short sighted purchases. Then every few years, they sell all their gear, and buy gear that is better suited to the diving they are doing now.

Marketing claims: The newest or most expensive model is not always the best choice. Manufacturers are constantly trying to separate themselves from the others. There have not been huge changes in SCUBA technology in the last few years. Improvements in manufacturing practices have reduced the cost to make the gear, and exotic materials have made some of the gear more rugged. However, despite marketing claims, the basic function of the gear has not changed significantly.

Local Conditions: Ask a few local divers, or instructors, what type of gear they use and why. There are a few pitfalls to this approach. If their answer is one of the following, “it was a deal”, “someone else recommended it” or “That’s what our shop sells”, then look for another source. Keep in mind that shops recommend what they sell. That does not mean its the right gear for your local diving. Check out the diving experience of the shop owner (the one who purchases the gear). Make sure their diving matches your plans. If not, then the gear may not be suited to your diving conditions.

A good instructor will usually be upfront, but some are affiliated with a shop, and will promote the shop’s gear. Experienced divers will get the right gear for the job. Find out what it is and why.

Shop for features not brands: When talking with other divers, ask about the features they look for in the gear. During these discussions, leave the brand out of it. Most brands offer similar features. Or put another way, the features you’re looking for are probably available from several brands. The important part is to determine which features are important, and which are not. Some features, highly touted by the marketing types, may be a detriment in your diving conditions. Make a list of the features you want before stepping into the shop.

Which brand: Again, most features are available from several brands. How do we choose? Without going into the Chevy vs Ford issue, here are a few points to ponder:

• Service: Some brands provide fantastic gear, but have very few locations for service.
• Quality: Some brands have better manufacturing processes, and produce gear with better fit and finish.
• Reliability: This often has to do with the quality of the materials used in the gear, and the quality of the engineering that went into it. Simple is usually more reliable.

Price: Why is this last on my list? Simple, if you have not chosen good gear, then getting a good deal, is no deal at all. I hope the above discussions will prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear, or falling for the marketing claims and purchasing unnecessary bells and whistles. If you can avoid those pitfalls, then you should have saved enough money to buy the right gear once.

The most common, or plentiful, shark in the Atlantic only grows to a length of 4-5 feet (more commonly seen at 3 ft). They are called sand sharks or Spiny Dogfish. They can be seen around the wrecks either alone, or in small groups. Are they a threat? No. I don’t believe there has ever been an unprovoked attack on humans.

Cute little shark.

Do we see other sharks? Yes, but far less frequently. Further off shore we will occasionally see basking sharks. These are filter feeders, and no threat, but with their large size, they startle you at first. Other divers have reported seeing Blue sharks, and Mako sharks.

Some things to keep in mind. The incidence of shark attacks on divers is very low. Most shark attacks are in shallow water in the surf zone (beach), with limited visibility. Most divers are in deeper water, with good visibility. In recorded history, there have been only a hand full of attacks in New Jersey. None of these have been on divers.

The Bow of the Chaparra

Here on the east coast we do not have the rocky shore and bottom found on the west coast. Our shore line is mostly sand, and for the most part the bottom is sand also. The continental shelf slopes out for 60+ miles before dropping off sharply. Sand and silt that washes out of our rivers and streams has deposited in this shallow area for thousands of years.

This sand does not provided shelter for fish or secure footing for large plants like kelp. The sand does provide a home for clams, scallops, and sand dollars, but the more interesting areas to dive are the shipwrecks.

There are an estimated 4000-5000 shipwrecks off the coast of New Jersey. (Many people are taken back by that statement.) Keep in mind that we have the port of New York to the north, and the port of Philadelphia to the south. Over the past 300 years there have been thousands of accidents in these waters. Further, during two world wars, the German submarine force spent a significant amount of time trying to stop the flow of supplies from the US to Europe. Many ships were sunk just miles off our beaches.

The older wrecks of wooden ships have been slowly eroded by the forces of nature. Storms, sand, rot, and marine invertebrates have nearly erase them. Still left are the stronger structural beams along with the anchor chain, and machinery used to lift it.

New steel ships quickly fall victim of rust. Many of these ships are now jumbles of steel rubble and hull plates strewn on the sandy bottom. Again stronger or reinforced portions of the ship hold up better with time. Engines, boilers, propellers, and pipes are often recognizable. Metals like coper, brass and bronze stand up better to salt waters corrosive effects.

Even in this state of decay, these wrecks provide shelter for marine creatures. Filter feeders like mussels, sponges and anemones attach to the wreckage for support. Lobsters and crabs burrow under the wreckage for protection. Schools if fish surround the wrecks. Some are looking for shelter, others are looking for food.

Let’s start out by changing the question.  Why do you get out of the water?  Without getting too deep into the physics / physiology and finances, we have one of several reasons:
1)   Limited ability to withstand the temperature drain of water immersion
2)   Limits on the amount of gas we have
3)   Large fish with teeth

Normally, 1 and 2 are the major limiting factors.  When the original question is posed, it is usually referring to our gas limits, so let’s look closer at the factors affecting it.

Without getting too deep into the explanation, lets just use a couple of generalizations.
1)  The deeper you go, the less time you have.
2)   The harder you work (underwater) the less time you have.
3)   Different people consume air at different rates.
4)   The bigger you are, the less time you will have.
5)   New divers will have less time than experienced divers.

Numbers 1 and 2 are immutable facts.  Numbers 3 - 5 are generalizations that vary greatly based on the individual, their physical fitness, and level of skill and comfort in the water.

Just to throw a wrench into the works, we must also consider the size of the tank.   As discussed before, different tanks carry different amounts of gas, and can allow us to stay longer.

Let’s consider an average dive (not working hard), by an average diver at an average depth (60 ft) with the average tank (Aluminum 80).  In general this diver should have gas to dive for about an  hour.

There are several Internationally recognized SCUBA training agencies.  There are some differences in the classes, but they all have a similar elements.

Classroom:  Learning ranges from books, to multimedia, to Internet training, but each contains a degree of classroom participation.  Here an instructor can answer any questions, and emphasize safety points.  Often they will stress procedures that me more common in the local diving area.  Yes, there is a test.

Pool:  The first dive experience is in “confined water”, usually a pool. Here we learn to perform certain skills in a safe, controlled environment.  Once mastered we move on to Open Water.

Open Water:   This is usually a lake or quarry.  Here we practice the skills again, and get to swim around and enjoy the dives.   The final dives may be on a boat, depending on the local diving.

I like to think of the class as covering two general areas:  First, how to plan and execute your dive, and second, how to safely handle any problems that may occur during a dive.

The Basic SCUBA class roughly takes 14 hours of classroom, 10 hours of pool, and 5 open water dives.

Once completed, it’s recommended that new divers stay shallow (less than 60 ft) until they feel comfortable with the skills they have learned.  Then they can take additional training to learn the skills necessary to go deeper.

Part of the answer depends on the location of the dive: off the coast of New Jersey, the bottom slopes gently for the first 30-50 miles.   Shortly after this we hit the Continental shelf, commonly called the Canyon.   Here the depth drops sharply to several thousand feet.   Obviously our diving is on the gently sloping bottom.

About 3 miles off the beach, the depth averages about 60ft.  After 20-30 miles, there are some great wrecks in 130 ft.   The bottom slope does vary from place to place.   There is narrow trough cut by the Hudson river commonly called the Mud Hole.  It is deeper than the surrounding area, but the outflow of the river makes the conditions more challenging.

The rest of the answer depends on the diver’s experience and training:

Novice divers should stay shallower than 60ft, until they develop the skills and comfort in the water necessary to go deeper.

Advanced divers go between 60 and 130 ft.  At this point they carry additional safety equipment necessary to perform these dives.

Technical divers go beyond the 130 ft range down, sometimes in excess of 300 ft. These divers have spent years training and practicing for these dives.  They carry redundant gear and practice techniques to survive equipment failures.   Many famous shipwrecks are in this range: the Andrea Doria, the U-869, the Black Sunday wrecks including the S.S. Carolina.  These all fall in this range of technical dives.

How deep do I personally go?  Well, I teach Technical Divers.  While I enjoy spearfishing and photography in the 50-130 range, we can often be found diving in the 180-250 range.

History: Early rebreathers were used not for diving, but for escape. Mines and Submarines both presented situations where a compact breathing device was needed to allow crews to escape to safety. Theses were developed back in the early 1900, and produced in quantity by 1910. Open Circuit SCUBA was not commercially available until the mid 1940s.

How do they work: Let’s start with a quick review of metabolism. Our cells take in food and Oxygen (O2). These are combined to produce energy, but have a toxic byproduct of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Our Cardiopulmonary system takes some of the O2 from the air we breath, and distributes it to our cells. At the same time it takes the CO2 generated by our cells, and releases it into the air that we exhale. The O2 and CO2 exchanged by our lungs is actually a small percentage of the volume of gas that we breath (about 3%-5%).

On Open Circuit, when a diver inhales, the regulator provides the diver with gas (usually air) at same pressure as the surrounding water. When we exhale, the gas is vented out into the water producing the column of bubbles associated with diving.

When a CCR diver exhales, the gas is vented into a flexible chamber called a counter lung. Within the Rebreather, O2 is added back into the gas, and it is passed through a “scrubber” which removes the CO2. We then inhale the same gas which again contains the proper O2 percentage.

With OC 95% of the gas we exhale has not been affected by our respiration. It is not used. It is wasted. On CCR, this 95% is recycled, cleaned of CO2, enriched with O2, and breathed again. This allows us to make use of smaller tanks, as our O2 consumption does not change with depth.

A little background for those of you unfamiliar with these creatures.  They are often called goose fish, or all mouth.  The latter is more a description, and an accurate one.   They are in the anglerfish family, and are mostly head and mouth.  They grow to over 5 ft in length, but 3 ft is more common.  They lie flat on the bottom with their belly down (like a skate or ray) but with the mouth facing up.   They are also well camouflaged.  When food (fish, lobster, crab, diver … ) comes within range, they quickly open their huge mouth which sucks water into their mouth and hopefully the prey comes with it. If they don’t completely swallow their prey on the first attempt, the rows of sharp teeth hold it in place for a second or third try.   Basically they are a large ugly eating machine.   The part of the fish that is not mouth, is mostly stomach.   On the other hand, the little bit of fish that remains is very good eating.

Stories are told of divers not seeing the fish, and kneeling on them, or putting their hands on them.  The shock factor having the sand come alive and try to grab you with rows of teeth, is the subject of many a dive tale.   Others tell of battles with the beast which often resulted in leaking drysuit or torn gloves.

Back to the story.   So here I am, novice diver swimming along spearfishing sea bass and totaug.  While making a pass over an old derelict lobster pot, I notice an odd shape in the sand.   It’s clearly not a fluke, and after a few seconds, I come to the conclusion that it’s a Monkfish.   Now what?  I’m not sure I want to argue with it, as it was larger than any fish I’ve encountered to date.  As I was the last in the water, and my dive is about done, I know Captain George should be down here somewhere hunting lobsters and getting ready to pull the hook.   I quickly found him and signal him over.

The ensuing conversation was all made with hand signals and gestures, but went something like this:
George:  Do you want him?
Dave:  I guess.
George:  Open your bag in front of him, and I’ll prod him into it.
Dave: OK, but I hope I don’t lose the fish in the bag.
Monkfish:   I’m not that dumb.   Stop putting that bag in my face.

One plan down.  Now what?  George motioned for me to hand him my bag.  I obliged.  George opened the bag, then with one motion, he picked up the fish by the tail, and dropped it into the bag and closed it, before the fish had a chance to react.   He handed me the bag, waved goodbye, and went back to hunting lobster.

I could not help but laugh after hearing stories about these beasts.   My dive time was done, so I headed up the line.   Picture if you will, I’m holding the anchor line in one hand, and a bag of fish, including a very aggravated Monkfish in the other.  He’s got his mouth wide open, and I’m looking at rows of teeth that would easily poke holes in my drysuit.   My bag was one with a metal loop around the top that acts like an old style woman’s purse.   I finally figure out that sticking one end of the metal loop in his mouth will cause him to bite down, therefore preventing him from attacking me.

With a small degree of satisfaction, I board the boat only to find that I had avoided one attack, but fell victim of another.   Another endearing property of Monkfish, they generate slime. Lots of it.  I guess It’s either part of their camouflage, or stomach secretions from having it’s mouth open during the ascent.  Either way, I’ve been slimed!  My drysuit looked as if a giant had sneezed on me.  I put my catch bag in my cooler, then jumped back in water to clean the suit.

After everyone was aboard, we discovered that no one knew how to clean a Monkfish.    Fortunately, when we returned to the dock, George was able to find a commercial fisherman with the required knowledge, and hankering for lobster.   He made quick work of the task, and several of us went home with fillets in hand. I mean cooler.

In the end, Monkfish is good eating, but I must warn you, they are not for the timid.  It was a few years before I went for another one. They are not to be trifled with. They’re a mess to bring up, and a smelly mess to fillet.

SCUBA is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. As an acronym, SCUBA should always be upper case. However, the word is so common that it is often lower case, or Scuba. In it’s simplest form the “apparatus” includes:

• a tank which contains pressurized air
• a regulator which converts the high pressure air to a pressure we can breath
• a Buoyancy Compensator (BC) used to adjust our buoyancy underwater

The above gear is often referred to as the “SCUBA unit”. There are other forms of SCUBA, but this is the most common.

Some other gear that we also use when SCUBA diving:

• a mask which allows us air breathers to see underwater
• fins that make it much easier to swim
• an exposure suit to keep warm in cold water
• various gauges to measure depth, time, and air pressure

We really can’t dive without this gear, but it’s not exclusive to SCUBA diving.

There is also a variety of safety gear used in SCUBA diving. As the diving conditions become more challenging, the amount of gear increases. Below I’ll cover each piece of gear in more detail.

Material: Let’s start with the basics. The tanks are made of either steel or aluminum. There are pros and cons to each material. While aluminum is a lighter alloy, it’s also not as strong as steel. Therefore the walls of an aluminum tank have to be thicker, thus defeating the advantage of light weight. On the other hand steel is more prone to rust damage than aluminum. Before you buy a tank, talk to divers in your area and find out what they dive and why.

Color: The color of the tank really has no meaning and is strictly a personal preference. I like the unpainted ones myself. Often the paint on tanks flakes off after a few years, and defeats the purpose. Again, it’s just personal preference.

Size:   First, what do we mean by “size”?  In the USA we measure tank size by the number of cubic feet of air it can hold when it is full.  One of the most common tanks is an aluminum 80, which holds 80 cubic foot of air when full.    How much air is 80 cf?  It’s about the size of old telephone booth.   For those of you too young to remember those, think of a full size refrigerator.   We use a compressor to squeeze that air into a tank that measures about 1/3 of a cubic foot on the outside.

I like to think of tank sizes in two categories; primary tanks, and special purpose tanks.  Primary tanks are used to hold your main air supply.  They range from 60 cf up to 130 cf.  Why such a range?  One simple reason, it’s different size tanks for different size people.   There are other considerations we will discuss later.

Special purpose tanks vary in size from 6 cf up to 50 cf.  These are commonly used in addition to the primary tank for backup, to provide inflation to other gear, or to hold other gases.

Pressure: How do we know it’s full?   The air around us is under pressure, about 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi).  This pressure is created by the gravity pulling on the atmosphere above us.   When we compress the air into a tank, we increase the pressure.  Different tank materials and construction can withstand different amounts of pressure.  Therefore different tanks have different “rated” or usage pressure.  Some are as low as 2400 psi, others as high as 4500 psi.  Most modern aluminum tanks are rated at 3000 psi.   Most modern steel tanks are either 2400 or 3446 depending on the alloy and construction.   When the pressure in the tank is equal to the rated pressure, then the tank is full, and contains the rated volume of gas.

Boyle’s law tells us that this relationship between pressure and volume is linear.    Thus half the pressure means half volume of gas.   If an 80cf tank is full at 3000 psi, then at 1500 psi it has 40 cf of gas.  While diving, we carry a pressure gauge to measure our tanks.  The gauge measures psi not cubic feet, but like the gas gauge on your car, it give you an indication of what fraction of your gas is left.