Alma EA Holmes Dive

[wreckedinri]

Had a good dive on the Holmes, with vis around 10' but dark this weekend on my first trip out with Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, out of Salem, MA. Great boat (Gauntlet) and very professional, experienced, and friendly Captains and crew.

I typically dive from my, or my friend's boat in NE so I do not have alot of experience with charter ops around here. In other parts of the country, on SOME boats, as divers not known to the crew, we've been treated like we never dove a wreck before, or like we were just certified (we are in our 40's and 50's and been diving since the 70's & 80's). None of that attitude with NADE. They made us feel at home, provided a simple, yet detailed dive briefing, and let us do our thing.

I will certainly dive with them again.

Be Safe,
Dennis

 

[Sea-Diver]

Sounds like a good operation.

 

[ericfine50]

Dennis,

Heather and Dave run a great operation. They are running all winter long. They are my boat of choice. See you on the water
Eric

 

[matt_unique]

How was the site? Was there a mooring or did the charter boat drop the hook? How much relief does this wreck offer?

This wreck is on my list for next season. I got the coordinates this year but never made it out there.

--Matt

 

[Soggy]

I look forward to diving the Holmes this winter. From what I understand from talking with Heather, it is a lousy site during the traditional dive season and usually has awful visibility, but during the cold winter season, the vis goes up and it can be a spectacular dive.

 

[MASS-Diver]

What's the depth at this site? 150'?

 

[matt_unique]

What's the depth at this site? 150'?

160' from what I am told and found through research...

--Matt

 

[Northeastwrecks]

I agree with Soggy, Heather and Dave run a great operation. I've used them almost exclusively this year, and have been very pleased.

I'm supposed to dive the Holmes next weekend. My planning depth is 160.

 

[Soggy]

160' from what I am told and found through research...
--Matt

We hit 155' today with an average depth of around 150'. It was near high tide.

 

[Soggy]

NADE has a mooring on the site on the port-side near the stern. It's tied into some machinary. The wreck has very little relief. We hit the wreck at around 145ish and our max depth at the sand was 155'. It is a wooden wreck that sank in the 1900s, so most of what is left is the hull in some places and just ribbing in others.

From what I understand, visibility on the wreck in the warmer months is terrible, but the colder water clears things up.

I guess there is some question as to whether or not this wreck really is the Holmes, but if it is, here is some information about the site: http://northernatlanticdive.com/shipwrecks/alma_holmes/alma_holmes.htm

Despite the lack of relief, it is a very nice dive with immense amounts of marine life. There are the typical NE sponges and typical invertibrates, anenomes, etc, plus we saw a few schools of some small bright-colored as well as a ginormous sea raven.

There is an immense amount of monofilament and spider-line all over the wreck, so practice that backup kick

How was the site? Was there a mooring or did the charter boat drop the hook? How much relief does this wreck offer?

This wreck is on my list for next season. I got the coordinates this year but never made it out there.

--Matt