Anyone going to the O Monday (4/12)?

[boulderjohn]

We have a group of 6 who have both driven or flown to Pensacola for 2 days of diving on the Oriskany. The seas are borderline at best, and we are on the verge of being canceled. To say we are disappointed is a huge understatement. We have a van full of doubles and stages with 18/45 and nowhere to take them. Our bailout plans are Morrison Springs, but that was not our first choice, especially with that much $$$ invested in helium.

No one wants to go if the seas are really bad, but if anyone has decided they are borderline OK, has committed to go, and has room for more, we are interested. Just send me a PM. Early tomorrow AM is OK.

 

[GROUPER321]

Borderline is a understatment, too what we went through today, out at the Dredge Advocet. A solid 5 to 6 on the way out and past twenty miles it was easy 6 to 8, but none the less a great day and Recharge got a nice scamp (tasty), and a great AJ. But good luck.

 

[boulderjohn]

Well, we just got the word. Four foot seas predicted by the wreck, so no go.

 

[MRXRAY]

..... past twenty miles it was easy 6 to 8.....

8 foot seas? You've been watching too much "Deadliest Catch" my brother!

The weather buoy posted 4's and a couple 5's and I'd say we had some 6's, but no 8's. That's a fisherman story.

You can go here to see examples of wave heights:

, Surfline Wave Height Scale (with photos) | SURFLINE.COM

But here is a photo of an 8 footer..... I didn't see any of these. If I had I'd have had a lifejacket on.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

If the waves look like that offshore, I'm gonna start bring a surfboard on charter boats

6-8' is sporty for pretty much any reasonably sized fishing boat. The one time I've had to deal with that was after the Oriskany was sunk - it brought the 32' cuddy we were in to a creeping speed, still soaking us as the waves were breaking over the bow. Still got a few dives in later in the day as the waves laid down to the 4-5' range, then damned near ran out of gas on the way in

 

[Standard11]

MBT divers in pensacola is going to the O this weekend, because i was invited to go on saturday. not sure which dive op you had planned with, but as of about 30 minutes ago they had a trip planned with UWF scuba club(reason i got an invite) but try giving them a call and talk to them if you havnt already. hope it's not a wasted trip for you, just remember the gulf is rather unpredictable

 

[algulfdiver]

This is what NOAA has on it's web site about wave prediction
"OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO
SEAS GIVEN AS SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT...WHICH IS THE AVERAGE
HEIGHT OF THE HIGHEST 1/3 OF THE WAVES. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
MORE THAN TWICE THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT."

 

[boulderjohn]

MBT divers in pensacola is going to the O this weekend, because i was invited to go on saturday. not sure which dive op you had planned with, but as of about 30 minutes ago they had a trip planned with UWF scuba club(reason i got an invite) but try giving them a call and talk to them if you havnt already. hope it's not a wasted trip for you, just remember the gulf is rather unpredictable

Our original operator was Scuba Shack. We tried MBT as well. We had pretty much given up and were driving back from Morrison this evening. MBT called us and said they would give it a shot tomorrow, so we are going after it one more time.

 

[boulderjohn]

MBT called bright and early. No go.

Of our 6 divers, 4 have never tried the Oriskany. One has come 4 times and actually been able to dive it twice. The other has tried more times than that and never been successful.

We are hearing conflicting opinions on what time of the year is best in terms of the likelihood of actually getting to dive. When you come from Colorado and plan your vacation around it, you want to have just a little confidence that you will be able to dive it on a day that is crystal clear, warm, and perfectly calm on the shore.

 

[Docc]

We have a dive planned on the O for this coming Saturday on the Down Under. I hope the seas cooperate.