I will try to tag on a couple of my notes with Tom's from our trip.
He hit most of the high (and low) items that I remember.
It was great to have the Deep Obsession (25 diver boat) to ourselves. Yes, we did our best to spread out and use every inch.
First dive is the Arabia.
The down line is tied to a block about 20 yards from the bow. If the vis a good you can swim off the line and straight to the bow instead of going to 100ft and then swimming up to the bow at around 80-85 ft. This was an awesome wreck. I would want several dives to really see all of it. Some of the best artifacts are right in the bow area, so don't spend too much time at the stern.
Second morning dive was the King.
There are a couple of two-man hand saws in the middle of the wreck at about 55 ft (a guess, I did not check) and a part you can actually swim through at about 40 ft.
Another half of the wreck is on top of the rock shoal in 12-15 ft of water. Like Tom said, just thousands of metal pegs holding this *wooden* wreck together. The 12 ft depth is also a good test for dry suit buoyancy skills.
Capt Gary says it doesn't matter if he has 2 divers or 20. All the deck space seems to get used up. Hmmmm, was that a compliment? Maybe......not. LOL.
Charles P. Minch - afternoon dive.
This was a mostly shallow dive. The only time we got below 25 ft was when I led the group out to the dive boat across the cove. (Murphy was visiting a friend of ours this day. see below)
Just to the west of the main wreck is an old wheel of some sort that is leaning against the wreck. No one, so far, has found a good explanation of what it is. The inner spokes are criss-crossing, then a thin metal/wood band, then outer spokes that are short and straight out. No outer wheel. Looks unlike any ships wheel that Capt Gary, or us, has ever seen. Anyone have any ideas?
Dive day two, Saturday. Niagara II
The dive boat Bruce Isles winds up its GM diesel to a set of RPM's I have ever heard a diesel run at. Capt Gary regularly wears ear protection to keep from going deaf. Other than that, the boat is well set up for divers. While i surface swim to the down line and hang there for a minute before we descend I hold Cyril underwater and try to let some the air out of him. I just hope he won't crush on the way down. I hold him out away from me as we drop down the line. He Survives!
We take pictures and enjoy a great dive.
Niagra II - Dive
Had a great dive going through the innards of this ship. It is set up for easy penetration. You could always see one, usually two exits from anywhere we went. Other than the sand storage area, vis inside the wreck was pretty good.
Remember those folks on the Zodiacs that Tom mentioned.
They unhooked and took off for a 2-3 mile run to Flower Pot Island for lunch. About 1/2 of them were in wetsuits. I shiver just thinking how cold they were going to get running in that wind in water soaked wetsuits. Brrrrr.
p.s. Tom has been warned about my tendency for snoring and has even experienced it before on our trips to Gilboa in his trailer. However, he neglected to bring the ear plugs he usually wears nightly. Forewarned is usually forearmed, but not this case...
This was a great trip. I recommend Tobermory be put on the Must See list for every wreck diver.
He hit most of the high (and low) items that I remember.
It was great to have the Deep Obsession (25 diver boat) to ourselves. Yes, we did our best to spread out and use every inch.
First dive is the Arabia.
The down line is tied to a block about 20 yards from the bow. If the vis a good you can swim off the line and straight to the bow instead of going to 100ft and then swimming up to the bow at around 80-85 ft. This was an awesome wreck. I would want several dives to really see all of it. Some of the best artifacts are right in the bow area, so don't spend too much time at the stern.
Second morning dive was the King.
There are a couple of two-man hand saws in the middle of the wreck at about 55 ft (a guess, I did not check) and a part you can actually swim through at about 40 ft.
Another half of the wreck is on top of the rock shoal in 12-15 ft of water. Like Tom said, just thousands of metal pegs holding this *wooden* wreck together. The 12 ft depth is also a good test for dry suit buoyancy skills.
Capt Gary says it doesn't matter if he has 2 divers or 20. All the deck space seems to get used up. Hmmmm, was that a compliment? Maybe......not. LOL.
Charles P. Minch - afternoon dive.
This was a mostly shallow dive. The only time we got below 25 ft was when I led the group out to the dive boat across the cove. (Murphy was visiting a friend of ours this day. see below)
Just to the west of the main wreck is an old wheel of some sort that is leaning against the wreck. No one, so far, has found a good explanation of what it is. The inner spokes are criss-crossing, then a thin metal/wood band, then outer spokes that are short and straight out. No outer wheel. Looks unlike any ships wheel that Capt Gary, or us, has ever seen. Anyone have any ideas?
Mr. Murphy went on their boat today and provided a huge leg cramp for this guy and some minor air-leak problems for another diver. Hopefully her will skip us again tomorrow.
Dive day two, Saturday. Niagara II
The dive boat Bruce Isles winds up its GM diesel to a set of RPM's I have ever heard a diesel run at. Capt Gary regularly wears ear protection to keep from going deaf. Other than that, the boat is well set up for divers. While i surface swim to the down line and hang there for a minute before we descend I hold Cyril underwater and try to let some the air out of him. I just hope he won't crush on the way down. I hold him out away from me as we drop down the line. He Survives!
We take pictures and enjoy a great dive.
Bad Gnome! You are in a time out!
Niagra II - Dive
I have to commend Tom, he flew into the hole in the side of that stack so smoothly and with hardly any slowing down..... Just like he moves when he is after a cold brew.
Had a great dive going through the innards of this ship. It is set up for easy penetration. You could always see one, usually two exits from anywhere we went. Other than the sand storage area, vis inside the wreck was pretty good.
Remember those folks on the Zodiacs that Tom mentioned.
They unhooked and took off for a 2-3 mile run to Flower Pot Island for lunch. About 1/2 of them were in wetsuits. I shiver just thinking how cold they were going to get running in that wind in water soaked wetsuits. Brrrrr.
p.s. Tom has been warned about my tendency for snoring and has even experienced it before on our trips to Gilboa in his trailer. However, he neglected to bring the ear plugs he usually wears nightly. Forewarned is usually forearmed, but not this case...
This was a great trip. I recommend Tobermory be put on the Must See list for every wreck diver.
