Brenton Reef Lightship 10/14

[wreckedinri]

Managed to get out on Saturday, even with a questionable forecast for 4’ seas. We encountered ground swells outside of Boston harbor in the 3’ to 4’ range, but until the winds picked up in the afternoon, we had calm conditions. Unfortunately, rough conditions for several days prior to the weekend didn’t make for good visibility at depth. We - my partner Harry and I - managed to get a dive on the Brenton Reef Lightship. However, the visibility was so poor that I can’t really tell you how the wreck was! We were tied to the starboard rail, which is the high side as the wreck lies on her port side with at least a 45-degree list to port. I tried to work my way down the deck to the bottom but when my hand with my light in it disappeared into the murky water I retraced my route back up to the high side rail. I did a cursory exploration of the starboard bulwark, but when the vis worsened I returned to the mooring line and the welcome sight of Harry’s flashing strobe. With a pre-dive briefing warning us about the netting decorating this wreck, and awful visibility, we decided to bag the dive at 12 minutes and head back to the boat. We will definitely return to explore this historic wreck – but under better conditions.

Dennis

 

[ageddiver]

Bummer about the vis, but it's been crummy lately which is typical for this time of year. Also spotty - we had a braille dive on the coal barge a week ago, but the next day very decent at a deeper location. You can see what you missed here http://www.bostondeepwrecks.com/wrecks/lightship.html - I've got some "before" pics, and the link to Donna Chaston's site will show you what it looks like in decent vis. It's a nice dive because the wreck is still intact - be sure to check out the rudder hardware, that's a lot of brass!

 

[wreckedinri]

Bummer about the vis, but it's been crummy lately which is typical for this time of year. Also spotty - we had a braille dive on the coal barge a week ago, but the next day very decent at a deeper location. You can see what you missed here http://www.bostondeepwrecks.com/wrecks/lightship.html - I've got some "before" pics, and the link to Donna Chaston's site will show you what it looks like in decent vis. It's a nice dive because the wreck is still intact - be sure to check out the rudder hardware, that's a lot of brass!

Thanks for the link. Very good site.

We had crappy vis at the Bone wreck a couple of weeks ago also. We did manage to have a very nice dive - vis at 20'+ - at the Schooner Barge (aka Snetind) about mid-summer, but that's the last time we had any decent vis to speak of. IMHO, just not worth mucking around at 180 with no vis. Maybe I'm just getting to old for that crap.

Dennis

 

[ageddiver]

The trouble is the good vis is not really predictable. If you don't take a chance and put up with those braille dives occasionally, you'll miss those great days. It's what makes you come back year after year Yesterday it was the chop that made it tough - but the vis at depth was good.

I just usually give up and do drills. Figure I'm down there, I might as well do SOMETHING.

 

[jdelprete]

Hey wreckedinri, where are the Secret Squirrel divers out of? Just visited the webpage which looks decent and wanted to know more.

Jim

 

[wreckedinri]

I just usually give up and do drills. Figure I'm down there, I might as well do SOMETHING.

That's exactly what I ended up doing. Getting plenty of black-water practice.

Hey wreckedinri, where are the Secret Squirrel divers out of? Just visited the webpage which looks decent and wanted to know more.

Jim

Where just a group of divers that like to have a good time and that'll jump on anything interesting from Montauk to Cape Ann. Several of us have boats and and have access to anywhere in MA and RI. We dive wherever the wrecks are and the winds and seas are favorable.

Dennis

 

[jdelprete]

are there many of you? What are the varying levels of divers in the group? I'm asking because as I progress and get past my master diver cert I want to start into tech and of course learn from those already experienced in doing it.

 

[wreckedinri]

are there many of you? What are the varying levels of divers in the group? I'm asking because as I progress and get past my master diver cert I want to start into tech and of course learn from those already experienced in doing it.

PM sent.