CT River Abyss and Railroad Bridge Report.

[ScubaSarus]

RIoceanographer, Matt, and I were invited out on the CT River by Grab A Shell Dude to dive the Abyss in Gill Mass and The Railroad Bridge that was washed out in 1936. The dive in the Abyss was quite an experience. Shell and I settled into the hole at 100’ while Oceanographer and Matt went to 116’. Descending into the Abyss was like entering a walk-in closet and closing the door and turning out the light. There was no light down there what so ever (zero). As quoted from a website (It was as black as the inside of a cows stomach). All we had was our lights to depend on. Vis was good (water was clear) and the water temp was 80 degrees at 100’. It was all rocks were we landed with hardly any silt which was a good thing. The cliff had overhangs and was pretty cool to explore. A lesson I learned was to shine your light before turning your head because I slammed my mask into the cliff by simply turning my head (I was that dark) lucky I had a good quality mask. We saw and eel and a catfish at the bottom. Neither was scared of us. After 10 – 15 mins. we came back up being careful not to bang into the overhangs or rocks on the way up. We saw remnants of trees down there also. As we made the ascent it was as if someone up above suddenly turned on the lights. It was awsome to see the light suddenly coming thru the surface.

**Not only take a good light down there make sure your backup light is a good one also. You need every bit of light you can get down there.

The railroad bridge was a fun dive. Vis was also great about 40 ft. Current very mild if anything. Plenty of structure to see. I found an old Adams & Westlake train lantern from the 1890’s and I am still trying to I.D. this particular model. Water temp in the 80’s again. Max depth about 42’. Saw a large school of bass.

It was a neat change from diving in the ocean. Looking forward to going back again someday.

Chris

 

[Grab Shell Dude]

no no!!..... ...you got the quote wrong!! It's :"....as black as the inside of a cow's ***!!!"
Crush

 

[RIOceanographer]

Matt and I went down to 116 ft which was all the way to the bottom of the hole. The bottom of that hole is a very small area, probably no more than 10-15 ft in diameter.

I dove my 3mm shorty comfortably! Freshwater buoyancy is definitely fun. There is nothing like wearing absolutely no lead and still being overweighted!

 

[ScubaSarus]

Hey isn't that what I typed. Actually just made the corrections. Great dive every one. Also a note:

Most Patents were issued on a Tuesday for some reason. And checking the date May 6, 90 as 1890 for the railroad latern works out. Another thing I learned. Adams and Westlake were also famosa for all sorts of railroad lanterns.

Adios Amigos

oops I typed Spanish again.

 

[JimJam]

That lamp is a NICE find. I've dove it many times, and the best I could come up with is a handful of spikes and washers and a lost weight pocket. It is a nice dive though.

 

[Grab Shell Dude]

¡Oye, usted ha de obtener ese español fuera de su cabeza! ¡O nosotros no seremos capaces de comunicar con usted!
¡Pueda al padre de la sonrisa de dioses hacia abajo sobre usted!
Asga el Esqueleto Dude

 

[mstudley]

Two very fun dives. First time in fresh water and the temps were the warmest I've ever been in (80F@116ffw!). I still can't get over just how black/dark it was in the abyss. It seemed like it was eating what little light our lamps were throwing off.

I'm trying to date that 'Model smoking tobacco' sign I found. Looks like it's from the 1930's but I'm not sure.

 

[RIOceanographer]

I still can't get over just how black/dark it was in the abyss. It seemed like it was eating what little light our lamps were throwing off.

It was definitely darker than any night dive I have ever done in the ocean. The color of the water is something like iced tea so it absorbs light very quickly. Like Matt said, the light just sort of gets eaten by the water.

Also there was very little particulate matter in the water so our light beams didn't get much scattering. This meant we couldn't really see a light unless it was pointed right at us and our lights didn't illuminate anything they weren't pointing at directly.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Ok this is the translation.

"It hears, you should obtain that Spaniard out of his head! Or we will not be capable of communicateing with you! Be able the father of the smile of God downward upon you! Grasp the Skeleton Doubt".

Wow now something got lost in that translation. But yes I'll get the Spanish out of system soon enough

 

[keelhaul123]

RIoceanographer, Matt, and I were invited out on the CT River by Grab A Shell Dude to dive the Abyss in Gill Mass and The Railroad Bridge that was washed out in 1936. The dive in the Abyss was quite an experience. Shell and I settled into the hole at 100’ while Oceanographer and Matt went to 116’. Descending into the Abyss was like entering a walk-in closet and closing the door and turning out the light. There was no light down there what so ever (zero). As quoted from a website (It was as black as the inside of a cows stomach). All we had was our lights to depend on. Vis was good (water was clear) and the water temp was 80 degrees at 100’. It was all rocks were we landed with hardly any silt which was a good thing. The cliff had overhangs and was pretty cool to explore. A lesson I learned was to shine your light before turning your head because I slammed my mask into the cliff by simply turning my head (I was that dark) lucky I had a good quality mask. We saw and eel and a catfish at the bottom. Neither was scared of us. After 10 – 15 mins. we came back up being careful not to bang into the overhangs or rocks on the way up. We saw remnants of trees down there also. As we made the ascent it was as if someone up above suddenly turned on the lights. It was awsome to see the light suddenly coming thru the surface.

**Not only take a good light down there make sure your backup light is a good one also. You need every bit of light you can get down there.

The railroad bridge was a fun dive. Vis was also great about 40 ft. Current very mild if anything. Plenty of structure to see. I found an old Adams & Westlake train lantern from the 1890’s and I am still trying to I.D. this particular model. Water temp in the 80’s again. Max depth about 42’. Saw a large school of bass.

It was a neat change from diving in the ocean. Looking forward to going back again someday.

Chris

One of these days I have to do the Abyss. Considering I live right ON the Ct. river you would think I would have done it by now! Done Northfield which has a nice "old" bridge to find stuff (bullets and old cable). Done Hatfield, done the Deerfield,(one old DELL computer found there), but never the Abyss. One of these days!