Lessons Don't go in a wreck, even an "easy" one

[Eric Sedletzky]

From what I saw on the video posted, some of those divers need to clean up their rigs a little. Dangling octos, consoles, etc. catching and hanging up on door sills, cut-outs, etc.
Lack of situational awareness.
I’ll bet a fair number of them clang and bang their way through that thing. Yikes!
I don’t have any wreck experience but I think I would know enough just by what I’ve absorbed over the years reading articles here and elsewhere that you DON’T TOUCH STUFF! It can break loose and you can get hurt, pinned, etc.

 

[Eric802]

From the video, I can see how parts of that might be a bit dicey if you’re not comfortable doing actual penetration diving.

 

[rmssetc]

Here is a video that shows some of the penetration areas. (Not mine. First that I found in a search.)

I haven't dove the C53, but from that video, the sight lines, navigation within the wreck and to an exit, silt, possibility of reaching your buddy are all significantly better than.some of the Cozumel swim-throughs, and the wreck is 15 - 30' shallower than popular swim-throughs.

Doesn't make me want to.dive the C53. Does make me think more about a pony for swimthroughs,.

 

[Nemrod]

In the C53 there are places where immediate egress is not possible. It is more than a swim through, it is a penetration. And there are a few passage ways that would require single file air sharing. All of which is beyond the equipment and training of OW divers. I have done this dive several times and the last few I told the group that I prefer to stay on the outside. There is more to see and photo outside than up inside a rusted up hulk full of jagged corners.

I think it was around 1980 my wife and I went to Cozumel and we had a nice guide. But we quickly leanred that it was best to watch our depths on the wall when the dive guide was at about 150 feet, I was at 130 and my wife just above me and he was headed down. Nowadays, the operations there are much more conservative but still that wreck is not what I define as a swim through. Ultimately you are responsible for yourself.

Another story, a few years ago on the Vandie, I was assigned buddy, I wanted to go solo and had my pony and equipment but still----. So, I discussed with him that I would do a swim through but would NOT enter the wreck. He agreed. If I take a buddy, I take it serious. The first thing he did was take off down a passage kicking up a cloud of rust. I went in after and then decided, dude!!!! I told you!!!!! And I exited stage left. I had no interest in dyeing and screw that. I went about my photo taking and towards the end of the dive he popped up from somewhere. I did not buddy with him again.

James

 

[wnissen]

I am very glad that this event had a positive ending. It could have ended totally the opposite with tragic end very easily. I can't imagine me doing what your guide did at all. It was criminal based on your description.

Praise to Allah for your safe return and happy ending.

Thank you, I really appreciate your comment. I think the absolute risk is low but in general it's more risk than your typical open water diver should accept.

 

[Scubagolf]

Done this dive a few times. My wife stays outside and hopes I survive. Well, I think she does.

 

[inquis]

Agreed, one mistake was not discussing with buddy pre-dive. Another was not verifying with buddy before each swim-through. The sign for "Question" is a curved index finger. (That's another thing to go over pre-dive.)

Buddy could have also signaling they were not going in, but it sounds like you two may have been too far apart even while in the open. All they needed to do was grab your fin when you failed to look back before entry.

 

[inquis]

there are a few passage ways that would require single file air sharing

Not sure about that. Stacked vertically goes through all the corridors with the standard length/recreational octo.

 

[Nemrod]

Not sure about that. Stacked vertically goes through all the corridors with the standard length/recreational octo.

Maybe. But a few places it was required to also traverse through a port downward or upward or make a sharp turn that had me squeezing through. If folks want to go into an overhead environment with restrictions on OW gear (and training) I can only advise, again, ultimately their safety is up to them.

And you have the training and much experience, very few of the OW divers that go through the C53 do. But, I do not hear much of divers getting hurt so luck prevails, I do not like to trust to luck because I am not lucky.

James

 

[Trace Malinowski]

My favorite hand signals when teaching wreck penetration, cavern, and cave diving were "Come here. Just a little bit."