grouchyturtle
Contributor
Why is it that the Doria is...as they say, considered the Mt. Everest of diving, when there are actually some deeper wrecks, that divers have been down on?
Doria question
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I think it has to do with a combination of things.
It's relatively far off shore in rough seas that can put a strain on a diver before they even get to the wreck. (and it's a long way from help if you need it, even by helicopter.)
It's in cold water with limited visibility and potentially strong currents. There are other deeper wrecks in other areas, but visibility, current and temperature are often less challenging.
It is not the deepest wreck around but deep enough to be a very risky proposition on air and to require substantial deco whatever gas you breathe.
It has china that is valued enough to make people want to penetrate the wreck and at times to take unreasonable risks to get it.
The wreck is large, is laying on it's side, and is well silted which all increase the potential to become disoriented.
The wreck is in relatively poor condition, covered in nets and is starting to fall in on itself due to the effects of rust and sitting on it's side for nearly 50 years.
It was also a very well known and very public sinking that has had lots of media coverage over the years in relation to diving, starting with Peter Gimbal diving the wreck the day after it sunk. If you dive the Andrea Doria it means more than most wrecks because everybody, even non-divers, know what you are talking about. That does a lot for bragging rights.
The analogy also pretty good as Everest may be tallest but is by no means the most difficult or dangerous peak to climb in the Himalayas. (K2 is far more deadly and far more difficult to climb.)
Everest is not hard to climb from a technical standpoint with only one section requiring a great deal of technical climbing skills (the Hillary Step). The difficulty comes from the debilitating effects of altitude and the limited time you can spend above 28,000 feet, (even with 02) and the unpredictable weather. It is however a valued climb as it is the highest and this creates an attraction for people to climb it and to often take unreasonable risks to summit.
Getting up Everest is not really the problem, getting down before dark or before the weather catches you is and 1/3 of the people who have summitted Everest have died on the way down.
Similarly, getting down to the Andrea Doria is not really the problem.
It's relatively far off shore in rough seas that can put a strain on a diver before they even get to the wreck. (and it's a long way from help if you need it, even by helicopter.)
It's in cold water with limited visibility and potentially strong currents. There are other deeper wrecks in other areas, but visibility, current and temperature are often less challenging.
It is not the deepest wreck around but deep enough to be a very risky proposition on air and to require substantial deco whatever gas you breathe.
It has china that is valued enough to make people want to penetrate the wreck and at times to take unreasonable risks to get it.
The wreck is large, is laying on it's side, and is well silted which all increase the potential to become disoriented.
The wreck is in relatively poor condition, covered in nets and is starting to fall in on itself due to the effects of rust and sitting on it's side for nearly 50 years.
It was also a very well known and very public sinking that has had lots of media coverage over the years in relation to diving, starting with Peter Gimbal diving the wreck the day after it sunk. If you dive the Andrea Doria it means more than most wrecks because everybody, even non-divers, know what you are talking about. That does a lot for bragging rights.
The analogy also pretty good as Everest may be tallest but is by no means the most difficult or dangerous peak to climb in the Himalayas. (K2 is far more deadly and far more difficult to climb.)
Everest is not hard to climb from a technical standpoint with only one section requiring a great deal of technical climbing skills (the Hillary Step). The difficulty comes from the debilitating effects of altitude and the limited time you can spend above 28,000 feet, (even with 02) and the unpredictable weather. It is however a valued climb as it is the highest and this creates an attraction for people to climb it and to often take unreasonable risks to summit.
Getting up Everest is not really the problem, getting down before dark or before the weather catches you is and 1/3 of the people who have summitted Everest have died on the way down.
Similarly, getting down to the Andrea Doria is not really the problem.
VTernovski
Contributor
DA Aquamaster pretty much covered your question, but I highly recommend you read the following two books that will give you an even better insight at what goes on when you dive this thing:
'The Last Dive', by Bernie Chowdhury (ISBN 0-06-019462-6)
and
'Deep Descent', by Kevin F. McMurray (ISBN 0-7434-0063-1)
If you can attend the Beneath The Sea scuba show in NJ in March 2004, you can have you book authographed by the author; and, of course, ask them all kinds of questions, which is pretty cool!
'The Last Dive', by Bernie Chowdhury (ISBN 0-06-019462-6)
and
'Deep Descent', by Kevin F. McMurray (ISBN 0-7434-0063-1)
If you can attend the Beneath The Sea scuba show in NJ in March 2004, you can have you book authographed by the author; and, of course, ask them all kinds of questions, which is pretty cool!
mwilding
Contributor
You can get these books at http://www.bookcloseouts.com/ for $15 shipped for both!
OP
grouchyturtle
Contributor
Actually Doug picked up the book when we went last year.
It's been sitting here for a few weeks, I've just been so busy I haven't started it yet, although I have skimmed through a few spots.
It's been sitting here for a few weeks, I've just been so busy I haven't started it yet, although I have skimmed through a few spots.
HPT3
Guest
Bill found that the Hillary Step was a difficult climb as well.
Danny D
Contributor
Plus several people have died trying to penetrate the wreck ..like a couple years ago when that father son team penetrated it and something fell on the father causeing him to become stuck..They ran out of air because when the father finally got freed they forgot where they left thier stage bottles . They had to make a emergency ascent with no air and both got bent. Father died at the surface and I think the son might have lived after getting out of the hyperbaric chamber, but I can;t remember if he did for sure.
Those kinds of events add to making the Doria a very challenging dive as well as the reasons that other have stated.
Those kinds of events add to making the Doria a very challenging dive as well as the reasons that other have stated.
OP
grouchyturtle
Contributor
I think you're thinking of the Rouses.
The son was the one who got stuck. It was actually on a U boat, not the Doria.
Doh! XJae beat me!
The son was the one who got stuck. It was actually on a U boat, not the Doria.
Doh! XJae beat me!
Danny D
Contributor
Yeah thats right...not the Doria...well heed that warning.
I thought the show on it showed the father getting stuck. he entered a room and something fell on him pinning him to the floor...? Well its not like I haven;t been wrong before...
I thought the show on it showed the father getting stuck. he entered a room and something fell on him pinning him to the floor...? Well its not like I haven;t been wrong before...
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