Empress of Ireland

[Pathfinder]

Hi, I was surfing around looking up information about this amazing bit of maritime history. There are some great web sites with excellent information out there including some diaries of divers who have been to the wreck. Has anyone here been down on this ship? I'd be very interested in hearing any stories from people here who have dove this wreck.

This site http://www.northernatlanticdive.com/emp_report_mainbody.htm has links to many others and of course you can then link from them and go on and on .



Dave

 

[Oyster Diver]

Its amazing that almost nobody knows about her. If you haven't read David Zani's book "Forgotten Empress" you should. It is the best book I have read on her yet and it has lots of pictures. I haven't dove on her yet but hope to in the next couple of years.

 

[miked10]

i have never dove her but dive with some people who have. from what i hear it is on par with the Andrea Doria. After all The Empress was like the Canadian Titanic. More people died when the Empress sank than on the Titanic. The current is strong on the wreck and it is very dark. One guy I dive with was part of a Expedition and dove it for a TV show so he has been on the wreck many times. You also need to have some deco training since it is a deco dive i believe.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The Empress is in 110-150 ft of water. So your bottom time and where you spend it is the determing factor for whether or not deco is involved. What makes the wreck so challenging from all the reportd I've read is the very strong currents that can rapidly change depending upon where you are on it. ie if penetrating strong suction, surge effects. This coupled with the cold temps and the limited vis, 10-15 ft is considered good, Make this a very challenging and dangerous wreck. I'd love to dive her after taking my adv nitrox and deco along with an advanced wreck course. And a good number of other challenging wreck dives. Doing school buses and airplanes in quarries IMO won't cut it.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

recent chat.........video, pics...

http://scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=125085

 

[Pathfinder]

Thanks for the responses guys.
And Steve, you're right, no idea why I didn't do a search before asking, I do usually, really ..my bad.

Dave

 

[texdiveguy]

She is on my docket for summer 08'.....have dry visited the site several years back....my prep will continue over the next 24 months--yippy!

 

[Mako Mark]

I had it on my list of top two things to dove in North America before I had to leave for downunderland. Challenging diving, but not quite so risky as the AD but just as rewarding is how I hear it is.

 

[NSDiver]

i have never dove her but dive with some people who have. from what i hear it is on par with the Andrea Doria. After all The Empress was like the Canadian Titanic. More people died when the Empress sank than on the Titanic. The current is strong on the wreck and it is very dark. One guy I dive with was part of a Expedition and dove it for a TV show so he has been on the wreck many times. You also need to have some deco training since it is a deco dive i believe.

miked10-

You've got the figure there a little wrong - more passengers died on the Empress of Ireland, but there were more total deaths on the Titanic.

-Nick

 

[Pathfinder]

Empress/Titanic losses:

1,517 died on the Titanic including 685 Crew. 706 survivors.

1,012 Passengers and crew died on The Empress. 465 survivors.

Dave