First Spiegel Grove dives and lessons learned

[Eric802]

Been sitting on this post for a while waiting for time to write it up. Went down to the Keys a couple weeks ago, the only diver between the two couples who went. I really wanted to take the opportunity to do some wreck diving; ever since I was first certified (in 1988) I've always said it was wrecks that really interested me...yet I've never done a proper "wreck dive" with penetration possibilities or the freedom to try them. I've done the Antilla in Aruba, but that was follow-the-guide and pretty much a tour of the outside of the wreck, and the Oro Verde in Grand Cayman but there wasn't much of it left at that point. So the opportunity to dive the Spiegel Grove was very welcome. I was also supposed to go out of Key West and dive either the Vandy or Cayman Salvager later in the trip but that was blown out, so the Spiegel double-dip ended up being it. Well worth bringing the gear, though. I like to look at every dive as a learning experience and these offered plenty of education.

The good:
The wreck itself. Everyone's familiar so I won't belabor it but wow, I can see why folks dive it over and over again. Absolutely spectacular. And, for me, confirmation that yes, I freaking love wreck diving. I was very comfortable poking around inside, navigating a couple corridors, open rooms, etc.
The dive op: Went out with Conch Republic Divers and they were great. Very professional, very helpful, and would definitely go out with them again.
My dive buddy - instabuddy, but all you could hope for. He was a heck of a photographer and got some great pics and video of me; not something I normally get, pics of myself diving. He's got a YouTube channel and sharing the video he made has allowed my dad, my kids, and my wife to get a great look at me doing what I love so much. Great guy.
Kwells for motion sickness - I've had Bonine fail me on small dive boats in lumpy seas. Kwells did not, and the seas were definitely lumpy.
My gear (mostly) - My HOG bp/w and reg set continue to provide trouble-free dives, just what they're meant to do. Orca-Torch lights were good. I love me some good, low-cost, functional gear and that's what I've got.
Troubleshooting: putting my fins on before the first dive and *snap*, break a fin strap. Dug some bungee out of my dive bag that I had there for just such an occasion and fashioned a quick fin strap that held up just fine for both dives. The boat crew seemed a little impressed.

The bad:
Buoyancy control - not really "bad" but dang, nothing lets you know you're not as good as you think like swimming into a confined space on a wreck and mucking up the viz. I know I've always been "okay to pretty good" in this area but yeah, needs a bit of work.
My fins - never really thought about it but looking at the video, Avanti Quattro's probably aren't the best for wreck diving. Compared to the jet-style fins most folks were wearing, they're pretty dang long. Might look into a pair of shorter, stiffer fins for this kind of stuff and save the Quattro's for reefs and such.
My photography - Hey, what's the one thing everyone wants to see on the S.G.? Yep. Snoopy. Snoopy was my quest, the one thing I wanted to get a pic of so I could put it on my office wall. I watched YouTube videos, I read threads here, and I had (what turned out to be) a perfect mental map of how to find it. I went down there and found the other thing I wanted to see, the machine shop, went down the corridor, found Snoopy, got great video, etc. And then found out that I hadn't been recording the whole time. Downloaded the pics and video from my Akaso Brave 4 GoPro knock-off and not one video of the first dive. I was stunned. I guess I now have the perfect excuse to do the dive again.

The ugly:
My SAC. I'm usually pretty good in this area - per SubSurface, I'm in the .50cf/min range. These dives I was up around .85. There was a bit of current, and chop on the surface, and dang, just a lot of swimming at depth to get from point A to point B.
Dive planning: I thought my buddy and I did pretty well; we agreed before the first dive that we'd head up at 1000 PSI to allow for a proper safety stop, etc. What I didn't anticipate was the whole "Oh, yeah, it's a massive wreck and that line you came down on is now waaaaaaay over there so you should probably have agreed to be AT the ascent line at 1000 psi..." First dive, I did my 3 minute SS (even though the Peregrine was telling me 5) and still had like 400 psi when I got back aboard. Second dive was...
Navigation: Came up on the wrong line the second dive. I had hit the agreed upon "time to go up" psi and we were nowhere near our ascent line. Swimming into the current, found "a" line and, at about 800 psi at that point, I figured "hey, this is at least going up to a boat". I knew it wasn't the right line but I at least was smart enough to know that being at the surface on the wrong boat was better than sucking my tank dry to get to the right boat. Kudos to my buddy who followed me up, and to the guys at Horizon Divers who got us back to our boat.

Overall, excellent learning experience. The depth and current combination was not something I was familiar with; I've been down around or below 100fsw before, but not with current or without a guide to lead me back to the boat. I will be much more cognizant of where I am and where I need to be at what tank pressure next time. This was also my first real "big boy" diving experience, and while I'd do it again in a heartbeat it was an eye opener. I'm used to either the "head over to the local quarry" dive or the "cruise boat" dive - you're in a pretty confined area and it's shallow, you won't get lost, or you're out in the ocean but you've got a guide leading you around and bringing the group up when that one air hog hits 1000 psi. The "We're here, pool's open, jump in when you're ready" thing was new to me and being "on your own" was both awesome and a little daunting (as it should be). It's one of those things that, again, I'll do better at next time.

 

[inquis]

I'd consider the machine shop to be advanced as there are dangles that can catch your tank and an exit isn't visible at all times (that I can recall, at least).

You might consider the Deep6 Eddy fins. Similar buoyancy, tons of power, and far more maneuverable. Sounds like you'll be doing more wrecks in the future!

 

[Joneill]

Been sitting on this post for a while waiting for time to write it up. Went down to the Keys a couple weeks ago, the only diver between the two couples who went. I really wanted to take the opportunity to do some wreck diving; ever since I was first certified (in 1988) I've always said it was wrecks that really interested me...yet I've never done a proper "wreck dive" with penetration possibilities or the freedom to try them. I've done the Antilla in Aruba, but that was follow-the-guide and pretty much a tour of the outside of the wreck, and the Oro Verde in Grand Cayman but there wasn't much of it left at that point. So the opportunity to dive the Spiegel Grove was very welcome. I was also supposed to go out of Key West and dive either the Vandy or Cayman Salvager later in the trip but that was blown out, so the Spiegel double-dip ended up being it. Well worth bringing the gear, though. I like to look at every dive as a learning experience and these offered plenty of education.

The good:
The wreck itself. Everyone's familiar so I won't belabor it but wow, I can see why folks dive it over and over again. Absolutely spectacular. And, for me, confirmation that yes, I freaking love wreck diving. I was very comfortable poking around inside, navigating a couple corridors, open rooms, etc.
The dive op: Went out with Conch Republic Divers and they were great. Very professional, very helpful, and would definitely go out with them again.
My dive buddy - instabuddy, but all you could hope for. He was a heck of a photographer and got some great pics and video of me; not something I normally get, pics of myself diving. He's got a YouTube channel and sharing the video he made has allowed my dad, my kids, and my wife to get a great look at me doing what I love so much. Great guy.
Kwells for motion sickness - I've had Bonine fail me on small dive boats in lumpy seas. Kwells did not, and the seas were definitely lumpy.
My gear (mostly) - My HOG bp/w and reg set continue to provide trouble-free dives, just what they're meant to do. Orca-Torch lights were good. I love me some good, low-cost, functional gear and that's what I've got.
Troubleshooting: putting my fins on before the first dive and *snap*, break a fin strap. Dug some bungee out of my dive bag that I had there for just such an occasion and fashioned a quick fin strap that held up just fine for both dives. The boat crew seemed a little impressed.

The bad:
Buoyancy control - not really "bad" but dang, nothing lets you know you're not as good as you think like swimming into a confined space on a wreck and mucking up the viz. I know I've always been "okay to pretty good" in this area but yeah, needs a bit of work.
My fins - never really thought about it but looking at the video, Avanti Quattro's probably aren't the best for wreck diving. Compared to the jet-style fins most folks were wearing, they're pretty dang long. Might look into a pair of shorter, stiffer fins for this kind of stuff and save the Quattro's for reefs and such.
My photography - Hey, what's the one thing everyone wants to see on the S.G.? Yep. Snoopy. Snoopy was my quest, the one thing I wanted to get a pic of so I could put it on my office wall. I watched YouTube videos, I read threads here, and I had (what turned out to be) a perfect mental map of how to find it. I went down there and found the other thing I wanted to see, the machine shop, went down the corridor, found Snoopy, got great video, etc. And then found out that I hadn't been recording the whole time. Downloaded the pics and video from my Akaso Brave 4 GoPro knock-off and not one video of the first dive. I was stunned. I guess I now have the perfect excuse to do the dive again.

The ugly:
My SAC. I'm usually pretty good in this area - per SubSurface, I'm in the .50cf/min range. These dives I was up around .85. There was a bit of current, and chop on the surface, and dang, just a lot of swimming at depth to get from point A to point B.
Dive planning: I thought my buddy and I did pretty well; we agreed before the first dive that we'd head up at 1000 PSI to allow for a proper safety stop, etc. What I didn't anticipate was the whole "Oh, yeah, it's a massive wreck and that line you came down on is now waaaaaaay over there so you should probably have agreed to be AT the ascent line at 1000 psi..." First dive, I did my 3 minute SS (even though the Peregrine was telling me 5) and still had like 400 psi when I got back aboard. Second dive was...
Navigation: Came up on the wrong line the second dive. I had hit the agreed upon "time to go up" psi and we were nowhere near our ascent line. Swimming into the current, found "a" line and, at about 800 psi at that point, I figured "hey, this is at least going up to a boat". I knew it wasn't the right line but I at least was smart enough to know that being at the surface on the wrong boat was better than sucking my tank dry to get to the right boat. Kudos to my buddy who followed me up, and to the guys at Horizon Divers who got us back to our boat.

Overall, excellent learning experience. The depth and current combination was not something I was familiar with; I've been down around or below 100fsw before, but not with current or without a guide to lead me back to the boat. I will be much more cognizant of where I am and where I need to be at what tank pressure next time. This was also my first real "big boy" diving experience, and while I'd do it again in a heartbeat it was an eye opener. I'm used to either the "head over to the local quarry" dive or the "cruise boat" dive - you're in a pretty confined area and it's shallow, you won't get lost, or you're out in the ocean but you've got a guide leading you around and bringing the group up when that one air hog hits 1000 psi. The "We're here, pool's open, jump in when you're ready" thing was new to me and being "on your own" was both awesome and a little daunting (as it should be). It's one of those things that, again, I'll do better at next time.

Thanks for the detailed report - it’s on my list to get to so this was helpful in what to expect and how to plan!

I had the rubber bungee strap break on one of my pretty new Avanti Quattros (~50 dives on them and broke as I put on for the very first dive on my Raha Apat LOB trip in 2022 - used loaner fins the rest of the trip).

I have since seen a few break on other divers as well so I’d guess a design flaw. I bought and carry a couple of extra straps on every dive trip now. I have since switched to Excite Pro’s, but they use the same straps. I love the fins but am careful as to how much/quickly/strongly I stretch the straps as I don’t fully trust them as I am putting them on (Once on, no worries).

 

[MB NZ]

Spiegel Grove was dives 526 and 527 for me. I'm now at nearly 1000. It remains the most disconcerting dive I've done because of the insanely strong currents. I've probably dived in equal if not stronger currents, but always as a drift, never up and down and line. Not a site to be taken lightly in my opinion.

 

[Eric802]

Oh, one other “learning”. These were my first Nitrox dives. Got to the shop and the guy asked “do you want 80’s or 100’s”. I’ve only ever dived 80’s. Hesitated, asked what others were doing, and he said if you’re pretty good with air the 80’s would get me to my NDL just fine. Totally forgot the most obvious maxim that “There’s no such thing as too much air” and said “Um, 80’s are fine.” Needless to say when I was heading up on both dives that extra 20cf would’ve been nice.

 

[inquis]

I’ve only ever dived 80’s.

I'd say the 80s were a good choice, then. It would have sucked if the different tank worsened your trim, possibly making you stir things up more than you did.

Make gear changes on easy/familiar dives so you're not dealing with multiple challenges.

 

[inquis]

when I was heading up on both dives that extra 20cf would’ve been nice.

I think a better takeaway is that when you must return to the up-line, you should make that part of the dive plan. Learn to plan excursions away and back, including a contingency reserve. Take into account the current when you have to fight it on the return.

Don't get me wrong, I think your choice to go up the wrong line was a good reaction in a deteriorating situation. You were exposed to a lot of new things, and I'm sure you learned a lot! No doubt your future planning will improve as a result.

 

[rx7diver]

... First dive, I did my 3 minute SS (even though the Peregrine was telling me 5) ...

Good write-up. The above statement is a bit concerning, though. Was your PDC telling you that you had a 5 min obligatory decompression stop (rather than a 5 min safety stop)?

rx7diver

 

[gamon]

and said “Um, 80’s are fine.”

Bad choice. Especially when the 100s are the same price as the 80s, which they are at Conch Republic Divers. They're a bit heavier but you need to carry less weight so it offsets.

Given your high SAC rate, the depth and complexity of the dive, the extra gas is quite useful.

My dive buddy - instabuddy, but all you could hope for.

Hope is not an effective strategy. CDR allows solo diving (well that may depend on the Captain- Mark was filling in the day I last dived with them and at first said no to solo but relented when I put up a fight) but with most dive charters if you've got the certification, the skills, the gear, and the experience you don't need to be hooked up with a liability.

I had hit the agreed upon "time to go up" psi and we were nowhere near our ascent line.

You need to work on this. It might not matter so much on the SG that has at least a half dozen mooring balls from bow to stern, typically with watchful dive boats on a few of them, but on other dives it can make the difference between life and death. The steel 100s could have made the difference here (if you chose to look at your spg) but that would have been a matter of gear making up for poor planning and skills. Carry a reel and dsmb and know how to use them.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Good write-up. The above statement is a bit concerning, though. Was your PDC telling you that you had a 5 min obligatory decompression stop (rather than a 5 min safety stop)?

rx7diver

More likely is that the OP has his safety stop setting set to Adapt. If so & you go below 100’ or 5 min of NDL, it gives you a 5 min safety stop. This is still a non-mandatory stop unlike a deco stop.