First time NorCal diver needs recommendation and buddy

[kwinter]

hey ken, you are from jersey? and a tech diver? hey have you been to the u-boat out there? i'm reading a book called shadow divers- all about a u-boat wreck. ever heard of it or dove it?
babyjoe75

I haven't done the 869 yet. I was supposed to dive it this summer, but I'm waiting until I can do it on my rebreather and I'm not trimix certified on the RB yet. Some of my buddies have done the dive. None of them said it was the greatest dive, and most prefer the Doria. I've done sub dives before and I'm always shocked at how small they are. But the U-869 is part of history. John and Richie are local legends and most people in the tech communty here know them at least by reputation. John has moved out of the area, but Richie is still around and I run into him once in a while.

Shadow Divers is a great book and the story is exciting even if (as Gary Gentile believes) it has been somewhat fictionalized. It's much easier reading than The Last Dive by Bernie Chowdhury. But the best stories are the ones Richie tells about their interactions with Robert Kurson as he wrote the book. Absolutely hysterical.

Enjoy the book.

Ken

 

[ggilmour]

Take a look at Beachhopper II. They do a wednesday dive and if the weather co-operates and they have a sufficient load will go to Carmel.