Getting into Wreck Diving

[amascuba]

Howdy!

I've been diving for almost two years. I have logged 103 dives to date (only 16 dives have been in the ocean, everything else has been in lakes and springs). I've always been interested in the history of ship wrecks, plane crashes, etc in bodies of water. I'm the type of person who would rather go look at a submerged wreck than look at pretty reef fish (not that I don't enjoy that).

My current training level is SSI Master Diver (Dry Suit Diving, Deep Diving, Enriched Air Nitrox, Night and Limited Visibility, and Stress and Rescue).

Anyways, I'm just looking for sugestions on what type of training I should get. I'm not really concerned about how long it's going to take or locations. I know that proficiency is only going to come with training and experience.

What I've been thinking about doing is taking a track like:

TDI Advanced Nitrox
TDI Decompression Procedures
NACD Cavern Diving
NACD Intro to Cave Diving
TDI Entry Trimix
TDI Wreck
TDI Advanced Trimix
TDI Advanced Wreck

I'm not necessarily stuck on using any specific certifying agency, but that gives you an idea of where my mind set is. I'm also not planning on taking these courses over a period of a year. They will probably be spread out over several years as time, money, and experience permits.

At the moment my gear configuration consists of:

Scubapro S-TEK harness and Rektec wing (Which is basically like the Diverite transpac/rec wing setup)
Oceanic DX4 first stage with a DIN fitting and GT second stage
single HP102 steel tank
Scubarpro Solara low volume mask
Scubapro Aladin TEC wrist computer
Mobby's Armor Shell Drysuit
Scubapro 3mm Everflex full wet suit
Scubapro twinjet fins
I also have a wrist mounted dive slate, knife, wrist compass, primary and secondary dive lights, reel, and safety sausage.

I know that I'm going to have to make the switch to a backplate/wing for the training to handle doubles, going to have to buy atleast two more regulators for the use of the isolated manifold (I'll probably end up using the DX4 for the deco tank), I know that most people do not like split fins because of the possibility of getting them tangled in lines, and that they also prefer spring heal straps.

I'm pretty familiar with diving physics, physiology, and have a basic understanding of gas mixes and that kind of stuff. (I'm actually a big nerd and get a little OCD when I find a hobby that peaks my interest).

Any information that you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated. I'm getting to the point where I feel like I'm ready to take a leap in taking some technical classes, but don't really want to waist time and money on something that isn't really going to be usefull. Thanks!

 

[SwimJim]

I'm sorry son, your over qualified for the job! There are plenty of wrecks in the sport diving zone. That is less then 130 fow. As long as do not penetrate the wrecks you required no more training then you already have. If your looking at penetration or real deep stuff more training would be required.
I would get out and dive some wrecks. If you come across something thats beyond your current level don't dive it of course, but work your way up to it. Use it as a goal. Where I live on the western shore of Lake Michigan you could dive a season or two and not dive on anything deeper the 125 fow and have plenty to see.

jim

 

[PaulChristenson]

Do I hear a Doria Dive in your future???

Here are some places to find those rec wrecks

http://www.wreckhunter.net/links.htm

http://www.nc-wreckdiving.com/

http://www.ship-wreck.com/shipwreck/links/aglmhbrowse.asp?cat=regional


Paul in VT

 

[Dive-aholic]

Just go dive the wrecks. Stay far enough away from them not to get entangled (which means no penetration). After you've done that a while, then look at some classes. You can probably get out to San Diego a couple times a year and dive the wrecks over there for the experience. When you take the classes, make sure the instructor you choose dives wrecks on a regular basis and is not just someone who is certified to teach it.

 

[vkalia]

In addition to formal training, a few things that you must have in wreck diving:

- *pinpoint* buoyancy control and trim
- ability to stay calm and work through tight situations (if you plan to do wreck penetration, there WILL be tight situations eventually)
- start using your brain, not simplified "rules"
- recognize and acknowledge the face that wreck penetration is NOT recreational diving, and much riskier - and rigorous planning and execution go a long way towards preventing you from becoming a stat.
- if you are doing extended range diving, make sure you combine it with a good cardio/physical regimen

The best way is to find a dive buddy/mentor who can show you the way. Or start by doing "easy" wreck penetrations (ships sunk especially for divers are good places to start) and then work your way up.

It is hard work, but worth it - wrecks are special!

We recently discovered a WW2-era wreck at 280'. The Navy boys here were kind enough to hook me up with some mix, and it was absolutely amazing, going down there and being the first to set eyes on a wreck that has been hidden from history for the last 50-odd years.

Salvage starts in April

Vandit

 

[Walter]

If you're interested in wrecks, train for wrecks. Train for cavern/cave only if they also interest you. Training in one does not qualify you for the other.

 

[amascuba]

If you're interested in wrecks, train for wrecks. Train for cavern/cave only if they also interest you. Training in one does not qualify you for the other.

I know that taking cave diving classes doesn't make a person certified to do wreck penetration, but the reason why I thought that cavern and cave diving would be benificial is because of the techniques you would use in an overhead environment of a cave would be similar in an overhead environment of a wreck penetration. Am I wrong in that thinking?

Thanks for all the links and information everybody. There aren't many wrecks around here. There are some cars in some of the local lakes and a plane that was put in a lake for divers in another. I enjoy messing around those, but I definitely would love to do the wrecks off our coasts, great lakes, as well as in the south pacific and around the world.

And Yes! I would love to dive on the doria one of these days. That dive is years away though.

 

[vkalia]

Similar, yes. But there are lots of dangers in wrecks that you dont have in caves - wires and entanglement hazards, sharp objects that can cut you/your hoses, structural integrity issues, etc.

Still, cave training as a starting point aint too bad.

Do also make sure that your buddy understands the same signals/protocols as you. Aint no good having a very complex vocabulary of handsignals and no one to show it to (you'll resort to the one-fingered signal soon enough, if that happens).

Vandit