Hell's Gate

[diverdan007]

I was talking to some people the other day, and wrecks in the Hudson came up. They said something about Hells Gate. They said that even police divers won't dive at Hells Gate, because of the risks involved. So that got me wondering, how bad could it be? If anybody has any info on it, say it. Thanks. ~~Dan

 

[billyh]

Hi,
Hell's Gate is one of only two connections between the tidal/estuarial surge of Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean (the lowermost part of the Hudson River provides to connection to New York Harbor hence the Atlantic).

As you might imagine, there is an enormous amount of tidal energy flowing through a very narrow passage. There is a lot of underwater "structure", like rocks, wrecks, junked cars, junked anything, wiseguys, you name it -- and this create unpredictable eddys and whirlpools. You could get sucked right down the drain in there and find yourself pinned to some awful piece of wreckage, and there is no amount of buoyancy that is going to get you out again.

But if you insist on diving it, please have the foresight to video the whole thing for a proper submission to the Darwin Awards Nominating Committee. You'll almost be guarranteed a "winner".