Hydro Atlantic

[spacemanspiff1974]

Hello fellow techies.

I've recently completed my IANTD classes in deep air, advanced nitrox and advanced recreational trimix. I've been to 50 meters in the gulf of mexico. Also, just for task loading, I've been wearing my doubles and deco bottle for recreational dives to practice my task loading and equipment configuration. I've even done some blackwater diving...yuck.

I was thinking of diving the Hydro Atlantic off of Florida. However, I am curious as to whether this is something I should wait a while to do or if it is ok at my level of certification.

I'm not nervous about diving anything in particular, but I do recognize that all tech diving is not the same and wanted some input as to whether this was something I should wait to dive until I rack up some more deep dives to do.

Since it is off the east coast of florida, I woud imagine that there is a decent current due to the Gulf Stream, but not sure.

Would you suggest I try the Oriskany first, or is the Hydro Atlantic "ok" to do at my skill level.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

The Hydro Atlantic is a great wreck. It's about 170 fsw to the sand but most of the dive you can do in the 130-150 fsw range. I was there a couple of weeks ago. Topside we had 3-5 foot seas but we had no current and around 80 foot viz. It was my first time on the wreck so I did not penetrate it. If you are properly trained in wreck penetration it is supposed to be nice in the engine room. However, one Hydro "regular" cautioned me about penetrating the wreck as, in his opinion, the wreck was getting a little unstable inside from the many years on the bottom. Just a word of caution.

Here are some photos from our trip:
debersole.com

 

[dstindivr]

Looks like you guys had near perfect conditions U/W.....what were you using for your back gas?
Run time?

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

I was on a Sport Kiss CCR as were two of the other divers. The other three divers were on trimix OC. I was running 18/35 trimix in my diluent. I then also carried EAN 26 bailout gas. The OC guys had back gas around 25/25 or so. Our run time was around 75 minutes. And, yes, we had near perfect conditions. I can't wait to go back.