Info on Deadman's/Deadhenge?

[Jake]

Hello-

I see you cats talking about Deadman's reef and something called Deadhenge or the Deadhenge buoy or something. There's a post this week about it in fact. While I know that Deadman's is off of Crescent (Franko says 600 feet), I have no idea why this reef is dove (as opposed to inside Crescent), what's out there (someone mentioned a shrine?), how to get to it, or what to do when on it.

Can someone hook a brotha up? Info, info, and more info would be appreciated. I understand that it's an "advanced" dive, but I'm not sure why other than because of the depth and distance.

I've been diving for about 12 months and have about 120 dives under my belt, including wreck training (read: somewhat advanced training) and a decent amount of deep with adverse conditions mixed in. I'm in pretty good shape. Should I have any trouble with this dive if I try and do it myself?

Thanks as always for the help.

 

[rakkis]

Most only label it "advanced" because of the distance you need to swim and because of the depth. Other than that, it's an easy dive. Great fun and lots of critters.

 

[Robert Phillips]

If you can make it on Sunday morning, you are welcome to join us. I can show you the lineups, show you the shrine (theres not much left of it, but in it day it was impressive. Had everything, including a kitchen sink!) And our last stop on the way in will be Deadhenge.

 

[tie]

http://www.28thstreetproductions.com/videos.html

 

[Jake]

Thanks tie. Nice collection of videos.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Hello-

I see you cats talking about Deadman's reef and something called Deadhenge or the Deadhenge buoy or something. There's a post this week about it in fact. While I know that Deadman's is off of Crescent (Franko says 600 feet), I have no idea why this reef is dove (as opposed to inside Crescent), what's out there (someone mentioned a shrine?), how to get to it, or what to do when on it.

Can someone hook a brotha up? Info, info, and more info would be appreciated. I understand that it's an "advanced" dive, but I'm not sure why other than because of the depth and distance.

I've been diving for about 12 months and have about 120 dives under my belt, including wreck training (read: somewhat advanced training) and a decent amount of deep with adverse conditions mixed in. I'm in pretty good shape. Should I have any trouble with this dive if I try and do it myself?

Thanks as always for the help.

The real trouble to expect is if you try & do it by yourself, and the OC/Laguna Lifeguards catch & cite you for solo diving. . .:11:

Been looking for X-scooter buddies to take a DPV tour of the Deadman's Reef area. . .

 

[pcorliss]

There are several "methods" to get there...I've followed some which are better than others...mine, in a nutshell is:

Swim straight out from the concrete wall to the right of the North Crescent stairs
Drop down when you are basically online with the space in between the two Seal Rocks (kinda form a triangle between Seal rocks and the concrete wall.)
You should be over sand and around 38-43 feet of water (depending on tide)
Take a 210 degree heading and kick for a couple minutes
There was a large rock with gorgonians growing on it that was a waypoint landmark enroute over the sand...this has now been incorportated into the Deadhenge formation which hangs a left at that rock now and heads towards Shaw's Cove (I believe that to be the final destination of the finished formation). You will be online with the original part of the Deadhenge formation and can follow it for the last minute of the swim. It comes into Deadman's at pretty much the extreme right side of the reef - if you go right you'll stay pretty shallow and end up at Seal Rocks...go left and you'll get to explore the deeper areas of Deadman's.

When you want to turn around - pretty much from any point on the reef just take a 60 degree heading and start swimming back. If you have gone left and explored around Deadman's you'll probably end up coming back up and over the reef before dropping back down onto the sand (about 50 feet deep) enroute back to Crescent. If you have the tank capacity to make it back most of the way to the beach underwater, bear in mind that the a 30 degree heading from the reef will normally take you too far to the left - bringing you into the shallow, rough reef area by Seal Rocks, and 90 degrees will bring you into South Crescent...so at 60 degrees you should be basically heading straight back towards the beach. Currents can affect those headings a bit.

Thanks "Tie" for the plug with the videos link - the "Deadhenge" one is a bit down on the list now - so here is the direct link to it:
http://members.cox.net/28thstreetproductions/videos1.html

Peter

 

[JMdiver]

Just checked out the video, what is that? When you get to Deadman's Reef is it a regular reef?

John

 

[Robert Phillips]

Just checked out the video, what is that? When you get to Deadman's Reef is it a regular reef?

John

That structure is between pinnacles and Deadmans reef and is not part of the regular reef. The structure has been greatly added to since Peter filmed that clip.
It is worth a visit if only for the fact that all of the stones were placed by hand. No lift bags or other buoyancy devices were used. The size of some if the stones will shock you with the above knowledge.

 

[Jake]

That structure is between pinnacles and Deadmans reef and is not part of the regular reef. The structure has been greatly added to since Peter filmed that clip.
It is worth a visit if only for the fact that all of the stones were placed by hand. No lift bags or other buoyancy devices were used. The size of some if the stones will shock you with the above knowledge.

I don't need the identity, but is the identity of the person/team who is doing this known outside of themselves? I'd love to talk to them (off the record, of course) should they ever pop up about the plans and motivation.