Near Full Traverse of Yukon Wreck on Stage Bottle. . .

[Kevrumbo]

6 Aug Sun.

100' Max Depth, duration about 17-20 min. to traverse nearly entire length of Yukon. Entrance was the Starboard "High Side" access point in the Mortar Well (where the Wreck Students generally enter for Line Laying Skills), and the exit was the Dolphin Entries at the extreme Bow.

With Andrew Ainslie of SoCalTechdivers leading, traverse was along the High Burma Road Route, keeping the Starboard Cutouts 3S7 through 3S1 ("The Skylights") always close by and above for emergency egress. Slight zig-zag at the end to reach the Dolphin Entries, but daylight from exiting cutouts ahead was always illuminating the pathway. Line Reel not needed, but is definitely mandatory for a Low Side Burma Road Penetration in the Silt --and for a Wreck Class as well, or else the Blue Gloves of Death will come by and personally strangle you for not using one:11: ! (See 5thd-x's Tech Diver Teaser Video about AG's "Blue Gloves of Death"):
http://www.breakthrudiving.com/xducation/dvds/techdvd.html
http://www.breakthrudiving.com/videos/TechTeaser.mov

Lastly, had no problems fitting through the bulkhead entryways inside with a Stage Bottle, BUT --manipulating a Reel along with a Stage Bottle could be difficult and fraught with entanglement issues. Used about 2200psi total of an AL80 Stage 30/30 mix after switching to it at the Mortar Well Entrance, and riding it through Minimum Deco to the Surface. . .

 

[Archangel]

Wow Kev:

Thanks for the bubble by bubble post. This is where I dream my DIR training will take me. Gimme 5 years to get to this point.

Thanks again,

 

[riguerin]

Very cool, Kev.

Burma Road is the best route from traversing the length of the wreck. However, since she lies on her port side, the depth and potential for silting leaves it for the big boys. Congrats on this achievement.

How were the condtions ? We had awesome vis last Monday.

 

[Empty V]

Very cool report. I don't know much about deco diving, is there a minimum depth for this style of diving? Would a safety stop serve the same purpose?

Sorry to derail, just interested in learning.

Billy

 

[Kevrumbo]

Typical Yukon murk and mild surge conditions outside the Wreck. Strong surface current, had to pull myself down the mooring line for the first twenty feet, pea soup viz until 50 feet and then the Wreck comes into view. Dive #1 was a planned Line Laying Penetration through the Stern Entrance on Level 4 to the Engine Room, Steel 95 Doubles backgas with no Stage Bottle. Dive #2 was the Traverse with Full Stage Bottle and 1200psi left in backgas. Both dives also utilized AL40 Deco Bottle of Nitrox 50 clipped-off separately at bottom of mooring line. . .

 

[scottfiji]

thanks for the report Kev.

Billy, I PMed you an answer to your question, so KevRumbo's thread didn't get hijacked.

you can read more on this topic by doing a search in the general diving forums.

scott

 

[riguerin]

Hey, speaking of wreck penetration classes on the Yukon ... stumbled across this clip. Right on, Hollywood