Oriskany Dive Report – March 9, 2007

[PerroneFord]

BTW, there are 2 forms of penetration, within and out of the light zone. Within is taught by PADI, etc. More advanced requires much, much more training to do safely, specific to the environment.
-Jay

Only problem, is that the "light zone" can quickly become the "no-light zone" depending on diver skill and amount of silt. If you're gonna penetrate, run a line. Spools are cheap.

 

[GOBUCKEYES]

LeeAnne
Thank you for your trip report.I felt like I was there with you. So I think I'll log that dive in my dive log.thank you agin.I can't wait to read about your next dive.

 

[rhyz]

LeeAnne great report, reminded me of my wonderful dives on the O. Eric and Dave are 2 of the best ppl you can dive with, just fantastic they are! Can't wait to get back out there for some more great dives with those 2 on the O. Glad you had a great experience, I know I did on it, and like you've said it is one damn impressive wreck!

 

[Leejnd]

Rick...yes, it was the first picture! I'd forgotten that they had a rainbow effect along their edges. That's exactly what we saw. They were beautiful...and eerie...I honestly could have stayed there watching them for much longer, if I hadn't already been at 500 psi!

We saw a few other types of jellyfish, but I don't recall seeing any of the second picture here. However, there was one creature that I would love to find out more about...I didn't mention them in my report. They were tiny little...I don't know, like dots, that were a vivid, flourescent blue, and seemed to shine their own blue light. When I first got in the water I looked down, and it looked like little blue fireflies. I came close to a couple of them, but when you reach your hand out to them, they literally disappear! I might have chalked it up to getting narked, except that I was only at about 15 feet when I saw them.

(Oh, and thanks for explaining again to the "negative nancy" the part he didn't get. Even after this, and repeated PM's back and forth, he still doesn't get it. Some people...)

The planktonic show is always wonderful there... what you describe may have been one of several critters called a "Venus' Girdle" or "Venus' Belt,"

or perhaps one of the many pelagic tunicates that frequent these waters...

Thanks for your report,
Rick

 

[Leejnd]

Jay, (and everyone!) thanks for the kind words on my report. I've heard of other technical diving courses and philosophies, but it just turns out that a number of my regular dive buddies happen to be DIR. I've thought about going through with the DIR-F class, not due to any interest in technical diving, but just to improve my overall safety and skill level. I may still do that. I did listen to the whole orientation lecture, which I thought provided me a wealth of info to help me be a better diver already.

The thing is, though, I really have no interest in going beyond recreational diving. I totally admire those of you, and those among my friends, who have gone through all the rigorous training and do things like cave, wreck and ice diving. It just doesn't interest me. I find that there are enough things out in the open to keep me interested...and I also know myself well enough to know that going much further in my training may be pushing my own limits. I do plan on taking a Rescue Diver course at some point, but again, it's only to be safer within rec limits.

My real interest is to dive in different places around the world. I'm fortunate in that I get to travel quite a bit, and have already been able to dive places like Costa Rica, Tahiti, Bora Bora, the Caribbean, and now the Oriskany. On the docket for me this year is Belize (in July) and Bali (in November). I hope to be able to get down to Pensacola again at some point this year, so I can bring my husband to dive the Oriskany. (Eric, you'll be hearing from me!)

Great report. Don't let negative nancy's bother you, in any society there are many, usually called armchair quarterbacks. But, don't confuse DIR and tech diving. Many people cringe one way or the other when referred to by the wrong term. Just as there are different techniques in diving, like going inside a wreck as opposed to a cave- the thought of leaving a stage bottle anywhere on a wreck springs to mind, or diving somewhere that has vis to a place where your buddy disappears 3 feet from you. It sounds like you had a great time, we hope to have as much fun. I wish I could even write half as detailed of reports on some of my runs, but the gift of writing eludes me. BTW, there are 2 forms of penetration, within and out of the light zone. Within is taught by PADI, etc. More advanced requires much, much more training to do safely, specific to the environment. If you liked the 'swim throughs', take a course on it, as there are many techniques and ideas to use.
-Jay

 

[jviehe]

Nice report. Thanks.

 

[Rick Murchison]

... tiny little...I don't know, like dots, that were a vivid, flourescent blue, and seemed to shine their own blue light. When I first got in the water I looked down, and it looked like little blue fireflies. I came close to a couple of them, but when you reach your hand out to them, they literally disappear! I might have chalked it up to getting narked, except that I was only at about 15 feet when I saw them.

Those tiny little lights have fascinated me for years... I believe they are tiny ctenophores

but I've never been able to verify that.
They are, under any circumstances, one of the wonderful wonders of the deep, and a pure pleasure to watch
Rick

 

[AevnsGrandpa]

Great report Lee Ann,

After being a diver for only 3 years and just having my first ocean boat dive last September, I would love to get down and see the big "O". Thanks for the particulars about the boat the DM. I havea cousin that lives in Pennsecola and this would be a great excuse to go visit her!

Jeff

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Great report, definately brought me back to my dive on the "O". I'm looking forward to going back within the next few months, just need to get my camera rigged up.

There is a plaque on the superstructure down at flightdeck level, as well as open doors and a few rooms to explore at deck level. Diving the deck isn't always just to achieve depth to brag about, nor adrenaline. Depth effects people differently as well, while at 130'ish, not everyone will be narc'd, nor will everyone who is narced be at the same level of narcosis.

There are lots of safe swimthroughs on the "O", including the three bridges on the tower, which all have open doorways and lots of very large windows for ambient light. Crap hits the fan, you can pick and choose from several exits. I'm sure Oriskany Divemaster wouldn't have put any clients into danger as he's got quite a good reputation to uphold

 

[stangd1909]

Great report! I will be call the O divemaster soon to schedule my trip. I have been looking foward to it for a long time.