Palawan Wreck Dive

[Tunaman68]

Going out for my first visits to the Palawan and Olympic II wrecks this weekend.

Any suggestions or tips? Any info on vis at the moment? 130' to the sand, but does most of the dive happen at this depth?

Deep, cool - Dark - fine, Cold - ok, Low Vis - sure, all four together? Should be fun!

 

[Rainer]

limeyx, lobstah, and jastorino were all on the Palawan last weekend, so you could try PMing one of them for a recent report.

130' to the sand, around 100' at the top (maybe a bit shallower along the rail). I've tended to average 120', but a buddy consistently gets 110'. It's BIG.

Some info here: Palawan

Olympic II is a really nice wreck (Olympic II).

Here's a video I shot on her last month:

[vimeo]13103932[/vimeo]

 

[stakanak]

Awesome video Rainer! Not to get off the subject Tunaman but do you have to be a tech diver to enjoy these two wrecks?
Get Wet!

 

[Rainer]

Thanks, stakanak.

The Olympic II is a wonderful "recreational" dive. I think we did 35 minutes BT (32%). That's enough to basically kick all the way around it.

I've done all my Palawan dives as staged decompression dives. It's at a depth (and with generally poor vis) where I'd prefer a bit of helium in my mix, but more importantly, the NDLs are just pretty short at those depths. Nicer to be able to stay awhile.

 

[Tunaman68]

I don't think that anyone going this weekend is a techie - I'm just an OW with a ton of dives. Not a lot of bottom time, but at least I'll get to see her! Using a HP steel 100 and an oceanic computer hoping to get 10 minutes and then slow ascent.

 

[Rainer]

If staying along the top areas, you should have a perfectly pleasant (if a bit short) dive.

Enjoy!

 

[ligersandtions]

Thanks, stakanak.

The Olympic II is a wonderful "recreational" dive. I think we did 35 minutes BT (32%). That's enough to basically kick all the way around it.

I've done all my Palawan dives as staged decompression dives. It's at a depth (and with generally poor vis) where I'd prefer a bit of helium in my mix, but more importantly, the NDLs are just pretty short at those depths. Nicer to be able to stay awhile.

Though Rainer and his buddy were on scooters, the bottom time is sufficient to kick the entire wreck. It's a really beautiful wreck with tons of life (some seriously big lingcods!) and lots of neat structure. I will definitely be back.

Haven't yet dived the Palawan, but that's coming up soon

 

[fnfalman]

I didn't care much for the Olympic, but I dig the Palawan though for rec diving, I don't get much bottom time even when on Nitrox.

 

[limeyx]

I didn't care much for the Olympic, but I dig the Palawan though for rec diving, I don't get much bottom time even when on Nitrox.

The olympic can be a stunning dive if you get good vis. I have had 50+ multiple times.

The Palawan is 105 to the top decks. Personally it's always a tech dive for me, but you could squeak it out as a rec dive I guess.

Conditions last weekend were awesome. Virtually no swell, surface like glass.
Vis 20-30 on the wreck, 3-4 feet of vis at 20 feet. 50Fs temp on the wreck and 60s on deco.

Did two awesome dives. Scooter definitely helps you see more of the wreck for the Palawan, but the Olympic is an easy kick dive.

EDIT: They are also quite far apart so a fast boat is good if you want to do both in a day

Olympic II

[vimeo]13114459[/vimeo]

Palawan
[vimeo]5803208[/vimeo]

 

[Tunaman68]

Great vids guys! Hope we get as good conditions for our 15 mins!!