Questions about diving the U853

[Soggy]

Hmm. When I did my advanced OW we did a simulated decompression dive where we used that rule for the ascent. Something like that ....100 feet up to 50 for a few minutes, up to 25 for a few minutes, etc.

That sounds like a way of managing going into unplanned decompression and would probably get you out of the water if you were only over by a couple minutes. Actual planned decompression diving is not like that.

My Cobra computer has a nice simulator but I don't think I can set the volume of gas - it starts at 2901 psi each time and probably assumes an 80. Maybe we will look into some training for deco diving. Any recommendations other than what you listed above?

The Cobra is not a computer suitable for decompression diving as it does not have multi-gas ability. Actually, there is no need to have a computer other than a bottom timer.

No, it's not looking good for tomorrow ...

Ick, that's worse than it said last night

 

[MSilvia]

I hear Tom Huff's shop in Chelmsford is pretty decent, and South Shore Divers in Weymouth was starting to work with tech instructors too. PG Dive in Newton was offering the class, but it's being taught in Florida.

 

[Soggy]

The big problem with trying to do decompression diving without training is that you need the skills and equipment to be able to handle any problem that occurs underwater since the surface is no longer a viable option.

Let me know if you want to catch a shore dive sometime or if you're ever on Gauntlet (Heather & Dave's boat) and we can talk about some of this some more if you are interested.

 

[jduncan]

Yeah, We are going to look into some training ....

 

[jduncan]

The big problem with trying to do decompression diving without training is that you need the skills and equipment to be able to handle any problem that occurs underwater since the surface is no longer a viable option.

Let me know if you want to catch a shore dive sometime or if you're ever on Gauntlet (Heather & Dave's boat) and we can talk about some of this some more if you are interested.

Definately ....

On that note, I bought Lisa a new OMS harness, plate, wing, and STA for XMAS. We'll be looking to get out and try it soon!

Jeff

 

[MSilvia]

Jeff,
It's been about a year now... how are you liking the DSS backplate & wing?

 

[matt_unique]

The U853 is a great dive...14 miles from Pt. Judith and 6 miles from Block Island. The wreck has changed a lot even in the 5 years I have been diving it. I can only imagine the changes observed by those diving it since the 70's for example. I'm p*ssed I never made it out to the U853 or the USS-Bass last year! Next summer for sure.

There are always good moorings on the U853 because it is such a popular wreck. I have never seen more than two personally. You will rarely be there alone. I have been lucky but I usually head out early. I'm usually pulling away as the first charter is approaching.

The conditions vary on this wreck more than I have seen on any other wreck in NE. It's the most advanced 130' dive I have ever experienced. I have seen 40' of vis with plenty of ambient light at depth and zero current. I have also experienced 5' of vis with current that *nearly* required hand over hand movement on the wreck. During this particular dive I let go of the mooring line 5' above the deck and had to kick like hell to get to the wreck.

The structure has broken up quite a bit. The nose of the bow broke off and lays in the sand (this happened a few years ago). The stern of the ship has broken too but lays against the rest of the structure. Imagine a pretzel broken in half but placed together. The Conning Tower is an impressive sight. The periscope looks brand new....that was some seriously good stainless steel.

The top of the Conning Tower can be reached at about 100'. I found 118' to be optimal depth for planning your dive to cruise along the top of the structure. I find it most interesting to cruise along the top of the structure, particularly for your first dive. If you drop down to the sand you can hit high 120's at high tide but I have never personally hit 130' with a salt-water calibrated depth gauge/computer. On a single NDL dive to 118' (for 9 minutes), and if you descend down the Conning Tower, you can cruise to the stern and back or to the bow and back but not both on the same dive without deco. You will be at NDL limits on a single 80 LONG before you use much of your air. You can add to your time at depth with NDL if using Nitrox of course.

The Poling will be a good set of practice dives. In my opinion, if you can comfortably dive the Poling at night, you are prepared for a day dive on the U853. My first dive on the U853 was nearly a night dive past 80'. It was definitely dark. You should have a backup gas supply other than a buddy. A slung 30 or 40cf tank in my opinion if diving singles.

--Matt

 

[oceancrest67]

Yeah, We are going to look into some training ....

If you are inclined to dive past 100ft on a regular basis it is highly recommended to check out technical diver training. TDI offers advanced nitrox, deco proceedures and trimix. There are of course other training agencies to look into. I just mention TDI because it is what I trained with.

Why limit a 100 foot dive to just 5 minutes? Get advanced nitrox, deco proceedures, use of stages / deco gas and dive doubles with a back plate / wing setup...longer bottom times etc.

Just my O2.

 

[LobstaMan]

You mention diving other area wrecks to get some experience in diving deeper in NE waters in prep for a U-853 dive. IMHO that sounds like a very prudent plan. In fact, I've been planning the same for the past few years after doing mostly shallow shore dives since '84. I've dove the Poling and the Pinthis(both approx 100fsw to the sand) in the past year and plan to do a nite dive on the Poling this upcomng year before attempting the u-boat. I have also taken the basic Nitrox course and purchased a BP/W set-up. After a few more deeper/wreck/nite dives this year, if I don't think I'm ready, I won't even try the u-boat. There's no substitute for experience. We'll both get some and maybe I'll see you on it.

LobstaMan

 

[DocWong]

I'm glad you're considering getting training to advance to the next level of diving for you! I've known some divers that have figured it out from reading, but that's dicey, you don't know what you may have missed. Technical diving has come a long ways this past 5 years. In the past many have gotten bent and worse and we learned from those mistakes.

Out here in the Monterey Bay area, we lost 7 divers this year. Almost without exception each death resulted from diving in conditions that were beyond the diver's ability combined with medical problems (like heart attack). I saw in a previous post that there was 15 knott winds and 5 foot swells and that it was not a diving day. I don't know if that means something different on the East coast, but out here, that's a pretty divable day. We've been out in 12 foot swells without that much difficulty, but you do have to know what you're doing though.

I think it best to learn from those before us, take classes from other well trained and experienced instructors. The competence you'll gain will all be worth it! I dove for over 25 years before getting some tech training and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.