Rankin Wreck, Loran Towers Ledge, Tunnels, with Jupiter Dive Center - 06/08/2008

[SSharkk]

Dive 1 – USS Rankin

Ship info at USS Rankin (AKA-103 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

127 + or – fsw / vis < 20 ft.
Two new species of fish for me in Florida, black sea bass and belted sandfish. A few amberjacks. Unusual species seen by Mike Phelan from R.E.E.F. = sunshine fish, yellowtail reeffish, spottail pinfish, purple reeffish.

Dive 2 – Loran Towers Ledge
78 + or – fsw / vis < 40 ft.
1 loggerhead sea turtle, 1 jewfish

Dive 3 – Tunnels
72 + or – fsw / vis 40 ft.
Six loggerhead sea turtles, 2 southern stingrays with 1 cobia each, 1 caribbean reef shark
One of the turtles was nestled in a hole that was just exactly the shape of the curve of its shell. This hole may have been used by many generations of loggerheads.

Scuba Board member also on the trip - jupiter31

Shop check in: Gerry Carroll and Kyle

Captain: Tim

Divemasters: Jeff and Jimmy

 

[El Cid]

That was a cool dive. Literally. I forgot my hood vest and regretted it!!!

 

[deepstops]

Thanks for posting, I didn't realize there were any commercial ops going there. I wonder if they'd run to the Muliphen as well

Here's the correct Rankin link: USS Rankin (AKA-103) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Jupiter31]

Thanks for posting, I didn't realize there were any commercial ops going there. I wonder if they'd run to the Muliphen as well

Here's the correct Rankin link: USS Rankin (AKA-103) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I did the Rankin w/ JDC a few weeks ago -

IMHO, its not worth it - its close to the Stuart (St Lucie??) Inlet, the vis is always poor - I asked a DM who did the dive 6+ times, and he said 15 - 20 FT viz is normal, and for whatever reason, its really cold at the wreck.

We had 20 ft of viz and it was 68 on the wreck - the DM said one dive it was in the 50's!!!!

We did not see any large marine life - although w/ 20 ft of viz who knows.....

Also, the wreck is on its side; it just did not do it for me. I would not repeat the dive. The ship has history (one of the most decorated crews in the Navy) and I'm looking for something positive to say about the dive but can't.

When they gave the dive briefing - at the dock - they said there was a good chance b/c of currents we might not be able to do the dive; 50/50 chance.

If in spite of this rousing endorsement you want to go, Jupiter Dive Center has a trip coming up.

 

[SSharkk]

That was a cool dive. Literally. I forgot my hood vest and regretted it!!!

Hi El Cid:

I am sorry we didn't meet on the boat. Both jupiter31 and I were aboard. If you see someone with a "KME" label printed on the center of their wetsuit that will be me, say hello.

BTW if you chill like me, I have found that using wetsuits constructed from US manufactured, Rubatex G231N has a significant advantage at the same depth over other manufacture's blown neoprenes. The reason is G231N compresses less at the same depth, and therefore retains more insulating ability. Mine has over 100 dives now, it has very little permanent compression and, the stitching is still perfect. My previous suit at 100 dives turned into absolute junk, with no spring left in the rubber, and tears where the knee pads were fused.

Of course a G231N suit is more expensive, but they also last a lot longer. If one dives often, it may be worth the added cost. How does the old saying go? "Buy once, and cry once."

Remember El Cid, the Jupiter jewfish/goliath grouper spawn is coming up on the full moons in August and September. I hope to meet you when the really big boys and girls start aggregating on the wrecks and ledges.

Jeff

 

[El Cid]

Sounds good. I got an el cheapo wetsuit when I got started but pounded right through the compression on it. My 3 mil is basically a skin now. Kinda nice that its so easy to take off, but thats about it.

The spawning sounds fun. I enjoyed it last year and this year have a nice camera setup to work with so I'll see you around there. I'll be setting up my 100th coming up the weekend of the 26th so if you're on the boat around then, I'll see you there. Now to get a hold of Sandy.....

 

[SSharkk]

Congratulations, El Cid! If I can make the dive on the 27 th, I'll buy a beer or two after submersion.

 

[El Cid]

D'OH! Most of my friends are tied up with other things, and I'm working this weekend. Looks like we'll have to get it set up for the next weekend. Guess I'll have to see if Gerry will run a night boat on the first.

 

[mynamehere]

hey i just checked my calender. I was on that trip, too.

I considered the dive to be an interesting one - my first in such poor viz, and COLDEST dive ever but not one i would do agian.

christina

 

[El Cid]

Yournamehere, were you one of the ones who came off the Rankin with me and thought I was the DM? That was interesting. My reel jammed with a full safety sausage attached so I had a panicked second to pull out my finger reel, clip that off and send it all on up. Then at the surface the other divers with me thought I was the DM for a minute. Funny way to end an equipment failure.