Removing items from the USS Oriskany (interesting dilemma)

[djanni]

I'm quoting you Mr. Janni because Capt. Thorsen brought your post up. I did not want your words to be twisted.

Capt. Thorsen, as you can read in Mr. Janni's post, he did say that they had a very good dive with you but in no way condones the taking of items from the ship. You can also see that he has a much different opinion of Mr. Sleppy than you.

I was in Bangkok this week. Got home this afternoon. I've been reading/scanning through this thread and upon reading this post I have to comment.

Rich Sleppy and his dive buddy were the other two divers aboard the Viking the day my wife and I dove the Oriskany. Rich and Liza are tech divers and we thought they were very nice people. We enjoyed meeting them and diving with them. We talked about getting together in the future. Rich is a very experienced diver and an interesting guy. Rich must have booked another trip with Capt. Tim because nothing was taken the day we were out together.

I've been scanning so far and maybe I missed a confession by Rich or an eye witness account. Maybe I missed a confession by Capt. Tim or an eye witness account. Maybe I'll come across one as I read more.

I highly dissapprove of hacking objects like that off a wreck such as the Oriskany. I think it spoils or deminishes the experience for all other divers for all time to come. If I ever dive it again and that phone isn't there it'll be sad.

However, so far all I've seen is heresay and accusation. I hope all those panning Tim and Rich are pure of heart and haven't sinned thenselves or that their participation isn't for their own self promotion and personal gain.

I would dive with Tim anyday.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Mr. Sleppy and I have had discussions about the removal of such items from the wreck in an appropriate and professional manner as I am sure any of you would appreciate having the same done with you if you where in a similar situation... caught doing something stupid that you knew that you shouldn't be or where previously briefed against. You see, I am the proud single father of two wonderful children the most recent of which... my daughter Brittany who was divemastering that day... has just gotten Congressional appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy and this past weekend reported to Kings Point.

Admonishment of anyone in a public open forem is simply inappropriate. Any adult should know this if they have any successful managment training or experience.
Rich Sleppy, while I don't agree with his taking of these things from the wreck, happens to be one of the most responsible divers and instructors that I have had on our boat in a while. Unfortunately, some divers seak sovieniers, some divers seak knowledge, some thrills... I have seen it all aboard my boat, but again, my job is to educate to the best of my abilities and to keep eveyone safe. With regard to our "pirating" the reef. This is the most inappropriate accusation of all regarding me, my daughter or my operation. The true culprits can be seen at any of the local dive shops where not only Oriskany items are proudly displayed but almost everything of any interest from every dive site in Pensacola. The only things I have displayed are pieces of Calypso given to me by Captain Cousteau and Sean-Michel himself. As for harming the wreck for others to enjoy... talk to the cattle boats who take divers out and not only rape and pillage the wreck but write every sort of graphitti you can imagine all over the wreck. It is starting to look like something in Brooklin NY. As for criminal acts on the wreck. Someone even placed the flag of the country I fought to defend on the wreck with their own advertisement written all over it. Last time I checked... it was a Federal offense to deface the Flag of the United States of America or to display it in any inappropriate manner. Others have placed submerged obstructions on the wreck just below the surface calling them "Mooring Balls", which is in direct violation of USCG regulations. Why do you think they sank it in 212 feet of water in the first place. Nothing is supposed to be within 60 feet of the surface...

As you can see from the quote Don, Capt. Thorsen knew that items were being taken but described Mr. Sleppy as "one of the most responsible divers and instructors I have had on my boat in a while".
I quoted your post because when the captain thanked you it seemed as though you thought taking things was OK.

 

[H2Andy]

And, since we both know that that particular rock formation that you find so intriguing will, due to natural forces, at some point be no more, it is totally OK if I go down there with hammer and chisel and "harvest" it for my rock collection.

holy cow... scubafool is making sense

 

[webhead]

So what is the procedure going forward? Looks like it is illegal to remove items from the wreck. So what do we do if we see someone doing this? Do we call the coast guard? Have the boat captain call FWC and have them waiting at the boat dock?

I don't think you're ever going to stop illegal activities 100%. But maybe when a couple of these idiots get caught breaking the law, that will slow it down a bit.

 

[H2Andy]

talk with the captain, have the captain confiscate the artifacts, and report the diver to the Florida Wildlife folks

if the captain doesn't want to do anything about it, tell them you'll report them too
for breaking the law (accessory after the fact).

it sounds harsh, but it's our boat and we need to keep it open to divers

 

[Diver Dennis]

And also go after all the other shops the captain said were proudly displaying items from the O.

 

[djanni]

As you can see from the quote Don, Capt. Thorsen knew that items were being taken but described Mr. Sleppy as "one of the most responsible divers and instructors I have had on my boat in a while".
I quoted your post because when the captain thanked you it seemed as though you thought taking things was OK.

Maybe I'm trying too hard to think they are innocent. Tim said he and Rich discussed removing something in a professional manner instead of being stupid about it. I don't see Tim saying "Yes" Rich took it and I approved and even recommended an item that he should take.

I thought Tim was thanking me for saying we enjoyed the diving experience aboard his boat and we did. I even commented positively and recommended him when I posted our Oriskany experience about a month ago.

Once again, I do not approve of scavanging objects from wrecks like the "O." I would support legal action against it. I think a Capt. like Tim should take a strong stance against such behavior yet if he caght someone doing it I would hold him responsible for halling them straight to the authorities.

BTW: Dennis I wasn't taking exception to your quoting me. It was not that at all nor did you quote me out of context.

 

[Mo2vation]

And also go after all the other shops the captain said were proudly displaying items from the O.

How do you know it didn't come off the O prior to sinking? (<- me, wearing Andy's lawyer hat...)

Just curious.

K

 

[webhead]

Doesn't sound harsh. Ripping the dashboard out of their car is harsh. Making them scrub barnacles of the bottom of coast guard boats for a year is harsh.

Seeing a diver be arrested at the boat dock and possibly the captain of the boat, who then has his boat confiscated.... that's not harsh. They do that for baby lobsters.

 

[Diver Dennis]

I don't, I am just repeating what Capt. Thorsen has been saying. Mind you he did also state that there was a bunch of graffiti on the ship as well but the email from Bill Horn said they had dove the wreck today and it looked good. That's a good point Ken.