Rig & Wreck Diving - Coastal/Grace

[Summer06]

Hello Divers,

Looking to expand my horizon a little bit and have taken the plunged and signed myselft up for a rig/wreck diving, supposedly along coastal/grace whatever that means. I don't believe the wreck requires penetration. But, this is something new to me. I've never done this before. I would greatly appreciate any infomation, insights or advise that anyone can provide.

A little bit of background; I have my open water (2x) and advance cert with padi. Although I have a little over 100 dives, I've only been diving for about 2 years and therefore still consider myself a newbie. Most of my diving experience have been on our local boats (lazy diver) and Catalina with the exception of a few dives in Maui (volcano & cathedral) and Cabo.

Ok tigger divers...easy does it...friendly advises and insights welcome....no slamming.:10:

 

[HBDiveGirl]

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[HBDiveGirl]

duplicate post deleted, original "Submit" was declined.

 

[HBDiveGirl]

duplicate post deleted, original "Submit" was declined.

 

[HBDiveGirl]

Hello Divers,

Looking to expand my horizon a little bit and have taken the plunged and signed myselft up for a rig/wreck diving, supposedly along coastal/grace whatever that means. I don't believe the wreck requires penetration. But, this is something new to me. I've never done this before. I would greatly appreciate any infomation, insights or advise that anyone can provide.

A little bit of background; I have my open water (2x) and advance cert with padi. Although I have a little over 100 dives, I've only been diving for about 2 years and therefore still consider myself a newbie.

Hi Summer06,
No slamming...life's way too short and we've all got great diving to do

Cross your fingers to get to the oil rigs. The boats hope to get there, but will divert to elsewhere if the swells are too high, the current too strong, or the vis too limited. Stay hopeful, but ready to enjoy whatever part of the Pacific Ocean you get to dive in.

Great questions!

1. Take the biggest lights you have. Take two so you don't miss any of the fun if one fails. The colors are soooo much better with light. Both the oil rigs and local wrecks are fantastic invertebrate havens. You shoot photographs? Get ready for macro mania!!! Or wide-angle magic with light under the oil rig structures.
2. Listen to the boat captain and DM briefing. You'll be doing a "live boat" drop on the oil rigs, because the boats don't anchor at the site. You'll be lined up on the deck like paratroopers, fully rigged, waiting for the jump-master to tap you and yell "go." It's very cool and the boat will tell you exactly how they want you to do this because they don't want it to go haywire. They'll also brief you on the pick-up routine and the emergency protocols if they have to sound the "recall" for any reason. Boats are used to teaching this. Your job is just to listen and do exactly as instructed. Then, HAVE FUN!
3. On the rigs, be aware and careful of your buoyancy. The rig structure gives you great visual references so use them. Look at your depth guage, descend carefully to one of the cross-braces, and work your depth profile around that. It's a spectacular environment. Indescribable. You'll never forget it.
4. Wrecks: Think: Debris Pile. Think: Island of structure and life in acres of mud and sand. There may be some overhead spaces and holes one could wriggle into or go under... but don't. (You knew that was coming, eh? ) All the pretty invertebrate life is on the outside of the debris and structure. The enclosed spaces are silty, dirty, and intense snag hazards. Use lights to look in... but don't go in. If you think you want to go "in there" someday... take a serious class in our area. GUE, NauiTec, IANTD... many agencies offer wreck penetration classes. Prepare to buy more gear and do intense practice. Serious stuff. Zero Viz can happen in a second and take hours to clear.
5. Monofilament!! Take EMT shears or a readily available knife to cut monofilament. Both wrecks and oil rigs catch and hold both gill nets and monofilament. Entanglement usually happens before you see it. If you're kicking and not moving, assume it's monofilament.
   1. Stop, GET YOUR BUDDY's ATTENTION. (Lights, bangers, whatever.)
   2. Look gently down at your gear and untangle or cut as needed. If you can't see it, feel with your hands without spinning or turning. Don't make it worse.
   3. Let buddy help you if he/she sees it.
   4. If you're alone, don't spin, just keep working the problem calmly.

That said, congratulations on diving into a new thing! The oil rigs are fantastic dives. Wrecks are lush islands of life with great stuff packed into a small area. Both are nudibranch nirvana.
Post a report and tell us all about it .

~~~~~~
Claudette