Here is part of the Navy Salvage Record that deals with the divers that were recovering the wreck. It is interesting reading.
Posting it because it was at "scuba" depth. She sank in 132 feet of water.
Here is the link to the whole story...VERY interesting reading
REPORT ON SALVAGE OPERATIONS, "S-51"
APPENDIX C
DIVING OPERATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH SALVAGE OF THE "S-51"
(From report of Lieut. Henry Hartley, commanding officer, U.S.S. "Falcon")
1. In commencing the spring operations on the "S-51", the marker buoys that
were planted at the end of the fall operations having dragged out of position
during the winter, it was necessary to locate the vessel by grappling. The
nature of the grapnel catches was ascertained by sending down a diver. When
the catch was identified as the "S-51" a diver attached a buoy line to the
vessel and made a report as to its general position. After determining the
approximate heading of the submarine, the planting of necessary moorings was
undertaken. Manila hawsers of 8-inch circumference and 120 fathoms long and
two 4,000-pound and four 6,000-pound anchors were used for this purpose. It
was decided to plant one mooring ahead, one mooring astern, and two bow and
two quarter moorings 50 degrees from the ahead and astern moorings. Buoys were
first planted to indicate the desired location of the moorings. The marker
buoy was passed close aboard with the "Falcon" heading in the same direction
as the submarine. A cork buoy was planted over the wreck, three ship lengths
from the marker buoy. This operation was repeated on the opposite heading and
on the four other desired compass headings. When all of the markers were
placed the moorings were planted in the locations marked by the buoys. By this
method the six moorings were planted by the "Falcon" in three and one-quarter
hours.
2. After the moorings were planted the first diver used the marker buoy line
as a descending line, taking with him a 3.5 or 4 inch manila line which was
secured to the vessel and buoyed at the upper end for permanent use as a
diver's descending line. The boat boom was guyed aft as far as the rigging
permitted and the after boom was guyed forward, both booms being topped up so
that a single whip from the boom head would clear the vessel's side about 2
feet. Four-inch single lines, marked every 10 feet, were run from the winch
to a block at each boom head. The lower ends of these lines were fitted with
eye splices and screw shackles. Two stages, 3.5 feet square, were made from
flat bar and fitted with iron bails, about 6 feet long, to each corner and
rigged so that they could be slung from the booms.
3. The divers were dressed near the places where the stage whips plumbed,
there being provided for this purpose small benches or dressing stools fitted
with shelves under the seat for the small tools, breastplates, washers, nuts,
etc. While the divers were being dressed, the hose and telephone cable were
made ready, hooked up, and tested. When the diver was dressed and had tested
his own 'phone, he mounted the diving stage and was hoisted over the side
clear of the rail. The stage was then dropped until the diver was submerged a
foot or so below the surface. At this point the stage was stopped until the
diver had tested his air and telephone and checked the water-tight integrity
of his diving dress, etc. If any defects were found, the diver could be
hoisted aboard on the stage in a very few seconds. When the diver reported
ready, the stage was led to the descending line. After any material or tools
he was to carry down were given him, he left the stage and descended on the
descending line, the tender paying out hose and cable as the weight of the
diver took it. This permitted the diver to stop his descent at any time, and
thereby control his descent. However, he was not allowed to descend at a rate
greater than 1 foot per second, as he must take the necessary precautions to
build up his air pressure as he descends. The time required for descent varied
with the individual, but
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 101
for 135 feet slightly over two minutes was the average time of descent. When
the diver reported that he had reached bottom, his working mate was put over
and lowered in the same manner.
4. At all times when divers were down one diver was kept on deck fully
dressed except as to his helmet and ready to descend in case of emergency.
This is considered of the utmost importance in all deep-sea diving.
5. When the diver reported ready to ascend or when he had been down the
allowed maximum length of the time, he was told to come to the descending
line. The descending line was passed through a screw shackle attached to the
diving stage and the stage lowered to the proper distance. The diver was
hauled up by his tenders at a rate of about 1 foot per second and landed on
the stage. After the first diver was landed his mate was brought up in the
same manner. When both were on the stage, the stage was unshackled from the
descending line which was then clear for the other diving stage. The
timekeeper, who was an experienced and reliable chief petty officer, kept a
record of the time the diver reached and left the bottom, and the time for
decompression. After the diver had mounted the stage the rate of ascent was
governed by the decompression table in the Diving Manual, except as noted
herein.
6. The routine which was carried out in getting the diver out of cold water
as quickly as possible after one hour at 132 feet was as follows:
(a) The stage was first lowered to 80 feet. After receiving the diver's
report that he was safely on the stage, the stage was held at certain depths
for various periods of time as follows:
Depth: Time (minutes)
80 feet ............................................ 4
70 feet ............................................ 6
60 feet ............................................ 8
50 feet ............................................ 10
----
Total ....................................... 28
(b) After the 10-minute decompression at the 50-foot depth the stage was
hoisted as rapidly as possible and the diver landed on deck. About 20 seconds
were then required to remove the diver's belt, shoes, and helmet, after which
he was assisted into the outer lock of the recompression chamber, undressed
and given dry clothes, hot coffee, etc., and passed into the inner chamber.
About two minutes from the time he started from the 50-foot stage were
required to get the diver under pressure again. The initial air pressure in
the recompression chamber was stepped back one stage (equivalent to water
pressure at 60 feet) and then held at the various stages, indicated below:
Air pressure equivalent to: Time (minutes)
60 feet ............................................ 10
50 feet ............................................ 12
40 feet ............................................ 15
30 feet ............................................ 18
20 feet ............................................ 20
10 feet ............................................ 25
----
Total ....................................... 100
7. The medical officer kept strict watch over the divers' diet and physical
condition. Colds, indigestion, minor attacks of bends, or too long a stay in
the water on the previous day usually rendered one or two divers unfit for
work. It was necessary to exercise considerable care to insure the divers did
not overstrain themselves due to overzealousness and pride in their work. The
amount of work the men were called upon or allowed to do was governed by the
physical condition and experience of the various individuals. In assigning
work extreme care was taken...
Can't post the rest...too long. Read the link above if you want to find out how it all ended.
Posting it because it was at "scuba" depth. She sank in 132 feet of water.
Here is the link to the whole story...VERY interesting reading
REPORT ON SALVAGE OPERATIONS, "S-51"
APPENDIX C
DIVING OPERATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH SALVAGE OF THE "S-51"
(From report of Lieut. Henry Hartley, commanding officer, U.S.S. "Falcon")
1. In commencing the spring operations on the "S-51", the marker buoys that
were planted at the end of the fall operations having dragged out of position
during the winter, it was necessary to locate the vessel by grappling. The
nature of the grapnel catches was ascertained by sending down a diver. When
the catch was identified as the "S-51" a diver attached a buoy line to the
vessel and made a report as to its general position. After determining the
approximate heading of the submarine, the planting of necessary moorings was
undertaken. Manila hawsers of 8-inch circumference and 120 fathoms long and
two 4,000-pound and four 6,000-pound anchors were used for this purpose. It
was decided to plant one mooring ahead, one mooring astern, and two bow and
two quarter moorings 50 degrees from the ahead and astern moorings. Buoys were
first planted to indicate the desired location of the moorings. The marker
buoy was passed close aboard with the "Falcon" heading in the same direction
as the submarine. A cork buoy was planted over the wreck, three ship lengths
from the marker buoy. This operation was repeated on the opposite heading and
on the four other desired compass headings. When all of the markers were
placed the moorings were planted in the locations marked by the buoys. By this
method the six moorings were planted by the "Falcon" in three and one-quarter
hours.
2. After the moorings were planted the first diver used the marker buoy line
as a descending line, taking with him a 3.5 or 4 inch manila line which was
secured to the vessel and buoyed at the upper end for permanent use as a
diver's descending line. The boat boom was guyed aft as far as the rigging
permitted and the after boom was guyed forward, both booms being topped up so
that a single whip from the boom head would clear the vessel's side about 2
feet. Four-inch single lines, marked every 10 feet, were run from the winch
to a block at each boom head. The lower ends of these lines were fitted with
eye splices and screw shackles. Two stages, 3.5 feet square, were made from
flat bar and fitted with iron bails, about 6 feet long, to each corner and
rigged so that they could be slung from the booms.
3. The divers were dressed near the places where the stage whips plumbed,
there being provided for this purpose small benches or dressing stools fitted
with shelves under the seat for the small tools, breastplates, washers, nuts,
etc. While the divers were being dressed, the hose and telephone cable were
made ready, hooked up, and tested. When the diver was dressed and had tested
his own 'phone, he mounted the diving stage and was hoisted over the side
clear of the rail. The stage was then dropped until the diver was submerged a
foot or so below the surface. At this point the stage was stopped until the
diver had tested his air and telephone and checked the water-tight integrity
of his diving dress, etc. If any defects were found, the diver could be
hoisted aboard on the stage in a very few seconds. When the diver reported
ready, the stage was led to the descending line. After any material or tools
he was to carry down were given him, he left the stage and descended on the
descending line, the tender paying out hose and cable as the weight of the
diver took it. This permitted the diver to stop his descent at any time, and
thereby control his descent. However, he was not allowed to descend at a rate
greater than 1 foot per second, as he must take the necessary precautions to
build up his air pressure as he descends. The time required for descent varied
with the individual, but
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 101
for 135 feet slightly over two minutes was the average time of descent. When
the diver reported that he had reached bottom, his working mate was put over
and lowered in the same manner.
4. At all times when divers were down one diver was kept on deck fully
dressed except as to his helmet and ready to descend in case of emergency.
This is considered of the utmost importance in all deep-sea diving.
5. When the diver reported ready to ascend or when he had been down the
allowed maximum length of the time, he was told to come to the descending
line. The descending line was passed through a screw shackle attached to the
diving stage and the stage lowered to the proper distance. The diver was
hauled up by his tenders at a rate of about 1 foot per second and landed on
the stage. After the first diver was landed his mate was brought up in the
same manner. When both were on the stage, the stage was unshackled from the
descending line which was then clear for the other diving stage. The
timekeeper, who was an experienced and reliable chief petty officer, kept a
record of the time the diver reached and left the bottom, and the time for
decompression. After the diver had mounted the stage the rate of ascent was
governed by the decompression table in the Diving Manual, except as noted
herein.
6. The routine which was carried out in getting the diver out of cold water
as quickly as possible after one hour at 132 feet was as follows:
(a) The stage was first lowered to 80 feet. After receiving the diver's
report that he was safely on the stage, the stage was held at certain depths
for various periods of time as follows:
Depth: Time (minutes)
80 feet ............................................ 4
70 feet ............................................ 6
60 feet ............................................ 8
50 feet ............................................ 10
----
Total ....................................... 28
(b) After the 10-minute decompression at the 50-foot depth the stage was
hoisted as rapidly as possible and the diver landed on deck. About 20 seconds
were then required to remove the diver's belt, shoes, and helmet, after which
he was assisted into the outer lock of the recompression chamber, undressed
and given dry clothes, hot coffee, etc., and passed into the inner chamber.
About two minutes from the time he started from the 50-foot stage were
required to get the diver under pressure again. The initial air pressure in
the recompression chamber was stepped back one stage (equivalent to water
pressure at 60 feet) and then held at the various stages, indicated below:
Air pressure equivalent to: Time (minutes)
60 feet ............................................ 10
50 feet ............................................ 12
40 feet ............................................ 15
30 feet ............................................ 18
20 feet ............................................ 20
10 feet ............................................ 25
----
Total ....................................... 100
7. The medical officer kept strict watch over the divers' diet and physical
condition. Colds, indigestion, minor attacks of bends, or too long a stay in
the water on the previous day usually rendered one or two divers unfit for
work. It was necessary to exercise considerable care to insure the divers did
not overstrain themselves due to overzealousness and pride in their work. The
amount of work the men were called upon or allowed to do was governed by the
physical condition and experience of the various individuals. In assigning
work extreme care was taken...
Can't post the rest...too long. Read the link above if you want to find out how it all ended.
