- Messages
- 19,887
- Reaction score
- 18,797
- Location
- Philadelphia and Boynton Beach
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
Elena's (mselenaous) post brings back many fond memories.
Most important things have been mentioned. Dive on the Spiegel Grove varies from easy deeper dive to very challenging due to surface conditions, current, and visibility. Overall, it's an easier dive with regard to orientation since the wreck was made upright by Hurricane Dennis in 2005. The 8 mooring balls and lines are generally easy to keep straight, pay attention on the way down. Two of the starboad lines have a junction part way down, West to the ship, East to the sand. Art To Media has a nice 3D map http://www.arttomedia.com/site/home.aspx. My average dives are 100-110 foot max, 70-75 feet avg, 45 min on 32% nitrox. I've never done a drift on the Spiegel.
I've found the Duane generally more challenging than the Spiegel with regard to currents, it's ripping at times. Navigation is simple with only a bow, stack, and stern mooring buoy. I've done live drop at bow with drift to stern several times, a good dive. Max depth is about the same at 100-110 ft but the profile is flatter with avg depth of 75-80 feet and dive time of 40-45 min on 32%. I've seen Bull Sharks on the Duane several times on descent, they have taken off and not reappeared for me.
Two great artificial reefs, wonderful dives.
Good diving, Craig
Most important things have been mentioned. Dive on the Spiegel Grove varies from easy deeper dive to very challenging due to surface conditions, current, and visibility. Overall, it's an easier dive with regard to orientation since the wreck was made upright by Hurricane Dennis in 2005. The 8 mooring balls and lines are generally easy to keep straight, pay attention on the way down. Two of the starboad lines have a junction part way down, West to the ship, East to the sand. Art To Media has a nice 3D map http://www.arttomedia.com/site/home.aspx. My average dives are 100-110 foot max, 70-75 feet avg, 45 min on 32% nitrox. I've never done a drift on the Spiegel.
I've found the Duane generally more challenging than the Spiegel with regard to currents, it's ripping at times. Navigation is simple with only a bow, stack, and stern mooring buoy. I've done live drop at bow with drift to stern several times, a good dive. Max depth is about the same at 100-110 ft but the profile is flatter with avg depth of 75-80 feet and dive time of 40-45 min on 32%. I've seen Bull Sharks on the Duane several times on descent, they have taken off and not reappeared for me.
Two great artificial reefs, wonderful dives.
Good diving, Craig
