Suggestions for 1st NJ wreck dive?

[DiverDAD!]

Hi everyone! This is my 1st post, although I've been lurking for a while. I have a question for the group about an upcoming dive experience that I'm interested in being as prepared as possible for. I'd appreciate some help from the collective wisdom here. Thanks again!

Background: I have been asked by a couple of friends to start diving with them on NJ wrecks. I have about 50 dives, but most have been warm Caribbean dives while on vacation. Although they have a fair amount of NJ wreck experience and are progressing toward tech diving, I am only interested in this at a more recreational level. They have assured me that they will only do the shallower, less complicated dives with me. I am going to limit myself to 80 ft, and of course no penetration, no deco, etc. They are very responsible, and don’t have any concern that they’ll carelessly get me into any situation irresponsibly. I know to expect poor vis, and cold water, and it’s a LOT different than Caribbean diving.

Question: After speaking with them, lurking here, surfing the net, and talking to a couple of other divers I know, I’m trying to come up with a starting configuration of equipment that I’ll need. I realize it will evolve, but would sure appreciate thoughts, recommendations and ideas of the experienced divers here.

I already have the basic equipment including 2 steel 120s, primary reg, pony with 2nd reg (please no commentary on if the pony is a good idea, I’ve decided to carry one), computer, knife, wet suit, safety sausage, and BC. I only plan on doing this kind of diving occasionally. I’d like to make the minimal investment in equipment that I can while remaining safe.


The questions I have are:

Which of the following do I need?
Where/how do I carry them?
Anything I’ve forgotten?

Reel (which one, how much line?)
Jersey upline
Lift bag (50#)
Light
Shears
Whistle

Thank you!

 

[joe rock]

The questions I have are:

Which of the following do I need?
Where/how do I carry them?
Anything I’ve forgotten?

Reel (which one, how much line?)
Jersey upline
Lift bag (50#)
Light
Shears
Whistle

Thank you!

Absolutely I would recommend a primary light and a backup light, a lift bag and a wreck reel. The shears and whistle are a good idea too.
Depending on the condition of the wreck and the viz you will need both the light and reel. The reel will keep you from getting lost (many of the wrecks are not intact) and the light will allow you to see something. The reel and lift bag will allow you to shot an upline if you should need one. To do this properly you need double the length of the deepest you'll dive (if it's 80' you need at least 160' of line). I've seen the need at least once per season on the diving boats off NJ.

Since most of the wrecks are shared by the fishing boats, you need the shears to cut monofilliment that could be a potential hazard. Finally, the whistle is a signaling device if you should get blown off the wreck and surface away from the boat. The combined cost based on choices of make/model of the above is less then $400. Certainly your safety is worth that There is a reason every dive boat doing Jersey wreck dives require a reel, a lift bag, completely redundant air etc.

Before you do the first dive, I recommend you practice with the lift bag and wreck reel. Become proficient. The first couple times you use them, they'll seem a little clumsy. Again these are safety issues.

JR

 

[RJP]

Have you any experience using a reel, shooting a bag, or a "Jersey up-line"?

If not I'd recommend leaving them home.

First time out I'd make sure the wreck is something that is intact in order to make navigation easier and get you acclimated to local conditions.

Have you been diving in cold water? Recently? If not, get up to Dutch Springs for a bit of an introduction.

What exposure protection will you be using?

I know to expect poor vis, and cold water, and it’s a LOT different than Caribbean diving.

It's easy to THINK you know what to expect, but remember...

The first time you're on a crowded 6-pack, fifteen miles from land, and you've been hurling breakfast and then dry heaving the whole hour trip out, and they just spent another half hour setting the hook while you were struggling to get your dry suit on in 4-6 seas, overheating while the cold spray is stinging your face, and there's a ripping current with 5-foot viz, and you're slinging a bail-out bottle for the first time, with more weight than you're used to, and you're about to do your first "Jersey Roll" over the side into choppy 45deg water, when you notice that you're "buddy" who hit the water just a second ago is long gone, and you're praying that the 50' boat doesn't slam down on you after you hit the water, and you're hoping that if you don't get to the downline to the Carolina rig quick enough that you can at least grab the trail line before the current takes you past the ball, and you're hoping you remember how to use your reel correctly because the wreck was wire dragged and depth-charged sixty years ago so it's nothing more than scattered hull plates, and then once you get down to 90' it's not only snotty viz but "night-dive" dark, and you're all alone, hoping you can find your way back to the anchor at the end of the dive without getting tangled in your wreck reel, so you can do your ascent on the line, otherwise you'll need to shoot a bag in the middle of the ocean and hope that the boat sees you, and that you don't drift even further away while you're doing your safety stop, puking through your regulator, and when you finally do get back to the boat you need to perfectly time your exit with the boat hopping +/- eight feet so you don't have the ladder crack your skull, and you're struggling to get your fins on and up every step, so you don't fall off, potentially getting swept past the ball again, so you can get to the top without pinching a finger off as the metal ladder repeatedly crashed into the boat, and climb over the transom with 100lbs of gear on, shuffle back across the crowded deck back to your 18" of space on the bench, with what little gear you could bring aboard stuffed into a milk crate under your seat, so you can get out of your rig, while not slipping on the deck or tripping on scattered gear as the boat is still tossing, in order to get your BC off your first tank and onto your second, changing your regs over, with both tanks bungied to the rail so that they don't fall and break someone's foot, while you try to make sure your mask doesn't go overboard, because you just remembered that your backup is in your trunk which is not across the parking lot but back at the dock, and you're starving but forgot to bring anything to eat and there's no snack bar on a boat, and the captain is now trying to get everyone back in the water for the second dive because he wants you back on board by 11am so he can slam you around for an hour while you're breaking down and stowing your gear at 20kts to get back to the dock in time for you to get all your crap off the boat in about 30 seconds without forgetting anything, and wondering how much to tip the crew...

"I don't think we're in the Caribbean anymore..."

 

[joe rock]

Have you any experience using a reel, shooting a bag, or a "Jersey up-line"?

If not I'd recommend leaving them home.

First time out I'd make sure the wreck is something that is intact in order to make navigation easier and get you acclimated to local conditions.

Are you going out on a commercial dive charter or on a private boat?

I agree with Ray with one exception, rather then leave the reel and bag at home, I'd learn how to use them and become proficient before you do the first wreck dive.

JR

 

[RJP]

I agree with Ray with one exception, rather then leave the reel and bag at home, I'd learn how to use them and become proficient before you do the first wreck dive.

JR

So then you are agreeing with me, no?

 

[joe rock]

So then you are agreeing with me, no?

Almost

 

[Twistedarts]

Have you any experience using a reel, shooting a bag, or a "Jersey up-line"?

If not I'd recommend leaving them home.

First time out I'd make sure the wreck is something that is intact in order to make navigation easier and get you acclimated to local conditions.

Have you been diving in cold water? Recently? If not, get up to Dutch Springs for a bit of an introduction.

What exposure protection will you be using?



It's easy to THINK you know what to expect, but remember...

The first time you're on a crowded 6-pack, fifteen miles from land, and you've been hurling breakfast and then dry heaving the whole hour trip out, and they just spent another half hour setting the hook while you were struggling to get your dry suit on in 4-6 seas, overheating while the cold spray is stinging your face, and there's a ripping current with 5-foot viz, and you're slinging a bail-out bottle for the first time, with more weight than you're used to, and you're about to do your first "Jersey Roll" over the side into choppy 45deg water, when you notice that you're "buddy" who hit the water just a second ago is long gone, and you're praying that the 50' boat doesn't slam down on you after you hit the water, and you're hoping that if you don't get to the downline to the Carolina rig quick enough that you can at least grab the trail line before the current takes you past the ball, and you're hoping you remember how to use your reel correctly because the wreck was wire dragged and depth-charged sixty years ago so it's nothing more than scattered hull plates, and then once you get down to 90' it's not only snotty viz but "night-dive" dark, and you're all alone, hoping you can find your way back to the anchor at the end of the dive without getting tangled in your wreck reel, so you can do your ascent on the line, otherwise you'll need to shoot a bag in the middle of the ocean and hope that the boat sees you, and that you don't drift even further away while you're doing your safety stop, puking through your regulator, and when you finally do get back to the boat you need to perfectly time your exit with the boat hopping +/- eight feet so you don't have the ladder crack your skull, and you're struggling to get your fins on and up every step, so you don't fall off, potentially getting swept past the ball again, so you can get to the top without pinching a finger off as the metal ladder repeatedly crashed into the boat, and climb over the transom with 100lbs of gear on, shuffle back across the crowded deck back to your 18" of space on the bench, with what little gear you could bring aboard stuffed into a milk crate under your seat, so you can get out of your rig, while not slipping on the deck or tripping on scattered gear as the boat is still tossing, in order to get your BC off your first tank and onto your second, changing your regs over, with both tanks bungied to the rail so that they don't fall and break someone's foot, while you try to make sure your mask doesn't go overboard, because you just remembered that your backup is in your trunk which is not across the parking lot but back at the dock, and you're starving but forgot to bring anything to eat and there's no snack bar on a boat, and the captain is now trying to get everyone back in the water for the second dive because he wants you back on board by 11am so he can slam you around for an hour while you're breaking down and stowing your gear at 20kts to get back to the dock in time for you to get all your crap off the boat in about 30 seconds without forgetting anything, and wondering how much to tip the crew...

"I don't think we're in the Caribbean anymore..."

Absolutely Brilliant!

 

[caseybird]

Have you any experience using a reel, shooting a bag, or a "Jersey up-line"?

If not I'd recommend leaving them home.

First time out I'd make sure the wreck is something that is intact in order to make navigation easier and get you acclimated to local conditions.

Have you been diving in cold water? Recently? If not, get up to Dutch Springs for a bit of an introduction.

What exposure protection will you be using?



It's easy to THINK you know what to expect, but remember...

The first time you're on a crowded 6-pack, fifteen miles from land, and you've been hurling breakfast and then dry heaving the whole hour trip out, and they just spent another half hour setting the hook while you were struggling to get your dry suit on in 4-6 seas, overheating while the cold spray is stinging your face, and there's a ripping current with 5-foot viz, and you're slinging a bail-out bottle for the first time, with more weight than you're used to, and you're about to do your first "Jersey Roll" over the side into choppy 45deg water, when you notice that you're "buddy" who hit the water just a second ago is long gone, and you're praying that the 50' boat doesn't slam down on you after you hit the water, and you're hoping that if you don't get to the downline to the Carolina rig quick enough that you can at least grab the trail line before the current takes you past the ball, and you're hoping you remember how to use your reel correctly because the wreck was wire dragged and depth-charged sixty years ago so it's nothing more than scattered hull plates, and then once you get down to 90' it's not only snotty viz but "night-dive" dark, and you're all alone, hoping you can find your way back to the anchor at the end of the dive without getting tangled in your wreck reel, so you can do your ascent on the line, otherwise you'll need to shoot a bag in the middle of the ocean and hope that the boat sees you, and that you don't drift even further away while you're doing your safety stop, puking through your regulator, and when you finally do get back to the boat you need to perfectly time your exit with the boat hopping +/- eight fee........
"I don't think we're in the Caribbean anymore..."

Actually, I've has some rather nice dives off the Gypsy Blood... However, a good wreck course with some cold water time at Dutch is a good idea. PM me for a recommendation if you're interested.

 

[DiverDAD!]

Have you any experience using a reel, shooting a bag, or a "Jersey up-line"?

If not I'd recommend leaving them home.

First time out I'd make sure the wreck is something that is intact in order to make navigation easier and get you acclimated to local conditions.

Have you been diving in cold water? Recently? If not, get up to Dutch Springs for a bit of an introduction.

What exposure protection will you be using?



It's easy to THINK you know what to expect, but remember...

The first time you're on a crowded 6-pack, fifteen miles from land, and you've been hurling breakfast and then dry heaving the whole hour trip out, and they just spent another half hour setting the hook while you were struggling to get your dry suit on in 4-6 seas, overheating while the cold spray is stinging your face, and there's a ripping current with 5-foot viz, and you're slinging a bail-out bottle for the first time, with more weight than you're used to, and you're about to do your first "Jersey Roll" over the side into choppy 45deg water, when you notice that you're "buddy" who hit the water just a second ago is long gone, and you're praying that the 50' boat doesn't slam down on you after you hit the water, and you're hoping that if you don't get to the downline to the Carolina rig quick enough that you can at least grab the trail line before the current takes you past the ball, and you're hoping you remember how to use your reel correctly because the wreck was wire dragged and depth-charged sixty years ago so it's nothing more than scattered hull plates, and then once you get down to 90' it's not only snotty viz but "night-dive" dark, and you're all alone, hoping you can find your way back to the anchor at the end of the dive without getting tangled in your wreck reel, so you can do your ascent on the line, otherwise you'll need to shoot a bag in the middle of the ocean and hope that the boat sees you, and that you don't drift even further away while you're doing your safety stop, puking through your regulator, and when you finally do get back to the boat you need to perfectly time your exit with the boat hopping +/- eight feet so you don't have the ladder crack your skull, and you're struggling to get your fins on and up every step, so you don't fall off, potentially getting swept past the ball again, so you can get to the top without pinching a finger off as the metal ladder repeatedly crashed into the boat, and climb over the transom with 100lbs of gear on, shuffle back across the crowded deck back to your 18" of space on the bench, with what little gear you could bring aboard stuffed into a milk crate under your seat, so you can get out of your rig, while not slipping on the deck or tripping on scattered gear as the boat is still tossing, in order to get your BC off your first tank and onto your second, changing your regs over, with both tanks bungied to the rail so that they don't fall and break someone's foot, while you try to make sure your mask doesn't go overboard, because you just remembered that your backup is in your trunk which is not across the parking lot but back at the dock, and you're starving but forgot to bring anything to eat and there's no snack bar on a boat, and the captain is now trying to get everyone back in the water for the second dive because he wants you back on board by 11am so he can slam you around for an hour while you're breaking down and stowing your gear at 20kts to get back to the dock in time for you to get all your crap off the boat in about 30 seconds without forgetting anything, and wondering how much to tip the crew...

"I don't think we're in the Caribbean anymore..."

This is what I've been told to expect, although until I actually do it, I won't be able to fully appreciate it!

I'll be using a 7mm john and jacket for 14mm on the trunk, with hood, boots, gloves. If I like it, I'll plan on a dry suit later, but not yet. I'll 1st go to a shallow "easy" wreck, so as to minimize the transition.

I have had a few cold water (low 50s) dives, so at least that much won't be new.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Go to Dutch Springs. Go to Beach 8th street. Go to Cape Ann and do some boat and shore diving there. Take a wreck diving course and learn how to shoot a bag and run a line or practice with some friends over and over again at Dutch. Do another 50 plus dives at the previously mentioned places and then consider doing Wreck Valley. I personally would never dive a NJ wreck "Easy" or hard without knowing how to run a line and shoot a bag in the dark if needed even. If you get blown off the line, you are SOOL. Wreck Valley is no place for a trust me dive... unless you have a good insurance policy that covers high risk sports.

Have fun and good luck! It's not that tough but one can easily under estimate the possible and likely conditions as well as skill set needed. And while this may sound dark and unnecessary, NEVER forget the second part of your screen name.

BTW, just the fact that you came here and are researching specifics before doing it tells me you will be just fine.