The Morgan

[jgarysmith]

Diving the Morgan on Friday May 28. Any comments by anyone who has dove ot. It will be my first time diving her. :11ztongue

 

[Don Burke]

Diving the Morgan on Friday May 28. Any comments by anyone who has dove ot. It will be my first time diving her. :11ztongue

It's a bit over one hundred feet to the sand. Ask before the dive about artifacts. There is quite a bit of ammunition down there and some boats are jumpy about it.

 

[jgarysmith]

Thanks Don,
What kind of artifacts? I wouldn't mind some ammo shells. I am diving with Wreckmaster Divers. Not sure how they feel about it. Ever dove with them? It will be my first.

 

[erikharwell]

give us a report when you can. wreck masters is my favorite shop, and they are great people.

 

[CelticRavenVA]

Hey just a heads up, be really careful salvaging ammo from underwater. Some of those rounds can be tracers which if they have corroded the white phosphorus that creates the tracer effect can burst into flames when exposed to air....

Other then that tad bit have a great dive and give us a report when you get home.

 

[jgarysmith]

thanks Raven for the tip.

 

[Tekdiver10]

Is there any way that the ammo can exoplode underwater, I have always been wondering this.....

 

[Don Burke]

Is there any way that the ammo can exoplode underwater, I have always been wondering this.....

There were anti-aircraft shells that were designed to detonate on a certain amount of pressure drop.

If the fuse in the shell floods so that it thinks it is at sea level, then the pressure change from ascending sixteen feet in the water could be interpreted by the fuse as an ascent from sea level to eighteen thousand feet.

Are any such fuses on the Morgan? I don't think so.

Has this ever happened? Not to my knowledge.

Do I feel lucky? Not especially.

Most of the issue is that the powder in the 90mm shells is flammable and makes a heck of a mess on the boat.

 

[Tekdiver10]

Thanks Don

 

[Wreck]

I wouldn't mind some ammo shells. I am diving with Wreckmaster Divers. Not sure how they feel about it.

I'm not sure about WM and the Flying Fish, but I spoke with someone from Lynnhaven Dive Shop about it and they told me that they are not keen about it salvaging ammo. I imagine the Lindsey's captain would be most against it as he's big on safety. On the Lauren, it would depend on who's captain and DM for the day.

I haven't dove the Morgan yet, but intend to bring back some empty rounds if I can find some, or make some. (bap, bap, bap booom!)