The Oriskany Sinking; Born Again and Dutch Banks Dive Reports 5-17-6

[SuPrBuGmAn]

RedHead,

Every shops "rules" will be different, but they will be similar. Suppodsely the shops got togehter and came up with a "common ground" of rules.

MBT Divers & Dive Might 0 out of P'cola are offering trips. (not sure about Scuba Shack in P'cola. Are they even still in business?) Gary's Gulf Divers out of Orange Beach offering trips (but boat departs P'cola).

Here's MBT's "rules"

Scuba Shack is running trips and are still in business. Underwater works and Down Under are both going to be offering trips as well, launching from Orange Beach, AL.

Scuba Shack in Pensacola is still in business and will be doing charters out to the Oriskany. Our dive shop from VA is going with Scuba Shack in July.

Welcome to ScubaBoard

 

[drbill]

There are already a number of threads on this subject, although this one differs from most. My two cents worth:

I just heard, based on reports from side-scan sonar and divers, the flight deck is resting in 150 ft of water but the tower is at 60 ft. What happened to the calculations? I thought the flight deck was supposed to be at 130 ft. However, I did just read that at least a portion of the flight deck may be at that depth.

My guess is that the increased depth will (or should) greatly limit the number of recreational divers who will be interested in diving this wreck. If true, projected revenues from increased tourism to the area may not meet expectations. If false, I'd expect more divers to be heading for the nearest chamber.

Disclaimer: I'm not a big fan of wrecks, especially new ones (without growth) that are below rec limits.

 

[TheRedHead]

I want to dive it fresh sunk because the thought of diving an aircraft carrier is just hot!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

There are already a number of threads on this subject, although this one differs from most. My two cents worth:

I just heard, based on reports from side-scan sonar and divers, the flight deck is resting in 150 ft of water but the tower is at 60 ft. What happened to the calculations? I thought the flight deck was supposed to be at 130 ft. However, I did just read that at least a portion of the flight deck may be at that depth.

My guess is that the increased depth will (or should) greatly limit the number of recreational divers who will be interested in diving this wreck. If true, projected revenues from increased tourism to the area may not meet expectations. If false, I'd expect more divers to be heading for the nearest chamber.

Disclaimer: I'm not a big fan of wrecks, especially new ones (without growth) that are below rec limits.

Yes, there are quite a few threads about the Oriskany. However, this is my first hand report of watching the sinking coupled with reports on dives I did on that day. I believe I'm entitled to that. If you don't want to read another Oriskany thread, skip over that portion, or don't click the link... and look no further, because I'm about to post my own photos of the sinking.

Jim, MBT Diver's owner, dove the Oriskany today to retrieve the Discovery Channel's cameras(which were mounted on the boat to record the sinking from the boat itself). He and his team note the flight deck between 130-135'.

I want to dive her new, then I want to dive her in the years to follow to compare how fast she 'grows'. The Oriskany will be a fine dive, surely!

It was an early morning!

At about 10 miles from our Oriskany coordinates, we noticed a spec in the distance. At 9 miles from our goal I took a picture. This is the superstructure only, the flight deck still falls under the horizon due to the curvature of the Earth.

7 miles from destination, the flight deck is visibile.

2 miles out. The sun is rising out of the East and we're on the West side which is covered in shadow.

Capt'n moved us to the East side of the Oriskany for a better, lighted view.

A couple seconds after the explosion, smoke started billowing out.

More to come.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Her stern starts sliding under as she lists portside.

The Oriskany's stern sinks quickly and probably hits bottom, the boat lists starboard with her bow high in the air before sinking quickly below the surface.

...and then she's gone, burping air for a couple of minutes sending geisers of bubbles and water into the air.

I can't wait to dive her!

 

[Matteo]

thanks for posting those, they are the best pics I've seen yet...cannot wait to see her for myself!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Glad you enjoyed, I'm good for something every now and again

 

[chairmanTARAC]

thanks suprbugman great shots sunrise shot should go to the chamber for tourism nice chronolog of the sinking

 

[Tom Winters]

Geez..even watching decommissioned warships going down shivers me timbers. Too many years spent in a stateroom 15' below the waterline on my destroyer.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

http://www.suprbugman.com/gallery/album125

^^ Couple more photos here