The USS Oriskany and Newbie Q.s

[RayJayJr]

Care to fill in a newbie on the finer points of wreck diving? I'm interested in trying it, but I need to complete some additional training. I do have some questions though.


This thing is a massive wreck that wasn't sunk too long ago - has the whole ship been fully explored?

Does the Oriskany get penetrated often? (that sounds terribly wrong) Or do the majority of divers just observe the upper levels from the outside?

Is it possible to get really deep inside the wreck, or would that, combined with your return trip create too long of a decompression commitment for most divers?

Once I take my wreck diving speciality with PADI (which I would like to do to confirm my interest), what is the next step in wreck diver training? Do I move to another organization? Is DIR a prerequisite for diving wreck?

Thanks!

 

[ReefHound]

The PADI wreck specialty is just an introduction to some of the things you'll need to learn. It doesn't make you an expert or qualify you to do serious penetration. From there you might take some advanced wreck classes from TDI and start building experience on easy shallow wrecks. You'll also find you need a lot of additional skills and classes. Many wrecks are deep and require long bottom times so you may need advanced nitrox and deco classes.

The Oriskany can be considered in two parts, above and below flight deck. Below the deck at ~135' I doubt very much has been explored. The sea floor is about 220'. Only trimix divers will likely be going there. There have been a few technical trips on it but I'd guess much of it will never get explored. The ship is 900' long.

Above the deck it's probably been completely explored. The entire con tower can be safely penetrated and you really don't even need a line. You are almost always within sight of an exit and the tower is not that complex or large. That said, I don't want to minimize the tower as it's still an overhead environment and pretty deep (up to 135').

DIR is not a *requirement* but much of the DIR philosophy is derived from technical cave diving, and many wreck divers take cave training as the skill sets required are very similar.

Deck plans for the Oriskany are available.

 

[RayJayJr]

The PADI wreck specialty is just an introduction to some of the things you'll need to learn. It doesn't make you an expert or qualify you to do serious penetration. From there you might take some advanced wreck classes from TDI and start building experience on easy shallow wrecks. You'll also find you need a lot of additional skills and classes. Many wrecks are deep and require long bottom times so you may need advanced nitrox and deco classes.

The Oriskany can be considered in two parts, above and below flight deck. Below the deck at ~135' I doubt very much has been explored. The sea floor is about 220'. Only trimix divers will likely be going there. There have been a few technical trips on it but I'd guess much of it will never get explored. The ship is 900' long.

Above the deck it's probably been completely explored. The entire con tower can be safely penetrated and you really don't even need a line. You are almost always within sight of an exit and the tower is not that complex or large. That said, I don't want to minimize the tower as it's still an overhead environment and pretty deep (up to 135').

DIR is not a *requirement* but much of the DIR philosophy is derived from technical cave diving, and many wreck divers take cave training as the skill sets required are very similar.

Deck plans for the Oriskany are available.

The reason I ask about the DIR is because while I love diving, the financial expense is already high. I have a Zeagle Ranger, and I dont want to have to go out and spend more on a completely new dive setup just so I can penetrate wrecks.


EDIT: Also, blah blah blah, DIR is mostly a mindset and common practicum shared among divers - I'm speaking just about equipment side of things. I love the idea of the techniques, I just dont want to go buy a backplate mostly.

 

[ReefHound]

The reason I ask about the DIR is because while I love diving, the financial expense is already high. I have a Zeagle Ranger, and I dont want to have to go out and spend more on a completely new dive setup just so I can penetrate wrecks.


EDIT: Also, blah blah blah, DIR is mostly a mindset and common practicum shared among divers - I'm speaking just about equipment side of things. I love the idea of the techniques, I just dont want to go buy a backplate mostly.

Then don't, there are no scuba police to prevent you from entering a wreck. You don't need to replace your Ranger. Focus on the concepts, not the equipment. But you should have the necessary safety equipment - backup lights, reels, redundant gas, etc.

 

[RayJayJr]

Then don't, there are no scuba police to prevent you from entering a wreck. You don't need to replace your Ranger. Focus on the concepts, not the equipment. But you should have the necessary safety equipment - backup lights, reels, redundant gas, etc.

Thanks for all the info! :14:

 

[H2Andy]

This thing is a massive wreck that wasn't sunk too long ago - has the whole ship been fully explored?

fully explored? it's an intact wreck, and deck plans are easily available. i am not sure what you mean

Does the Oriskany get penetrated often? (that sounds terribly wrong) Or do the majority of divers just observe the upper levels from the outside?

most divers do recreational diving (i.e. no penetration). i am sure quite a few do actual wreck dives, but the O is not really a magnet for wreck divers. it's basically an underwater Disneyland, not a "real" wreck like, say, the Andrea Doria.

Is it possible to get really deep inside the wreck, or would that, combined with your return trip create too long of a decompression commitment for most divers?

to go inside the wreck you need wreck diving skills and abilities. if you have those, you could, i guess, plan a short penetration dive in the shallower parts of the wreck.

i would *not* enter the wreck without proper training both in wreck techniques and deco techniques.

Once I take my wreck diving speciality with PADI (which I would like to do to confirm my interest), what is the next step in wreck diver training? Do I move to another organization? Is DIR a prerequisite for diving wreck?

I would strongly suggest treating the PADI wreck specialty as a very basic general introduction to the subject and then proceed to get training through one of several tech agencies teaching wreck diving; for example, IANTD

DIR is a system of diving taught by GUE (Global Underwater Explorers). GUE also teaches tech classes as well as cave classes. DIR is not a class, but a system, and you have to take the DIR-Fundamentals class before you can take any other GUE classes.

 

[sandersondiver]

Very little recreational penetration is going on at the Mighty "O". With the exception of the air boss bridge to the stearn of the island and several weather decks that give the feeling of an overhead enviroment, most of the divers that are penetrating are techies. There is plenty to see on the outside of the conning tower without having to enter the compartments.
As of right now, to the best of my knowledge, there haven't been any lines run through the ship yet. I have had a PADI course director and cave instructor hint about camping over the site for several days, and doing nothing but run lines throughout the bowels of the carrier. That isn't scheduled yet, but with any luck it will happen before summer gets here. I'm excited because I get to help.

Just as a reminder, take Reefhound's advice about the PADI wreck diver specialty. It is just an introduction to wreck diving and the standards state the if you do penetrate, you are to be no further from the surface that 130', vertical and horizontal. Meaning that if you went 50' into the wreck, then you shouldn't be any deeper than 80'.

Dive Safe and let us know about your first Oriskany dives.

 

[RayJayJr]

Very little recreational penetration is going on at the Mighty "O". With the exception of the air boss bridge to the stearn of the island and several weather decks that give the feeling of an overhead enviroment, most of the divers that are penetrating are techies. There is plenty to see on the outside of the conning tower without having to enter the compartments.
As of right now, to the best of my knowledge, there haven't been any lines run through the ship yet. I have had a PADI course director and cave instructor hint about camping over the site for several days, and doing nothing but run lines throughout the bowels of the carrier. That isn't scheduled yet, but with any luck it will happen before summer gets here. I'm excited because I get to help.

Just as a reminder, take Reefhound's advice about the PADI wreck diver specialty. It is just an introduction to wreck diving and the standards state the if you do penetrate, you are to be no further from the surface that 130', vertical and horizontal. Meaning that if you went 50' into the wreck, then you shouldn't be any deeper than 80'.

Dive Safe and let us know about your first Oriskany dives.

This is exactly what I wanted to know about the O. I live in western Canada, so I'm a bit of a trip from the O, but I do plan at some point to visit the wreck in all its glory.


I guess I'll take the wreck course as feeler. If I enjoy it, I'll definitely consider further training.


Question, I've heard good things about the NAUI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Intro, will NAUI recogize my PADI certifications?

 

[tedwhiteva]

Question, I've heard good things about the NAUI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Intro, will NAUI recogize my PADI certifications?

The answer is yes on recognizing the certfications. And yes, the courses are good - just finished working up to TRIMIX. But like all scuba instruction, make sure you know or check-out the instructor.

Merry Christmas and happy diving in 2007.