Triangle Wrecks 20 August 2005

[UnixSage]

BUT if you give us an idea, we may have enough spare weight between those of us going to help you out.

In the quarry (fresh water) with a 7mm top I took 14# with a 95cf steel tank. I now dive a BP/W+STA which should counteract the AL80 that I probably will end up with. So I am thinking 20? But given the tempatures as of late I may ditch the suit and just go in a bathing suit. I can do no weight in a swimming pool even before the BP/W. So 10# should be enough for me if I dont do a wetsuit.

This will be a challenging dive, mostly because it is a long surface swim that can be very tiring. It was also my first ocean dive. Max depth will be 20 feet to the sand. So far we have 6 confirmed divers, and I'm guessing at least 400 dives between us, providing you are confident in your abilities and tell us (meaning your strengths and weaknesses) you should be fine.

It sounds conceeded but this far I have not found anything that has tripped me up. The single worse thing was the underwater doff/don. I did it but it was hardly smooth. All the rest of my skills according to DMs and DIs were first rate, of corse maybe it was them encouraging me. I did my checkout dives in a quarry and did not have issues with low viz except I ran into a sunken boat that the advanced class moved the night before . My air consumption is a big unknown. My last dive my SAC rate came out to .68 which seems too low for a new diver.

The only thing that concerns me is the surface swim. I have no doubt I can do it, I just may not be able to hold the pace. Also do you stop for a few min before going down?

Thanks

 

[cornfed]

But given the tempatures as of late I may ditch the suit and just go in a bathing suit.

These wrecks are essentially in the surf zone. It's very easy for the surge to push you into the wreck so it would probably be a good idea to wear some sort of wetsuit. If not for thermal protection for physical protection.

 

[james croft]

Swim out, take your time so you do not get tired. Rest up at the bouy to get your breathing normal, descend, then enjoy the dive.

 

[UnixSage]

These wrecks are essentially in the surf zone. It's very easy for the surge to push you into the wreck so it would probably be a good idea to wear some sort of wetsuit. If not for thermal protection for physical protection.

Hmmm never thought of that, goes to show why you take your lead from a more expirenced diver.

Swim out, take your time so you do not get tired. Rest up at the bouy to get your breathing normal, descend, then enjoy the dive.

Great, that is what I wanted to hear! Like I said I am not in terriable shape or any thing, but I do not do this everyday. Dont want to slow down the group.. Then again it is only 20 feet. Come to think of it it will be one long saftey stop.

 

[DrSteve]

Great, that is what I wanted to hear! Like I said I am not in terriable shape or any thing, but I do not do this everyday. Dont want to slow down the group.. Then again it is only 20 feet. Come to think of it it will be one long saftey stop.

Exactly - it is viewed as one long safety stop - although when I first dove it my buddy insisted on stopping at 17 feet for 3 minutes!

Do you have a "pocket" style weight belt? We have some spare soft weights I could bring along. If you have a belt I can't help you.

If it gives you an idea I'm 5'10", 165 and with my 7-6-5 and SS BP/Wing/95 I use 14 lbs, with the Al80, 16. With my 5-4-3 I think it's about 10 lbs.

Glad to have you along. Please PM me your cell # and I will distribute everyone's cell numbers.

 

[jgarysmith]

If anybody wants to see what the Triangle Wrecks can look like on a good day, take a look at a few pictures I posted. They were taken there. Larry Horne and I will also be going Sat. Anybody ave an idea how many confirmed divers to we have going Sat.

Also, does anyone have any friends or family members that will not be diving. If so, it is good to have someone on the beach if we decide to leave anything ther. If not we can just dress in parking lot, which is what we usually do anyway. It just ends up being a longer, hot, walk to the water.

Gary

 

[DrSteve]

So far, we have the following confirmed:
JGarySmith
LarryHorne
Don Burke
DennisW + buddy
Me

Plus UnixSage still a bit undecided?

I have everyone's phone numbers now apart from Don's and UnixSage.

Also...if you hadn't noticed my new "countdown" Karen won't be diving with us (although she may snorkel if the conditions are good). Don may also be bringing someone.

 

[Dive-aholic]

...So I am thinking 20? But given the tempatures as of late I may ditch the suit and just go in a bathing suit...

Even thought the surface temp is in the mid 70s to low 80s, the thermocline there was at 10' last week and the temp dropped to 65 deg. I did a snorkel and couple of free dives in a polyolefin suit and the thermocline practically knocked the air out of me! Ended up throwing a 3mm on over the poly for the dive.

 

[UnixSage]

Plus UnixSage still a bit undecided?
I have everyone's phone numbers now apart from Don's and UnixSage.

Also...if you hadn't noticed my new "countdown" Karen won't be diving with us (although she may snorkel if the conditions are good). Don may also be bringing someone.

First, congrads on your new addition!
Second, Contact info sent. though it may not be of use (see below)
Third, I may have confused the issue some. I do not arrive untill Sat Afternoon. I jumped into the thread when james croft said that we was diving the 22-27th... I was bummed that most of the action was on saturday and I was not going to be there. So dont look for me Sat morning.

Thanks

 

[cornfed]

Then again it is only 20 feet. Come to think of it it will be one long saftey stop.

The first time I dove it I was all confused. I got to the wreck and hadn't cleared my ears.