Wil
Contributor
Kurn - Sunday, 8 Nov
It was a near perfect day to head offshore for diving the Va Beach wrecks. The NOAA weather was right on the mark with 3-4ft seas in the morning and laying flat in the afternoon. We headed out to the southeast corner of the Triangle Reef area, to a wreck call the Kurn. Kurn is believed to be a former ocean going tug due to the towing equipment, cables, and other items littering the wreck sections. It was sunk as part of the Virginia Artificial Reef Project.
It took just under 2 hours (1:50) to arrive at the Kurn from Little Creek Inlet. Sea state was 3-4 ft with winds around 10kts. It's a 40nm trip and while a bit bumpy imtiially, it settled down a bit once offshore (not too much). We planned to hook the aft break of the inverted bow section and instead on the second attempt hooked into the nearby Landing Craft. Joe (Dive Quarters) tied us in and ran a wreck reel to the Bow section and another line to the Stern section. Dan (ChunksJR) and I were next to splash and explored the Landing Craft, Stern, and debris field at the Bow section. With a total of 8 divers onboard, we sequenced our entry so as to not crowd the wreck. With three sections to explore we rarely saw the other divers.
Water temps ranged from 56-59 deg on the group's computers, with a moderate current from top to bottom. Visibility was 30+, with suspended "gunk" (less technical term for that floating crap you see offshore), no thermocline. Maintaining contact with the assist line and anchor line during the transit is important, as well as, good buoyancy control to keep the assist line from being pulled up.
On the bottom there were an abundance of Sea Bass (closed season), Flounder, Tautog, Tuna (AJ) and Trigger fish. A friendly Sea Turtle made its way around the wreck and tolerated the divers well. Each time it moved off the wreck it returned to a different section of the wreck and allowed divers to approach. Most sections of the wreck are covered in Mussels. Dives ranged from 30-50 minutes with divers using 34%NITROX. Max depth on the Kurn is about 105ft near the washouts around the Bow.
The aft Bow section break is located at 36 58.177N / 75 21.522W and Stern section break at 36 58.195N / 75 21.516W.
Bobby (RAD Diver) was good enough to pull the hook for us and with smooth seas and light winds, the ride back took only an hour before we were tied up at Vinings Marina (Taylors Landing).
Safe Diving,
Wil
It was a near perfect day to head offshore for diving the Va Beach wrecks. The NOAA weather was right on the mark with 3-4ft seas in the morning and laying flat in the afternoon. We headed out to the southeast corner of the Triangle Reef area, to a wreck call the Kurn. Kurn is believed to be a former ocean going tug due to the towing equipment, cables, and other items littering the wreck sections. It was sunk as part of the Virginia Artificial Reef Project.
It took just under 2 hours (1:50) to arrive at the Kurn from Little Creek Inlet. Sea state was 3-4 ft with winds around 10kts. It's a 40nm trip and while a bit bumpy imtiially, it settled down a bit once offshore (not too much). We planned to hook the aft break of the inverted bow section and instead on the second attempt hooked into the nearby Landing Craft. Joe (Dive Quarters) tied us in and ran a wreck reel to the Bow section and another line to the Stern section. Dan (ChunksJR) and I were next to splash and explored the Landing Craft, Stern, and debris field at the Bow section. With a total of 8 divers onboard, we sequenced our entry so as to not crowd the wreck. With three sections to explore we rarely saw the other divers.
Water temps ranged from 56-59 deg on the group's computers, with a moderate current from top to bottom. Visibility was 30+, with suspended "gunk" (less technical term for that floating crap you see offshore), no thermocline. Maintaining contact with the assist line and anchor line during the transit is important, as well as, good buoyancy control to keep the assist line from being pulled up.
On the bottom there were an abundance of Sea Bass (closed season), Flounder, Tautog, Tuna (AJ) and Trigger fish. A friendly Sea Turtle made its way around the wreck and tolerated the divers well. Each time it moved off the wreck it returned to a different section of the wreck and allowed divers to approach. Most sections of the wreck are covered in Mussels. Dives ranged from 30-50 minutes with divers using 34%NITROX. Max depth on the Kurn is about 105ft near the washouts around the Bow.
The aft Bow section break is located at 36 58.177N / 75 21.522W and Stern section break at 36 58.195N / 75 21.516W.
Bobby (RAD Diver) was good enough to pull the hook for us and with smooth seas and light winds, the ride back took only an hour before we were tied up at Vinings Marina (Taylors Landing).
Safe Diving,
Wil
Everyone had a great time too.
