U-1105 Historic Shipwreck Preserve

[GrierHPharmD]

Call it too much time with my laptop on an icy weekend, but I've been looking up lots of loose end/odd dive sites that I've never gotten around to exploring. One of these is the U-1105, a Nazi U-boat that was equipped with rubber acoustic tiles (early stealth technology). It was surrendered at the end of WWII, studied by the navy, then sunk in the Potomic River, near Piney Point, Maryland.

Has anybody here ever dived this wreck? Apparently it's 68ffw to the con and is marked by a bouy during the summer diving season.

Here are a few links to info. BTW, the Maryland Historic Trust site has a nice Emergency Management Plan which could serve as a template for a DM candidate project.

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-5.htm
https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES-Programs/Conservation/Panther/panther2.html
http://www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net/ (look under the Archeology tab)

I've also posted a copy of this post on www.wreckmaniac.com. I'd really like to see about diving this site in the next year or two.

-Grier

 

[Staredge]

Call it too much time with my laptop on an icy weekend, but I've been looking up lots of loose end/odd dive sites that I've never gotten around to exploring. One of these is the U-1105, a Nazi U-boat that was equipped with rubber acoustic tiles (early stealth technology). It was surrendered at the end of WWII, studied by the navy, then sunk in the Potomic River, near Piney Point, Maryland.

Has anybody here ever dived this wreck? Apparently it's 68ffw to the con and is marked by a bouy during the summer diving season.

Here are a few links to info. BTW, the Maryland Historic Trust site has a nice Emergency Management Plan which could serve as a template for a DM candidate project.

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-5.htm
https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES-Programs/Conservation/Panther/panther2.html
http://www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net/ (look under the Archeology tab)

I've also posted a copy of this post on www.wreckmaniac.com. I'd really like to see about diving this site in the next year or two.

-Grier

Never dove, it, but hoping to this year. Send me a mailing address and I'll send you one of the brochures the State puts out. Little bit of background info. Word has it it can be a little hairy, depending on the current. Viz is cruddy as well.

 

[Staredge]

Actually, the brochure is basically everything on the Denix website. Still yours, if you want hard copy>

 

[scubaspider]

I've called Piney Point about diving it. They told me I could just inform the museum when you'll be on the wreak...they also said currents are rough so better to dive slack side.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Rumor has it that its a braille dive. Be prepared for vis in the .5' to 2.5' range.

 

[medic_diver45]

Of course, the viz is gonna suck. It's the Potomac! What are you expecting? Evian? *sorry* I couldn't resist....Even if the viz sucks, I'd still be all over a U-boat wreck.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

Even if the viz sucks, I'd still be all over a U-boat wreck.

See, that's my attitude over the whole idea. I'd like to dive the three NC U-boats, then do this one. Maybe not all in one season, but it would sure be nice...

Plans are still very loose, but it looks like we've got enough to start getting serious about this little venture.

Safe ascents,
-G

 

[Tobagoman]

Check out www.diverssource.com
One of the DM's there is the one who sets the buoy annually and dives it regularly. You can inquire through the shop to set up dives on it. It is buried pretty deeply in the mud and visibility is a *****.

Call it too much time with my laptop on an icy weekend, but I've been looking up lots of loose end/odd dive sites that I've never gotten around to exploring. One of these is the U-1105, a Nazi U-boat that was equipped with rubber acoustic tiles (early stealth technology). It was surrendered at the end of WWII, studied by the navy, then sunk in the Potomic River, near Piney Point, Maryland.

Has anybody here ever dived this wreck? Apparently it's 68ffw to the con and is marked by a bouy during the summer diving season.

Here are a few links to info. BTW, the Maryland Historic Trust site has a nice Emergency Management Plan which could serve as a template for a DM candidate project.

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-5.htm
https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES-Programs/Conservation/Panther/panther2.html
http://www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net/ (look under the Archeology tab)

I've also posted a copy of this post on www.wreckmaniac.com. I'd really like to see about diving this site in the next year or two.

-Grier

 

[mheaster]

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We just got back from this dive today. I live in Tappahannock, VA so this was almost a local dive for me.

We drove over to a Dennis' river house at (near Coles Point, Virginia) he took his boat out to site. We were supposed to meet another guy at the site who had experience diving this sub. We had no problem finding the site and mooring to the morring buoy (Blue and White and clearly labeled). We were there at 11:30am in time to dive at the recommeded High, Slack Tide. Our contact never showed?

Conditions were PERFECT. Very Smooth water, warm, clear day. Hadn't rained in days. There was no appreciable surface current! There were 3 of us (John, myself and Dennis). We wanted to leave someone on the surface so John and I made 1st dive. Visibility was a bit better that I had psyched myself up for (maybe 8 feet ?)

We all had HID lights (I would NOT make this dive without HID). Our prep experience was several trips to Cooper River, SC doing shark tooth dives. We were as comfortable as to be expected with zero viz diving.

We surface swam over to small orange ball that was ascent/descent line connected to the Conning tower. You are NOT to moor to this line! Be mindful of jelly fish and fishing lures around the downline (We all wore full wetsuits - I wore 7/5 mm,hoods and gloves) Water temp was very comfortable 79 degress F.

As I reached 60 feet I still could not see any signes of wreck. It was only at 66 feet before I saw Stainless Steel base that downline was tied off to. We were amazed by the surving Wooden slates lining inside of Conning tower area. This has been submerged for some 57 years! As this was our 1st time here, we stayed pretty near conning tower and didn't venture too far fore and aft but did descend to 79 feet to get a look at the HEAVY silt! It brought a new full appreciation of how bad silt could be! I did manage to locate the missing OMS Wrech Reel we were told about and recovered it. The owner promised to buy drinks for whoever recovered it?

We ascended and after a almost an hour Surface Interval then Dennis and I made the next dive leaving John to mind the boat. Again we saw Jelly fish on descent line and managed to stay clear of them. We again cricles the conning tower but didn't go far forward or aft but it seemed most of the actual deck disappeared into the silt quickly.

All in all it was not near as difficult as much of the available literature made it out to be BUT it is a very poor viz dive and you can not bring too much light! We did have GREAT Conditions and I imagine it doesnt get much better.

I am sure that it would be far more difficult if current was stronger!

I wouldn't want to do that type diving every day (we just got back from a weeK AND 24 dives in Bonaire!) but it was a great day trip!

If you have any questions about the U-1105 feel free to email me!

 

[fpsndiver]

I say we re-float it, and sink it in better waters.......somewhere off of Wilmington perhaps....within about 23 miles would do.....bout 90 ft of saltagua.

I grew up waterskiing on the Potomac River....from Occoquan to Point Lookout.......never ever did the thought cross my mind to scuba dive in it! Yuk. Might as well go scuba diving in the Mississippi...

Tom