U-853

[RICoder]

Well, this is an unexpected good response. Thank you all for posting.

If I may be so bold, perhaps we should change this to a planning/information thread. One way or another, in August of 2005, I am diving the U-853. I would love for it to be with people of same mind and interest as myself.

So, those of you who are interested, please post your town/name. We'll compile a list and start doing some research on a charter boat. I'm into the historical aspect of this thing as well, so my web/library search is already underway.

I suggest that we start posting things here like:
1) Name / Hometown / Interest in the dive
2) Links to information of a technical nature (i.e. charter boats / dive conditions)
3) Links to information of a historical nature

Chime in with other suggestions.

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Let me start...
Matt - Lincoln, RI

 

[matt_unique]

I'm looking to extend my horizons by diving the U-853 in August of 2005. Anyone here done it and/or have suggestions?

The U853 is my second favorite dive in NE. I have to double check my log book but I have been on her 10-12 times. Exactly 6 miles due east of Block Island and 12 miles from Pt. Judith RI. The depth to the sand is 125' on the outside and 95' to the top of the conning tower. I have read that you can reach 130' inside but I have not done much penetration. I plan most dives at 118' and this takes you along the top of the hull. The vis is often not very good. In my relatively short experience on her I have seen 25' of vis with no current to 5' vis and we were pulling arm over arm at depth due to the strong current. In my experience the average vis is 10' and it's usually dark. I would strongly suggest lights for this dive (among other necessary equipment)! I have never needed a reel at this site. If you are into wreck penetration then certainly bring a reel! For a non-deco dive you can descend the mooring which is usually on the conning tower and chose a stern and back dive or a bow and back dive. You will not be able to do the whole thing on one non-deco dive.

The mooring is very good since it is dived very often by charters and boat owners. I have my own updated UW map of the site. There are maps online but most seem to be quite a few years old. My last dive on her was last Memorial Day. (Will probably dive it again next May). A portion of the bow has broken off and lays in the sand in front of the structure. This was disappointing because it was my favorite part of the structure to see. It is still laying there in front of the ship though. A large section of the stern is broken but it still lays in the right spot against the rest of the structure. I have used this analogy before but imagine a broken pretzel with the pieces in the right place. There are 2 large blast holes on this ship. One just forward of the conning tower and one at the stern. Big holes you can quite easily descend into.

If you dive this ship, make sure you get a charter out of Pt. Judith. This is the closest mainland point to the wreck. It usually takes me about 45 min to and hour to get there but it depends on the weather of course. On very calm days I can make better time. This is an honest to goodness open ocean dive. I have had several days where I could not see land due to fog and such. I would not suggest this dive if you have limited charter/boat diving experience. There are tricks to keeping stable on the open ocean - looking at the horizon to stable your sense of balance, eat light and be well hydrated, etc. If you "give birth to alien" you are immediately dehydrated as you know and should not dive (in my opinion). This is also not the site you want to experience 120 New England feet for the first time. I'm not trying to over glamorize it or anything but if you mostly dive from shore take some charters out to the Poling or Halfway Rock or such and build some experience in the 100'+ range.

This is a really awesome dive. There is no way you can look at this wreck with your own eyes and not "feel it" in my opinion. This is serious WWII history. There are skeletel remains inside the wreck and many crew artifacts have been recovered.

--Matt

PS I added an UW map. My personal map reflects the changes I mentioned above but I don't yet have it scanned. The depths are not exactly correct on the conning tower or deck in this map as I mentioned above. This may be a good guide/start for you.

 

[Spectre]

2) Links to information of a technical nature (i.e. charter boats / dive conditions)

Ninigret Divers out of Charlestown, RI is a good boat with a great captain. Small, so more susceptable to Soggy-Syndrome, but it's nice if you don't get a big group. He'll go with 2, max is 4 [not sure if that's his max... but that's pretty much max ]. http://www.ninigretdivers.com/

There's another guy with a bigger boat; NEwrecks used him I think, but I've not. I have gone with narragansset dive shop [or whatever their name is] but I definately wouldn't recommend them.

3) Links to information of a historical nature

There should be a ton of info out on the web. Search for the "Black Point" [the ship who U-853 sank and brought about it's final location]. Search also for the USS Atherton and USS Moberly, who were the depth chargers ultimately credited with the sinking.

 

[chickdiver]

The curse of Soggy.......

 

[Spectre]

The depth to the sand is 125' on the outside and 95' to the top of the conning tower. I have read that you can reach 130' inside but I have not done much penetration.

Depends quite a bit on the tides. The times I've been down to the sand it was 129 and 132 [IIRC].

 

[Northeastwrecks]

I've been out on the U-853 about 12 times.

The dredging appears to be somewhat sporadic. When I dove early in the season, we had vis of approximately 2 feet on the wreck and about 25 feet above 70 feet. There was a sharp line where the vis dropped off.

I did a mid-season dive and had spectacular vis (in excess of 25 feet). Unfortunately, my buddy flooded his suit, so we aborted at 20 minutes.

My last dive on the wreck was in October. 50 minutes of bottom time, decent vis (approx 15 feet), and a gentle current that allowed you to drift from the stern to the bow. We did two complete circumnavigations of the wreck, dropped into a couple of compartments and, in general had a great time. That was probably my best dive yet on the wreck.

In order to dive the wreck, you need to be comfortable with low vis situations and equipped to deal with them. A reel, a good light and a lift bag/spool are very good ideas. There appear to be fewer ghost lines than in prior years, but it is still fairly easy to get disorientated.

Penetration is very, very tight.

Surface conditions can vary. Last year, we experienced 4 - 5 foot waves on the surface. You should be completely comfortable on a boat.

Conditions can change rapidly. On my last dive, we had perfect surface conditions when we started the dive. When we finished the dive (90 minute run time), a sea was starting to run. By the time we got back to the harbor, I was glad that we were returning because the seas were starting to toss us around a bit.

At a minimum, I'd suggest diving the wreck on Nitrox so that you don't end up doing a bounce dive to stay within NDL's. I have a strong preference for 30/30 on that dive, primarily because I find that I am more clear headed.

Spectre is correct about Ninigret Divers. Jim is a good captain with a nice boat. He can take four recreational divers or three technical divers. However, he probably will not take you out to the u-boat on your first trip unless you are with someone who he knows.

 

[matt_unique]

Depends quite a bit on the tides. The times I've been down to the sand it was 129 and 132 [IIRC].

Interesting - I have never been able to reach deeper than 125' with my computer in the sand at the bow. I'm curious - salt water computer or fresh water like a Uwatec depth gauge? Certainly the depths change with the tides but I have always experienced the depths I mentioned within a couple of feet. Perhaps by coincidence I have never been there at peak high tide.

 

[Spectre]

It would have been with a salt water computer. I lost all my data that included my uboat dives, but I've got it in my paper log at home. I'll verify.

 

[RIOceanographer]

The only problem is that they've been dredging the bay, and dumping the sediment about 3 miles up-current. I don't know if that project is still going on [I've not been out there this year] but I think so.

Yup, the dredging project is still going, though I don't know if it will be by next summer.

 

[trob09]

From the NY side of things the Jean Marie out of Hampton Bays, Long Island goes out to the 853 regularly. The Eagle's Nest out of Point Pleasant usually gets there at least once a season.

I must have caught the 'curse of Soggy' from the last time he was on the Eagle's Nest cause i was blown out twice this year.