matt_unique
Guest
We had one hell of a weekend in terms of rough seas. Steamed out to the Bass Sat morning in choppy seas. I decided not to try to anchor on these seas - I would need 100,000 feet of line so I opted to cruise over to the U853. Long, long cruise in the seas. I actually pitch-poled once when I turned to talk to a buddy for just a second. Boom - bow goes under and we see nothing but white water. Bildge pumps on to clear it out as we keep steaming. I had the front window open as well otherwise it would have just spilled over the side. I had a friend facing backward in the boat and he did not see the water coming. It was actually quite funny. Everyone was awake now!
We finally arrive at the U853. I was planning a solo deco dive. For dive 2 I was going to bring a buddy for a recreational profile. This buddy was not feeling well from the seas and in his words "booted" over the side. Anyway - I dress up and drop in. The temps were great, vis was great (25'), and the current was minimal. I had a nice 25 minute bottom time with stops at 40', 30', and 20' breathing 70% deco gas. 42 min total time per plan. A deco dive is sweet on the U because you can tour the entire thing. We moored right on the conning tower. I first cruised to the stern and down to the sand, then back along the top of the hull to the bow, then descended to the sand in front of the bow (127'). Coming back on the port side of the ship I was checking out the bow planes and overall profile. Lot's of sea life including two good size spiny dogfish sharks.
It was a great dive. I was joined by two tropical Zebra fish at my last stop. The boat was pitching so much in the seas the line would easily be ripped out of your hands. I basically held the line as you would a wreck line to allow it to move up and down without ripping my arm out or changing my depth. The temps were 53 at depth and 73 shallower than 20'.
We had quite a few events this weekend. A cable of some kind was moved into an area of Old Harbor where boats anchor. Many were having trouble raising the anchor including us. Finally I threw on some gear and dove down to find my anchor (and I'm sure many more when they try to leave) lodged under this thick cable. It was very nice to have dive gear aboard for such an event. Returning across the BI Sound today we had less than 1/4 vis in fog but following seas so we made good time.
I was happy to get at least one good dive in the U853 this weekend considering the rough seas.
--Matt
We finally arrive at the U853. I was planning a solo deco dive. For dive 2 I was going to bring a buddy for a recreational profile. This buddy was not feeling well from the seas and in his words "booted" over the side. Anyway - I dress up and drop in. The temps were great, vis was great (25'), and the current was minimal. I had a nice 25 minute bottom time with stops at 40', 30', and 20' breathing 70% deco gas. 42 min total time per plan. A deco dive is sweet on the U because you can tour the entire thing. We moored right on the conning tower. I first cruised to the stern and down to the sand, then back along the top of the hull to the bow, then descended to the sand in front of the bow (127'). Coming back on the port side of the ship I was checking out the bow planes and overall profile. Lot's of sea life including two good size spiny dogfish sharks.
It was a great dive. I was joined by two tropical Zebra fish at my last stop. The boat was pitching so much in the seas the line would easily be ripped out of your hands. I basically held the line as you would a wreck line to allow it to move up and down without ripping my arm out or changing my depth. The temps were 53 at depth and 73 shallower than 20'.
We had quite a few events this weekend. A cable of some kind was moved into an area of Old Harbor where boats anchor. Many were having trouble raising the anchor including us. Finally I threw on some gear and dove down to find my anchor (and I'm sure many more when they try to leave) lodged under this thick cable. It was very nice to have dive gear aboard for such an event. Returning across the BI Sound today we had less than 1/4 vis in fog but following seas so we made good time.
I was happy to get at least one good dive in the U853 this weekend considering the rough seas.
--Matt
