Dean810
Contributor
In all likelihood, my last dive of the year was today, At Burns Harbor, Port of Indiana, right next to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Acacia.
The Acacia was the last of the "180s" (180 feet) Coast Guard cutters in operation. After 62 years of service, it was decommissioned in June of this year and handed over to a non-profit organization called the American Academy of Industry to be turned into a floating museum. It served primarily as buoy tender on the Great Lakes, but also had ice breaking and fire fighting capabilities.
When I say it was "handed over", I do not exaggerate. Everything was left on board and intact except for a few items that might contain classified information. Tools, pots and pans in the galley, books, bedding, emergency equipment, T.V.s, everything else remained behind, including a beautiful conference table in the officers quarters with a map of the Great Lakes carved on top. The boat is fully operational in every way. It was overhauled and freshly painted prior to decommissioning.
The Acacia is currently in its present location being winterized. It will later be moored in Chicago's Southworks facility.
The reason for the dive was to find, and hopefully recover, two "camels" or fenders that were lost from the side of the boat after damage caused them to fill with water and sink. It was hoped that they sank pretty much to the bottom and could be recovered.
Weather today was better then it had been in weeks. Air temps hovered around forty and water temps, although a bit below that, was manageable in our drysuits. We arrived believing our biggest challenge would be exiting the water, but when we arrived, we realized that entering the water would be no easier. We hoped we could enter from the buoy deck, but even if the sides were removed, which couldn't be done that day anyway, it was still a long drop to the water. Luckily, my dive partner had the foresight bring along an extension ladder. We lashed it to one of the monster cleats on the seawall. It worked perfectly. This meant that we would have to gear up in the water, as well as remove our gear before exiting, hauling everything up and down on ropes. But it was doable.
But despite the apparent success with logistics, things still didnt look promising. Visibility from the surface didnt look good. Once we were in the water, it proved to be worse. It was about a foot at best, and as I descended to the bottom, things turned black. After about 5 minutes, I called the dive. I have been in low viz environments before, but I just wasnt comfortable in this.
We are talking about making another attempt next year, hopefully in better water conditions. But I at least had a chance to tour a boat that will someday make a great museum for teaching our Great Lakes heritage.
The Acacia was the last of the "180s" (180 feet) Coast Guard cutters in operation. After 62 years of service, it was decommissioned in June of this year and handed over to a non-profit organization called the American Academy of Industry to be turned into a floating museum. It served primarily as buoy tender on the Great Lakes, but also had ice breaking and fire fighting capabilities.
When I say it was "handed over", I do not exaggerate. Everything was left on board and intact except for a few items that might contain classified information. Tools, pots and pans in the galley, books, bedding, emergency equipment, T.V.s, everything else remained behind, including a beautiful conference table in the officers quarters with a map of the Great Lakes carved on top. The boat is fully operational in every way. It was overhauled and freshly painted prior to decommissioning.
The Acacia is currently in its present location being winterized. It will later be moored in Chicago's Southworks facility.
The reason for the dive was to find, and hopefully recover, two "camels" or fenders that were lost from the side of the boat after damage caused them to fill with water and sink. It was hoped that they sank pretty much to the bottom and could be recovered.
Weather today was better then it had been in weeks. Air temps hovered around forty and water temps, although a bit below that, was manageable in our drysuits. We arrived believing our biggest challenge would be exiting the water, but when we arrived, we realized that entering the water would be no easier. We hoped we could enter from the buoy deck, but even if the sides were removed, which couldn't be done that day anyway, it was still a long drop to the water. Luckily, my dive partner had the foresight bring along an extension ladder. We lashed it to one of the monster cleats on the seawall. It worked perfectly. This meant that we would have to gear up in the water, as well as remove our gear before exiting, hauling everything up and down on ropes. But it was doable.
But despite the apparent success with logistics, things still didnt look promising. Visibility from the surface didnt look good. Once we were in the water, it proved to be worse. It was about a foot at best, and as I descended to the bottom, things turned black. After about 5 minutes, I called the dive. I have been in low viz environments before, but I just wasnt comfortable in this.
We are talking about making another attempt next year, hopefully in better water conditions. But I at least had a chance to tour a boat that will someday make a great museum for teaching our Great Lakes heritage.
