Tim Wortley

Yes! Fran Marcoux of Cape Ann Charters/Daybreaker decided to run a week long diving expedition out of Snug Harbor to dive the wrecks off Rhode Island and Long Island. I planned to get 3 days worth of diving in, but we were blown out on one day. The 4 dives I did get in were high on my to do list and met all expectations:

USS Bass (US Submarine) Max Depth 157′, BT 22min, RT 60min, Viz 20-30,  Mix 18/45

Grecian (Broken up steam), Max 94, BT 20, RT 34, Viz 20-30

U853 (WW2 U Boat), Max 125, BT 22, RT 42, Viz 15-20, Mix 19/35

Idene, Max 90, BT 20, RT 36, Viz 20-30

I went out on Daybreaker to do my second dive on the Northern Voyager, first being back in 2002. I thought it was a dark depressing dive then, mainly due that I forgot my contact lenses (couldn’t see more than 15′ anyway).

Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions overview here

Weather was beautiful the day before, but forecast was for showers and increasing seas. Well it was pouring rain and blowing hard  as I headed to Cape Ann Marina. Fran called me to check as I was running 10 minute late. Always forget its 1hr + 15 mins to get to Gloucester on an average day.

Fast load on a full boat. Pretty rough as we headed past Gloucester Light.  Matt summoned us all to say scheduled Baleen was tough – 14 miles in these sees wouldn’t be much fun.  Debate/vote on Northern Voyager,  Holmes, Lightship. On account majority wanted a short ride and a mooring line rather than a hot  drop, the Voyager was picked. 90min ride turned into 20mins, I guess not a bad choice.

Continue reading Northern Voyager Sep/2008

Details and phtot album link

Ran loop around Hotel and Mall of America while on business in Minneapolis/St Pauls. 30 mins

Saturday 23th August, Dave & Heather’s Gauntlet . I love the Crane, its a relatively “easy” deeper wreck, great single stage Trimix dive, usually good viz and wildlife.

For the first time I joined Dave and Heather (Northern Atlantic Explorers) on their relatively new boat Gauntlet. Great dive, not quite as much TLC as Fran, but that’s ok …

Heard the Barge was re-found (or is it still a myth?). Next trip I’ll mark my reel at 160′ and go looking for it. Apparently directly off the pointy end of the crane.

Max 147′, BT 20min, RT 50min, 21/35 Trimix & 50% Deco.

Friday 29th August, Fran Marcoux’s Daybreaker. It was my first time on the Coal barge, viz wasn’t great (15-20). I guess I was ready as I was first down the line. It was arranged as a “hot” drop where we were not tied on, but just following the 35lb shotline down. Ok, just don’t pull on the line…

I dropped into the “sand” at 176′ with initially no sign of a wreck. Little perturbed, but it was there in my blind spot. The “sand” turned out to be a flat bed of coal. I made it to the bow and back – running reels so we wouldn’t loose the shotline was the best choice but made swimming around slow. If viz was a little better would risk no reel and relying on the strobe on the line to find it.

The bow section is completely separated from stern, swam to the bow and looked at the twin anchors, top of bow at 154′

Returned to line, retrieved reel and headed up after 22min BT. Deco out nice and clean, felt great (my body seems to love high He content – 18/45 – actually closer to 18/50). Certainly much better than 130′ on Nitrox. RT 71mins, strong thermocline at 21′, so final 15 mins in nice warm 65F water !!

Coalbarge Run Profile

Writeup on Twin Anchor/Coal Barge at North Atlantic Dive here