Tim Wortley

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