Northern Voyager Sep/2008
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.
Seas were 2-3′, but 2 sec period, making it pretty rough, though once we stopped and anchors, easier to deal with.
Jim (Kiss rebreather) dropped in first, I was 4th in. Fairly straight forward descent, though as broke through the top murk layer could see dozens of dogfish swimming about 10-20′ below in a different layer. They were checking out the lines and our bubbles. At 40-50′, Jim came on up. I guess he had multiple sensor failure on his RB.
I had forgotten how big the Voyager is – my last dive on it 5 years ago, we had 8′ viz and I had forgotten my contacts, meaning I didn’t see anything anyway (and it was Trimix checkout dive) . This time 20-30′ viz. Took a while to get orientated as to what I was seeing – anchor tied into the screw. Dropped over port side to the sand. Very silty, mud floor, very washed out around the wreck, looked like was sitting on a 45 degree slope. Swam to the stern and saw the superstructure supporting the wreck and the one remaining rudder. Didn’t look for or notice the props. Did see the Northern Voyager name on the stern in smaller letters. Could have wiped it off, but thought otherwise.
A little bit of netting and ghost lines off the stern – could be 10 years of anchor lines, but easy to avoid. Headed back to anchor line at 15 mins. Then swam along keel line to the bow, it dropped off 8-10 feet of so, turned around before made to bow and apparently big name letters which was a shame. Next time be better prepared, though this was a surprise visit. Need to keep a note of wrecks and things to see on each.
Heading up line at 21 mins – planned 20. Clean ascent up to 80′, got 50% stage ready for instant changeover at 70′ – worked fine, line was difficult to deal with above 50′ which I guess rough seas on the surface. Got a little crowded. No current, but I was not confident enough to free ascend off the line. Due to conjestion, went to 20′ stop then changed over to 02. Spend 30sec on BG in order to clear away 50% reg, but easy switch to 02. No issues.
Final ascent got rougher and rougher – last 8′ could feel the surface swell. Carefully swam length of Daybreaker and on ladder – I was fine on ladder but Fran & Matt obviously wanted me out quick – then I realised lots of water getting past the transome while I was taking my time!
Felt fine after, little worse for the rough seas, and glad to get back inshore. Happy we didn’t have a 90min trip back. Deco nice and clean.
Surfaced 9:50am, flight to Philly 33 hours later.
Depth/Time Profile