LI, NY Dive Report

It's 4am as I arise to get ready for another day of diving in paradise.
I don't know where we are going, but do know that 30% Nitrox in my tanks
will be fine. We usually know a week ahead of time, but the captain
didn't commit, saying we will see what the weather is like.
It's 5am and I am loading my gear on the boat. It is a beautiful cool
calm morning. There is a very slight breeze and the waters look flat.
Once all are on board and we head out to sea, I head to the bunk to
finish my "night's sleep". A little under 2hrs later, we arrive at the
site, still unknown to me. Then I find out that it is the Old Yankee, a
wreck that I enjoy diving. She was a 300' steel ship that went down in
1919, lying now in about 130' of water.
Since there are only a few of us on the boat today, suiting up is quick,
as is getting into the water. There is a small current on the surface
that gets stronger as you head down the 'granny line' to the bow line.
The surface water temp is a Florida 66 degrees. Once we get past the
thermacline, the water temp drops to a cool 46 degrees. Vis on the wreck
was about 25-30'. I went from the boilers to the stern following the
prop shaft observing the wreck and looking for a possible lobster meal.
There were plenty of "keepers", but I was looking for something
'bigger', so passed them up. Being down about 40mins, you hands start to
get cold (wearing 5mm dive gloves) and the deco is starting to build. As
I start my ascent, I look down to get an aerial view of the wreck. It
has flatten out and is spread pretty wide.
On the surface, during the SI, we BBQ as usual. Along with the 'happy
talk' and food, the SI goes by fast. Then, back into the water. The dive
profile was a little shorter and I dove towards the bow, looking at the
anemones, ling cod, sea pouts (does anyone know what they do besides
look at you from under a piece of wreckage?) and small local fish.
Before I know it, we are back on the surface heading for port. The ocean
sea is flat as a lake. The trip back is fast, but unloading all the gear
is painfully slow.
It was a great day of diving in paradise again.

Next week, to the Andrea Doria for the weekend (maybe for me).

Hey, Tony, we cannot complain about this dive season. You are even getting
greedy enough to "pass on the keepers"...
I also had a spectacular day at the G&D. Viz was also in the 20-30 ft range,
but otherwise the conditions were just perfect. We brought up several 2 to 3
pounders and plenty of scallops.
I hope you have a safe and fun trip to the Doria.
Rgds,
Ed

"TonyP" <arpierre@hooptonline.net> wrote in message
news:kbCIc.4855$_b.3420810@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net ...
> It's 4am as I arise to get ready for another day of diving in paradise.
> I don't know where we are going, but do know that 30% Nitrox in my tanks
> will be fine. We usually know a week ahead of time, but the captain
> didn't commit, saying we will see what the weather is like.
> It's 5am and I am loading my gear on the boat. It is a beautiful cool
> calm morning. There is a very slight breeze and the waters look flat.
> Once all are on board and we head out to sea, I head to the bunk to
> finish my "night's sleep". A little under 2hrs later, we arrive at the
> site, still unknown to me. Then I find out that it is the Old Yankee, a
> wreck that I enjoy diving. She was a 300' steel ship that went down in
> 1919, lying now in about 130' of water.
> Since there are only a few of us on the boat today, suiting up is quick,
> as is getting into the water. There is a small current on the surface
> that gets stronger as you head down the 'granny line' to the bow line.
> The surface water temp is a Florida 66 degrees. Once we get past the
> thermacline, the water temp drops to a cool 46 degrees. Vis on the wreck
> was about 25-30'. I went from the boilers to the stern following the
> prop shaft observing the wreck and looking for a possible lobster meal.
> There were plenty of "keepers", but I was looking for something
> 'bigger', so passed them up. Being down about 40mins, you hands start to
> get cold (wearing 5mm dive gloves) and the deco is starting to build. As
> I start my ascent, I look down to get an aerial view of the wreck. It
> has flatten out and is spread pretty wide.
> On the surface, during the SI, we BBQ as usual. Along with the 'happy
> talk' and food, the SI goes by fast. Then, back into the water. The dive
> profile was a little shorter and I dove towards the bow, looking at the
> anemones, ling cod, sea pouts (does anyone know what they do besides
> look at you from under a piece of wreckage?) and small local fish.
> Before I know it, we are back on the surface heading for port. The ocean
> sea is flat as a lake. The trip back is fast, but unloading all the gear
> is painfully slow.
> It was a great day of diving in paradise again.
>
> Next week, to the Andrea Doria for the weekend (maybe for me).
>

Lalin wrote:
> Hey, Tony, we cannot complain about this dive season. You are even getting
> greedy enough to "pass on the keepers"...
> I also had a spectacular day at the G&D. Viz was also in the 20-30 ft range,
> but otherwise the conditions were just perfect. We brought up several 2 to 3
> pounders and plenty of scallops.

When we dove the G&D earlier in the year, it was tons of scallops and
lobsters. Nothing like dragging that catch bag over wreckage. But we
were scouping up the scallops, they were everywhere. There were scallops
on the Yankee, but not like on the G&D.
I just got a call last time that the Doria trip was cancelled. The other
half the charter were saying their compressors weren't working right and
they would let Sal know Wednesday if they could make it or not. Sal
would need to know, like now. He has a San Diego trip Sat morning and
then has to load all the fuel drums and everything of the Doria Sat
afternoon, for the boat leaves Sat. night. So, he called the trip off. I
would have loved to do it again, but, we will still be diving Sunday.
Save diving...

Tony

"TonyP" <arpierre@hooptonline.net> wrote

> The surface water temp is a Florida 66 degrees.

You've been going to the wrong Florida!

Dave.

Divey Dave wrote:

> "TonyP" <arpierre@hooptonline.net> wrote
>>The surface water temp is a Florida 66 degrees.

> You've been going to the wrong Florida!

yeah... I plan on doing a Florida trip one of these days. Did it many
years ago. It was fun. But, diving here in NY is different. Much
different. The wrecks are just that, wrecks, with a history of running
into something.. being blown up, or sinking in a storm. And,
unfortunately, lives lost on the wrecks. The vis isn't that good (we
celebrate 30'), the water starts 'warm' then gets cold so you don't know
how to dress (we are dry suit divers). You get unbearably hot suiting up
to wanting the cold water until you've been in it for a while. Then you
think of the deco and if you really want to do it. And of course, the
answer is always "yes". I will be doing it again this weekend.

"TonyP" <arpierre@hooptonline.net> wrote in message
news:3MWIc.13055$_b.7145989@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.ne t...
> Divey Dave wrote:
>
> > "TonyP" <arpierre@hooptonline.net> wrote
> >>The surface water temp is a Florida 66 degrees.
>
> > You've been going to the wrong Florida!
>
> yeah... I plan on doing a Florida trip one of these days.

Be sure to give us all a heads up. The last couple of times pepes from the
group have visited, I've been incredibly busy. I'm gonna have to take some
time off before retirement. :)

Did it many
> years ago. It was fun. But, diving here in NY is different. Much
> different. The wrecks are just that, wrecks, with a history of running
> into something.. being blown up, or sinking in a storm. And,
> unfortunately, lives lost on the wrecks. The vis isn't that good (we
> celebrate 30'), the water starts 'warm' then gets cold so you don't know
> how to dress (we are dry suit divers). You get unbearably hot suiting up
> to wanting the cold water until you've been in it for a while.

Yep, I've heard about some of the great wrecks up there and I do enjoy a
wreck as much as the next guy. I just don't have the cojones for those kind
of temps on a voluntary basis. I can tolerate a lot of things in life, but
doing so by choice is usually not the reason for my tolerance. ;0)

Then you
> think of the deco and if you really want to do it. And of course, the
> answer is always "yes". I will be doing it again this weekend.
>
Hope you enjoyed it. I read your Doria trip was off, did you get out anyway?
I took a week off to build a swingset for some friends' kids. I'm burnt like
toast!

Dave.

Dave L wrote:
> "TonyP" <arpierre@hooptonline.net> wrote in message
> news:3MWIc.13055$_b.7145989@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.ne t...
>
>>Divey Dave wrote:

>>>"TonyP" <arpierre@hooptonline.net> wrote

>>>You've been going to the wrong Florida!
>>
>>yeah... I plan on doing a Florida trip one of these days.

> Be sure to give us all a heads up. The last couple of times pepes from the
> group have visited, I've been incredibly busy. I'm gonna have to take some
> time off before retirement. :)

I most certainly will. I don't think it will be this year. Vacations are
almost over for me, and there are still things to be done around the house.

> Yep, I've heard about some of the great wrecks up there and I do enjoy a
> wreck as much as the next guy. I just don't have the cojones for those kind
> of temps on a voluntary basis. I can tolerate a lot of things in life, but
> doing so by choice is usually not the reason for my tolerance. ;0)

With dry suit, you don't worry much about water temp as body temp. On
the hot humid days, just suiting up is very difficult. You wait till the
last minute to zip up the suit. Then, when you jump in, the water temp
can be low 70's to upper 60's. No relief... You can't wait to hit the
thermocline and get to the cooler water. I remember doing a dive on the
USS San Diego. I was roasting on the surface. Hit the water, and the
temp was the same on top (around 70 degrees) as on the bottom. I had
thought of flooding my suit to cool off, but didn't. I just laid there
on the bottom thinking "cool thoughts".

> Hope you enjoyed it. I read your Doria trip was off, did you get out anyway?
> I took a week off to build a swingset for some friends' kids. I'm burnt like
> toast!

Yeah, I was sort of disappointed with the Doria trip being called off. I
aint gettin any younger. But we did go out. Did 2 great dives. Dive
report to follow...

"TonyP" <arpierre@hooptonline.net> wrote in message
news:QjkLc.67530$S45.8328734@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.n et...
>
> With dry suit, you don't worry much about water temp as body temp. On
> the hot humid days, just suiting up is very difficult. You wait till the
> last minute to zip up the suit. Then, when you jump in, the water temp
> can be low 70's to upper 60's. No relief... You can't wait to hit the
> thermocline and get to the cooler water. I remember doing a dive on the
> USS San Diego. I was roasting on the surface. Hit the water, and the
> temp was the same on top (around 70 degrees) as on the bottom. I had
> thought of flooding my suit to cool off, but didn't. I just laid there
> on the bottom thinking "cool thoughts".
>
I feel yer pain. Last time I was out I sat suited up for about five minutes
while we ran around the site a coupla times to be sure of a good drop. I
usually leave my 3mil shorty down to the waist until I'm ready to go. I zip
and gear up and am ready to drop into the cooling 80degree waters pdq. After
that, everything is cool!

Dave.