Dive Trip Report to:
West Palm Beach - Rampage
,
Purpose:
To Watch the Sinking of a Wreck - and then dive it!
Dive #1:
. My Dive #419
A. Dive Boat / Location:
Rampage / Near Double Ledges
B. Conditions:
Visibility:
40 ft (poor due to the ship's sinking
Seas:
1 to 2 ft with a 5 to 6 ft swell
Water Temp:
73 - still divable!
Skies:
Sunny, Clear Blue Sky's - Typial of Florida!!
Air Temp:
70's with a breeze - Getting Chilly
C. Dive Information:
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer - 75 ft for 37 min, PO2 1.14, 35% NITROX
Air consumption:
Me: (120 cu ft),
Current:
Medium. The current took the ship initially when she was being anchored.
Description:
Well, Capt Bob said that Sunday would be a good day to dive. I hadn't been wet
for a while and decided to go down to West Palm. Saturday night, Capt Bob said
to come down at 9 instead of 7, there was going to be a ship sinking. Well, we
had about 6 divers and more newspaper people and photographers on board. I
hooked up with the Kim's from Orlando - one a 100 dive newbee to diving this
year and a just certified diver. Capt Bob took the Mighty Rampage out and we
motored around the M.V. Thozina. There was a tug moving the ship into position
and then they dropped one anchor. The ship moved in the current. The tug
pulled it back into position - dragging the anchor. The second anchor was
dropped and the plugs pulled. There were several 2 ft by 3 ft squares in the
side of the ship covered with plywood. The ply was pulled and she took on
water (see pics above). It took about 20 minutes to get to the spot where the
movie starts above. She then sunk in minutes. Right after the ship went down,
we started to get ready to dive her. There were already three such ships down
- the Shasha, St. Jacques and the Thozina. This now makes the fourth ship. I
believ they are called the "Governer's Walk" for the Governer of Florida
sponsoring the wreck / reef's.
We jumped in and came across one previously sunk ship. There was a lot fo
baracudda on the bottom - a lot more than you would normally see. And, they
were on the bottom - cuda usually are up above the ships! The current was pretty
strong and I had to help my buddies get to the ship. One dive partner was
having problems clearing and getting to the bottom. The current was taking
them past the first wreck. I motioned to the dive master to tie off the ball
so the divers above could hold onto the ball line and pull themselves to the
bottom. We looked around for a few minutes and then broke loose and went with
the current towards the new wreck. It took a few minutes to see it and we
almost went by it. We came to the ship where the stern bridge meets the hold.
The hold was filled with a brownsh low vis water, probably from rust and water.
We did not go down the hold. I went up and into the bridge. One Kim came
with me and the newbie diver stayed outside. We looked around some and worked
our way towards the stern. With a Kim running low on air, up we went. This
was a once in a lifetime dive.
Dive #2:
. My Dive #420
A. Dive Boat / Location:
Rampage / South Yellow Tail
B. Conditions:
Visibility:
40 ft
Seas:
Water Temp:
Skies:
Sunny, Clear Blue Sky's - Typial of Florida!!
Air Temp:
70's with a breeze - Getting Chilly
C. Dive Information:
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer - 63 ft for 54 min, 32% NITROX, PO2 1.01
Air consumption:
Me: (120 cu ft),
Current:
Description:
Didn't write down any notes!!
Last Updated: 01-Jan-2003