June 2, 2001 — Naeco Stern
June 3, 2001 — Normannia
June 23, 2001 — Australia
June 24, 2001 — Liberator
July 7, 2001 — Tamaulipas Stern
July 8, 2001 — Yancey
July 21, 2001 — Kassandra-Louloudis
July 22, 2001 — Empire Gem
August 4, 2001 — Manuela
August 5, 2001 — Lobster Wreck
August 18, 2001 — Lancing
August 19, 2001 — Australia
September 8, 2001 — Liberator
September 9, 2001 — Kassandra-Louloudis
September 22, 2001 — Cassimir
September 23, 2001 — Tarpon
October 14, 2001 — Proteus
October 15, 2001 — Naeco Stern
 |
| TRIP NOTES: | |
| Originally Scheduled Site: Liberator | |
| Actual Site: Dixie Arrow | |
| Divers: Joe, Paul | |
| Weather Conditions: Dark and cloudy with rain squalls; wind switch to NE against a SSW sea; | |
| Sea Conditions: headed directly into SSW sea in about 3-4 ft range....occaisionally airborne...but only a 90 minute ride. | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| DIVE #1 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Maximum Depth: 90 ft | |
| Current: moderate current running from stern to bow on a starboard quarter; | |
| Visibility: 60-70 ft at surface; 50 ft on bottom | |
| Water temperature: hi 70s on surface; mid/lo 70s on bottom; slight thermocline right above engine block (70-75ft) | |
| Description: After 3 blown out days, including the day before this dive, the first BFDC dive of the 2001 season! It was rougher ride than I would have liked, but it was short. We anchored in the stern of the wreck, just aft of the engine, in the middle of thewreck. Water was dark and slightly green on the bottom and there wasn't much sun to help the situation. Several smallish sandtigers cruised the wreck, while the larger tigers were out the sand. The sharks seemed a bit skittish and didn't approach very closely. Joe reported seeing a turtle and a large southern stingray. One dead computer battery and flooded camera housing were the only equipment casualties and, although Joe may differ, I didn't think that was too bad for the first NC dive of the year. | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| DIVE #2 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Site: Keshena | |
| Maximum Depth: 80 ft. | |
| Current: slight from stern to bow on a starboard quarter | |
| Visibility: 70 feet | |
| Water temperature: high/mid 70s on surface/mid/lo 70s on bottom; no major thermocline | |
| Description: Much calmer here as the winds begin to die; anchored just aft of the boilers; slight current was running down the wreck; it appears that there has been some sand washed away around the stern section - for the first time I can see the out line of the rudder and rudder assembly and the propeller blade appears to be farther out of the sand than what I recall; lots of spadefish around the stern; one large sandtiger and a couple of little ones are cruising the wreck; some sun came out during the last part of the dive, which added some light to the already clear water. | |
| TRIP NOTES: | |
| Originally Scheduled Site: Tamaulipas | |
| Actual Site: Yancey | |
| Divers: Joe, Paul, Greg, Gary, Rob, Julian | |
| Weather Conditions: partly sunny | |
| Sea Conditions: big NE swell across the shoals and very close and disorganized sea caused us to shift the destination to the Yancey | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| DIVE #1 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Maximum Depth: 165 ft | |
| Current: none on surface; none on bottom | |
| Visibility: 100+ ft at surface; 80+ ft on bottom | |
| Water temperature: lo 80s on surface; hi 70s on bottom; | |
| Description: really rough ride across the shoals; big NE swell and SW wind forced us to the Yancey ; we were 1 of only two boats to get offshore and we paid the price...at least I did! Rraallllppphh!!! Man, that is the first time that has happened in quite a few years. Descretion being the better part of valor, I donated my first dive to the dive gods. The divers reported back beautiful in-water conditions...could see the entire wreck from about 40 feet down. We anchored somewhere between the stern and amidships | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| DIVE #2 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Site: Aeolus | |
| Maximum Depth: 113 ft. | |
| Current: slight on surface; slight from bow to stern at depth; | |
| Visibility: 70 feet on surface and 50 feet on bottom | |
| Water temperature: lo 80s on surface/mid/lo 70s on bottom; no major thermocline | |
| Description: I rallied for the second dive! We tried to get to the Bedfordshire on the 2nd dive and couldn’t find wreck to anchor; sent Rob Hughes down a couple of times with no success; I am going to get to that wreck some day! Ended up retreating to Aeolus; anchored on the deck of the stern section, forward of the steering quadrant; This wreck sure has changed since the first time I dived it in the 1980s. the stern sits upright on its keel; There is a large break forward of the stern section. Another section sits in line with the stern and appears to be a much higher profile than stern (15+ feet); a small area of decking and superstructure (ladders and railings) sits to the starboard side in the break between the stern and the next large section; fun dive; found Joe’s dive reel after releasing the anchor and riding the line down the stern down into the sand; he bought me dinner....not! | |
| TRIP NOTES: | |
| Originally Scheduled Site: Yancey | |
| Actual Site: Yancey | |
| Divers: Joe, Paul, Greg, Gary, Rob, Julian | |
| Weather Conditions: sunny | |
| Sea Conditions: smooth ride | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| DIVE #1 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Maximum Depth: 167 ft | |
| Current: no current | |
| Visibility: 100+ ft at surface; 80+ ft on bottom; dark but clean water on bottom; | |
| Water temperature: lo 80s on surface; hi 60s on bottom; | |
| Description: What a difference a day makes! Calm seas and a smooth ride; anchored in the small structure towards the stern; clear blue water up top and clear cool water at about 100-120 ft; dropped to 69 degrees and a bit dark, but still clear; ship lies on its starboard side, completely intact; Pretty impressive site to sea a 450+ ft. long ship completely intact on the ocean floor; swam around the stern end and then back up past the small superstructure to the large superstructure amidships; large grouper on the bottom and african pompano in the mid-water; Julian "swimming-death" Mullaney strikes again! | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| DIVE #2 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Site: Fenwick Island | |
| Maximum Depth: 63 ft. | |
| Current: moderate at surface; moderate at depth; | |
| Visibility: 30 feet on surface and 10-15 feet on bottom | |
| Water temperature: mid 70s on surface/mid/lo 70s on bottom; no major thermocline | |
| Description: first time on the Fenwick in a very long time; doesn't seem to have changed much in nearly 10 years; wreck sits on its port side, completely intact; it is a small wreck and very easy to navigate several times in a single dive; sits in a mud depression; prevailing current seems come over the keel/hull; we had to tie into another boat in order to dive the wreck; Blah! But they were anchored in the rudder and shaft post -- about the only place to hook the wreck if a current is running; ....an OK dive, but too many divers for my taste; but very friendly fish, as "swimming death" struck again. | |
| TRIP NOTES: | |
| Originally Scheduled Site: Manuela | |
| Actual Site: Manuela | |
| Divers: Joe, Paul, Greg, Gary, Rob, Julian, Rick, Brad | |
| Weather Conditions: partly sunny with rain squalls and thunderstorms around | |
| Sea Conditions: easy ride out | |
 |
 |
|
Peek-a-boo!
|
Shark's eye view
|
| DIVE #1 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Maximum Depth: 157 ft | |
| Current: no current | |
| Visibility: 80+ feet | |
| Water temperature: lo 80s on surface; hi 70s on bottom | |
| Description: Anchored between the big hull piece and the remains of the shaft alley coming out of the stern; beautiful conditions - no current and clear water. The anchor was hanging straight down. I swam around the stern section, exploring the rudder and propeller. Seems that some sand has moved off of that area. Not a bad birthday dive! | |
| DIVE #2 DESCRIPTION: | |
 |
 |
|
About to rub noses
|
Boys on the bow
|
| Dive Site: Caribsea | |
| Maximum Depth: 84 ft | |
| Current: none to slight | |
| Visibility: 20 feet | |
| Water temperature: lo 80s on surface; hi 70s on bottom | |
| Description: It is amazing how popular a wreck becomes once a Great White Shark gets spotted on it! There were divers on this dive who you would have HAD TO PAY to go to the Caribsea — they were begging to go. All for the elusive photo op! It is also amazing how much that messes with your head when you are down there in 15 ft of viz all by yourself. I nearly sprained my neck the way I kept turning around. Lots of sharks — all sandtigers — but mighty lonely down there! | |
| TRIP NOTES: | |
| Originally Scheduled Site: Porta Allegra | |
| Actual Site: Porta Allegra | |
| Divers: Joe, Paul, Greg, Gary, Rob, Julian, Brad | |
| Weather Conditions: sunny | |
| Sea Conditions: smooth ride; calm seas | |
 |
 |
|
120 ft of viz
|
Rob and Gary — the lobster roundup is on!
|
 |
 |
|
Anemone
|
Brad - living proof that married men can still dive!
|
| DIVE #1 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Maximum Depth: 122 ft | |
| Current: no current | |
| Visibility: 120 feet | |
| Water temperature: lo 80s on surface; hi 70s on bottom | |
| Description: Anchored forward of the boilers; absolutely no current and crystal clear water; the anchor chain hung limp down to the wreck; Julian and Brad nabbed some fish, but only one lobster was spotted on the wreck. It was female. It must have been caught and released by every diver on the boat! | |
| DIVE #2 DESCRIPTION: Dive #2 was cancelled due to engine problems. Thanks to Bobby Edwards and the Atlantis IV for giving us a hand. It was going to be a long swim in to shore. | |
| TRIP NOTES: | |
| Originally Scheduled Site: Liberator | |
| Actual Site: Proteus | |
| Divers: Joe, Paul, Bruce | |
| Weather Conditions: sunny | |
| Sea Conditions: swell developing from the SE from Hurricane Erin with a NE wind; a bit of a rough ride on way out; | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| DIVE #1 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Maximum Depth: 124 ft | |
| Current: no current | |
| Visibility: around 80 ft at surface; viz good until about 90 ft and then dropped to around 30 ft. | |
| Water temperature: lo 80s on surface; hi 60s on bottom; | |
| Description: Headed south in attempts to find some viz and good conditions; we anchored between the stern and the engines. The viz went bad at around 90 ft. Lots of kunk in the water, kicked up by the swell and LOTS of feeding fish and sharks. | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| DIVE #2 DESCRIPTION: | |
| Site: Dixie Arrow | |
| Maximum Depth: 80 ft. | |
| Current: none | |
| Visibility: 20 feet on bottom and 70 feet on top | |
| Water temperature: 80s on the top; high 70s on the bottom | |
| Description: anchored forward of the boilers; viz was great in the first 70 feet, but the bottom was in a cloud with viz less than 20 ft.; I notice the top of a boiler on the way down, so I stayed parked on top of the engine virtually the whole and watched as the entire array of big NC marine animals came parading by...sea turtles, sting rays, sharks, etc. Lots of feeding fish and lots of energy in the water. I could see our boat and anchor line right above me. I did nearly the whole dive at 70 feet and then simply swam up to the line to hang. Very convenient. | |