Normally I only post up-coming dives on here and send last weeks dive report to the divers on the SEA LION’S e-mail list but last week was too good not to share
Capt. Al
This Past Week
Rather than repeating the condition report over and over let me just state that; this past week we ran three days and on every one of those days the ocean was absolutely flat, bottom temps were around sixty and the vis. was outstanding everywhere. Now onto the details…
Thursday the 21st – OPEN – I got a call from one of my regular hunters late in the week saying that he had two other divers that wanted to go out on Thursday. I managed to find crew (not the easiest thing these days) and we put the trip together. While two of the divers were extremely experienced and capable of doing buoy dives one of the three, while a competent diver wasn’t yet comfortable with the concept so we headed out and anchored into the Cranford for two. Now I know that the Cranford has fish on it but this was ridiculous. After two dives the score was nine Fluke, five Sea Bass, five Trigger fish and four Lobsters, nice. On the way in I dropped Mike and Ron on a rock pile. Mike literally came over the rail laughing about the fact that “every hole had a big lobster” between the two of them ten more lobsters made it into the now overflowing coolers. Time to head in boys, the coolers are full.
Saturday the 23rd – Tridents – lobsters and fish - Although this was a Trident club dive they didn’t have quite enough Tridents to make up a full charter and as such they had agreed to tie into a wreck for two rather than doing buoy dives all day. I headed out to the Sea Girt wreck found a boat on it and went over to the Logwood hoping that it would produce. Produce it did, the score after two dives was forty-six (not a typo – 46) Sea Bass, five lobsters, and two ling. Four of the six on-board did a buoy dive on the way in and put three more lobsters on.
Sunday the 24th – OPEN – Coffee Wreck AKA "Southwest Mohawk" / Boiler Wreck
Description found on line courtesy of njscuba.net
The "Southwest Mohawk" or "Coffee Wreck" is nothing like the SS Mohawk Artifacts found on the wreck indicated that is was a late eighteenth century sailing ship, and not a barge.
An assembly of fairly large timbers forms a low solid deck over most of the wreck, with bundles of iron pipes and stone ballast blocks scattered around. The bottom is clean, white, almost Caribbean sand. Visibility tends to be relatively good, and it is very easy to follow around the edges of the wreck or explore over the top without getting lost. Caverns and gaps around the edges of the wreckage provide homes for swarms of Sea Bass, some of them huge, and a few Tautogs.
Now that you’ve read the on-line description and with my personal knowledge that the description was fairly accurate I was more than surprised when one of my divers came back on-board “complaining” that the wreck was “tiny”. This was after a very productive dive where three divers came up with thirteen Sea Bass a very nice flattie and a trigger, go figure. When I sent the mate in to untie I gave him some extra time to scout around and he confirmed that the sand has covered up some of the wreck. We moved on to the “boiler wreck” (no this one isn’t in any on-line site) another old but a much larger wreck. The sand hasn’t swallowed this one and five more sea bass came up along with a couple of nice bugs.
What a great couple of days!
The only disappointment this past week was that on Sunday I was supposed to have eight divers on the boat but wound up sailing with only four. Actually the four divers that I had set the trip up for, divers new to the North East were the ones that didn’t show. As a matter of fact I had told the divers that did show that we were going to a “Tug” and tie in for two to accommodate the new divers. The loss of the four fares as finally driven me over the edge. The Sea Lion now has the ability to accept credit cards (phone only, not at the dock) and any diver that doesn’t have a history with me will be required to pre-pay for the trip.
This Week
Saturday the 30th – OPEN – Maurice Tracy 65’ – The Tracy is a fun dive. This 253’ collier (coal carrier) was sunk in a collision with the much larger 441’ Liberty Ship Jesse Billingsley June 17th 1944. Although most of the recognizable wreckage lays behind the two massive boilers a number of scattered pieces lie between the boilers and the bow. Unfortunately the pieces are separated sufficiently to make navigating them difficult without a reel. I’ve always found the pick-up stick like pile behind the boilers fascinating as the engine and engine room lies hidden beneath it.
Saturday the 30th – AFTERNOON OPEN – We’ll be starting to run Saturday afternoon dives, departing the dock no earlier than 4:00pm and returning around 8:00pm. These will be two tank dives on either the Axle Carlson or Sea Girt reef, cost $80. Afternoon dives aren’t new for the Sea Lion as we did them many years ago. These afternoon trips will primarily focus on the interests of the divers on-board, and as the season progresses look for additional types of dives including twilight and evening dives.
Sunday the 1st – OPEN – PINTA 85’ – This 195’ freighter makes a great dive no matter what your primary interest is. Lobsters, fish and mussels are usually in abundance. It has always been a great sight seeing wreck and now that the stern has broken open a number of artifacts have come up. If you’re looking to get out give me a call at either 973-887-DEEP(3337) or my cell 201-401-4608
Next Week
Wednesday the 4th – 4th of July OPEN – Captain’s choice less than 100’ – Fish, lobsters, artifacts, choice of destination will be based on the interests of the divers on-board. I already have four on-board so if you’re looking to get out give me a call ASAP at either 973-887-DEEP(3337) or my cell 201-401-4608 to avoid being disappointed
Saturday the 7th – Tridents - lobsters and fish 100> - The Tridents will again be back this year with their unique brand of diving. Actually they have quite a number of Saturday dives throughout the year. As is their way we’ll be tied in for only one and do “buoy dives” for the rest of the day. Bret can be reached at 973-876-5896
Sunday the 8th – Metuchen Underwater Divers M.U.D. – Metuchen Underwater hasn’t had the best luck with the weather but we’re hoping to break the streak and get them out on the kind of day that makes you wonder if it gets any better. Kerry can be reached at 908-513-6086
Captain Al
SEA LION
NOTE: One thing to keep in mind is that OPEN destinations are really just suggestions on my part, unless the trip is scheduled as a “Special” but If you have somewhere you want to get to let me know and if we have the divers and the weather that’s where we’ll head.
ATTENTION
The full 2012 SEA LION charter schedule is posted on the web site www.atlantic-wreckdivers.com
The Sea Lion does run a limited weekday schedule and we’re always looking to put together weekday trips. If you’re interested in diving during the week, let me know which day/days work for you and we will try to put a boat together and don’t forget the Saturday afternoon dives.
We have established a diver’s e-mail list and if you’d like to be included send the message “please add me to the SEA LION diver list” to sealion@atlantic-wreckdivers.com
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