Sea Lion

This Past Week

Saturday the 23rd –Tridents – There was some discussion as to where to start the day with the general consensus being to head south with the Tolten being the first dive. There was also some talk that the Tolten hasn’t been producing the past few years. Personally I always hope that their first destination produces enough that they want to stay for two but that rarely happens. I knew I was in trouble as one after another they came back aboard with limited success. With only one diver left in the water the score was only two lobsters. The last diver saved the reputation of the Tolten with a solid 6 pounder, big enough that I had to get out the “Too Big” gauge, just made it.One big bug wasn’t enough for them to stay though so we moved in-shore. This wreck didn’t produce much better but it did produce a 11+ pound bug, biggest one I’ve seen come up in years.Unfortunately way too big, missed the mark by almost two inches on the gauge. As we continued to move in-shore we started to see more fish come up and by the end of the day we had 22 lobsters, 15 sea bass and 2 fluke on-board.

Sunday the 24th – Lakeland Divers – New Diver Special 65’ – We took Lakeland to the Veronica M. for their “New Diver Special”. I was a bit concerned in that on the way in the day before the surface water looked horrible and I was hoping we’d get some decent water without having to run off-shore. I have no idea where all the rotten looking water went but Sunday morning the water from the inlet to the wreck looked very nice. And the vis. on the wreck was a respectable 15 to 20. This proves the point that if you don’t like the diving conditions off of Jersey wait a little while they’ll change completely, not always for the better but in this case the sea gods were smiling.

This Week

Friday the 29th – OPEN – Lobsters/Fish/whatever 100’> as of right now I have enough interest in this date for it to go but I could use a few more divers, so if you’d like to get in a laid back Friday dive give me a call. In that I’ll be coming back from New England on Thursday this dive will be a 0800 departure.

Saturday the 30th – OPEN 100> – This date is now an OPEN; destination will be based on divers interest / the whims of the captain. I have several locations in mind including one that I haven’t put divers on and several others that I haven’t been to in quite awhile. If you have somewhere you would like to visit give me a call, I’m always open for suggestions, not that I always take them but I enjoy listening to them.

Sunday the 31st – Atlantic Divers – Vivian 80’ – A large wooden wreck, with a massive central keel, and very low-lying side walls. Scattered large machinery, chain, and old-style anchor at the west end. This old sailing ship has produced numerous artifacts over the years including dead-eyes.

Next Week

Saturday the 6th – Shore Aquatics – Chaparra / San Saba 80’– Dan Lieb and the Shore Aquatics Club has me chartered to the Chaparra and the San Saba. Although these wrecks are 24.5 miles south of Manasquan they are just over a half mile apart.
The Chaparra was built in 1906 in Scotland as the Tinhow, sunk October 27, 1918 after hitting a mine laid by the German sub U-117. Today the Chaparra lies in 80 ft of water on a sandy bottom. Her hull lies on its port side, and is flattened out. The bow offers the most relief off the bottom. Her boilers and engine still visible, some portions covered by large hull plates. She is generally a good lobster wreck. Artifacts can still be found, digging is usually needed.

The San Saba was built in 1879 at Chester Pennsylvania as the Colorado, sunk twenty three days prior to the Chaparra on October 4th 1918 also by hitting a mine from the U-117 Today she sits in 80 ft of water in two mangled pieces of wreckage. The bow section is a jumble of hull plates, with winches and other machinery still visible. The stern section, some 250 ft away is also broken up. Many artifacts can still be found. Glassware, brass, .22 caliber bullets, and china are still being brought up with a little digging. The San Saba is sometimes called the "Southwest Barge", or the "Magnolia Wreck", for the anti-friction metal bars she was carrying.

Sunday the 7th – Lakeland Divers – Stolt 130’ – 0600 departure - The Stolt is always a great dive, far enough off-shore that there is almost always good visibility. Built in 1955 as the Dagali “Stolt” being the name of the shipping line that owned her. Sank Thanksgiving day November 26th 1964 in a collision with the Israeli passenger liner Shalom. Lakeland reports that they have one or two spots left.

Captain Al
SEA LION

For any of the OPEN boats or if you’d like to get out on any day not listed I can be reached at either 973-887-DEEP (3337) or my cell 201-401-4608

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