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Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Dan Wright <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Dan+Wright' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/11/2012, 8:16 pm

On Sunday July 8th, the Depth Charge opted to visit an unknown wreck site some 30+ miles off shore. Weather was good, and since it's prime season, why not attempt an exploratory dive? Depth was going to be in the range of 165'. All four rebreather divers were good to go, as we planned a wreck for 155' initially. Once on site, we noticed a good surface current, scooters were very helpful. The water was dark and lower vis, somewhere around 25', as we have been spoiled the last couple weeks! Temps were also a bit chilly, about 47 degrees on the bottom. No current on the bottom. Ken and I splashed to set the hook, followed by Tony and Sherwood and finally Bill to bring up the rear. The wreck was just a barge, but we were surprised by large Bass, Cod and a giant Monkfish. Lobster and scallops were rescued from the deep. Ken and I managed to do 45 minutes at depth, which resulted in a 110 minute runtime for yours truly. Well, we can check that set of GPS numbers off, but it was an enjoyable and challenging day! Not every day one gets to visit a virgin site...
Dive safe and often!

Link: Big Ass Bass Barge 7/8/12

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Rob <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=nj+wreckman' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/18/2012, 12:21 pm, in reply to "Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

Thanks Guys,
Brandon what you said makes perfect sense to me. I never thought about how close we are to NY in that sense at least, I realize it when I am sitting in NYC traffic but thats a whole different story.
Dan that to be an unbeleivable feeling diving that wreck for the first time. How did you guys find it, did you just drive around the area looking at the dept finder in the general location it sunk, i know its probably alot more dificult then it sounds how long did it take to locate the wreck for the first time, and did you dive it as soon as you located it? I cant imagine the anticipation you had when you saw the wreck appear on the Dept finder the first time till you got to dive it.
I do have a boat but never thought about diving on it. I guess I am going to have to make friends with a fisherman, I know my neighbor is always fishing maybe he has some wrecks he wants to share. Wishful thinking right.
Thanks again guys
Rob

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Dan Wright <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Dan+Wright' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/18/2012, 8:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

Rob:
The "Four Daughters" sunk on it's maiden voyage in January '03. It was a 3 million dollar clam boat. The underwriter of the insurance policy hired a salvage company to locate and attempt to raise the vessel. After spending a month and a half million dollars in an attempt during the winter to raise her, the insurance company threw in the towel and wrote her off as a total loss. She was turtled, with 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and she was bouncing along the sand. She moved from her last known GPS numbers, but we had them to work with and we did a search pattern and within a couple hours had her on our depth finder. She had moved over a mile from the last known numbers. Several other captains claimed to have the numbers from the salvage company, but those are not correct. We set out with three divers and the captain in September 2005, two of us dove the wreck twice once we anchored on her. I shot video the first dive in and attempt to document the "Four Daughters", and the second dive I located and salvaged a life ring with the name inscribed as a positive ID. I sent a copy of the video to the ship builder, and they also confirmed it was the one they just built. Now the wreck has settled deeper in the sand, and there is no direct access to the wheelhouse any longer, but you can get into the galley and there you can move to other parts of the clam boat, but it is tight passage.
Since it was my first virgin wreck, it is special to me, and I have visited her eight times over the years, on every trip made to her. My buddy from the first dive to her, Doug Card, has gone with me seven times. Videos on Utube are available to see, just key in my username wcs563, and then you will see some 15 videos I have uploaded, and the "Four D's" appear twice, one is the first dive to her, the second video is from the seventh.
Thanks for you interest.....
-Dan

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Glenn <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Glenn' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/19/2012, 7:31 am, in reply to "Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

Dan
Since you had the original #'s, in which direction did it move, to the SW? Curious if there's a pattern.

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Glenn <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Glenn' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/18/2012, 6:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

Rob
Martini pretty much nailed it. Unknown wrecks and there are plenty haven't been identified as to their true identity, However even the unknown wrecks have been given a name, mostly by fisherman and some by the late George Hoffman. So even an unknown wreck is given a "name" to identify it.

I'm sure the unknown wreck Martini talks about that the Indy dove was given a name, even if that name is not shared with others.

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Rob <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=nj+wreckman' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/16/2012, 6:11 pm, in reply to "Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

I am just getting into diving and love watching the videos. While I only have a few dives under my belt and all of them were on very known dive spots. Some day I would love to dive an unknown or virgin wreck. Do dive boats run special wreck hunt trips to any unknown, secret or virgin wrecks. I'm sorry if I sound like a beginer but I have a whole lot to learn.
Thanks
Rob

Virgin wrecks

Posted by Brandon <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=mcjangles' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/17/2012, 9:46 am, in reply to "Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

Rob, lots of boats visit new or unknown sites on a somewhat regualar basis, it's just that you don't usually here about them. 9 times out of 10 they turn out to be nothing of interest other than a good hunting spot which most Captains arent going to want to give up, let alone if it is actually something "good". The reason you dont see more numbers running charters is the sad fact that while lots of folks "say" they want to dive a virgin wreck, very few are willing to put the time and expense in to actually find one. It usually involves long hours spent watching the bottom machine with no guarantee of finding anything let along something good when you finally get to dive. The vast majority of divers would rather pay their $100 for the sure thing.

Re: Virgin wrecks

Posted by Rob <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=nj+wreckman' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/17/2012, 6:16 pm, in reply to "Virgin wrecks"

Guys thanks alot for the replys, being new to diving its both exciting and frustrating at the same time. I am trying to learn all I can but the more I read the more confusing it gets.
Brandon I understand what your saying,people dont want to put the time or money in they just want the rewards. I am guessing that finding virgin wrecks now a days is getting to be very hard with all the new electronics I dont see how there can be that many secret wrecks out there anymore. I new to this whole dive board thing so I may sound a little naive with my questions, hope you guys dont mind. When the boats say they are diving secret wrecks,virgin wrecks or unknown wrecks does this mean no one has ever dove them or does it mean that they just dont have the real name of the wreck yet and they are looking to try and discover the name like in the book "shadow divers".
Now when you talk of hunting are you talking about treasure hunting or finding lobster and fish.Also since I havent really been around diving that long as far as dive gear is a scooter or rebreather something I should be looking into buying or is that just for the real divers not someone like me.
Sorry for all the questions but you guys really have me wanting to explore this diving alot more. Dan keep posting those videos of all those great wrecks you dive, someday maybe I will be able to post my own.
Thanks alot
Rob

Re: Virgin wrecks

Posted by Martini <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Martini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/18/2012, 8:09 am, in reply to "Re: Virgin wrecks"

Rob,

Virgin wrecks are usually wrecks that have never been dove before. Unknown have usually been dove before but no one has postively identified the wreck. Both usually fall into the secret catagory as boat captains keep these numbers close to the vest. Some wrecks fall into all three catagories. Last weekend Independence dove a wreck that we located last year. Up to last weekend it had been dove by a team that included 2 crew and a customer for quick dive to see it was worthwhile. Last year a group of the crew did one dive on her to further check it out. Last weekend we took a charter with customers to a wreck who to date had 7 divers on her previously. She was still pretty virgin and she is definately unknown too date. Her location is also being kept secret for now. Therefore she falls into all three catagories

. Brandon is right, it is hard to get a group together willing to do long boat rides for the chance to dive a a barge. However, when you do find something the rewards can be fantastic. My advice is keep asking questions, keep diving, and enjoy the journey. By the way some of the known wrecks like the ones Dan pointed out earlier are definately worth checking out.

Re: Virgin wrecks

Rob, nothing wrong with asking questions, and no such thing as a "real diver". We are all just out there having fun, so to answer your question about rebreathers and scooters, if that is something that appeals to you go ahead and learn about them, try them, and decide if it's something that will make YOUR diving more fun.

As far as unknown wrecks pretty much all that you described. There are still MANY wrecks out there yet un-dove, particularly offshore. As diving technology gets better the edge is constantly being pushed. New York is one of the busiest ports in the world so there are hundreds of years worth of wrecks out there. Not as easy as the "old" days but with effort there are still virgins to be found.

Re: Virgin wrecks

Posted by Dan Wright <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Dan+Wright' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/17/2012, 9:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Virgin wrecks"

Hey Rob:
There are a few vessels, such as the Depth Charge that go after new numbers, mostly acquired from fishing captains who have success from hitting certain spots and turn them over to friends to check out. On the last two weekends, we have had no success finding anything other than a barge, but the next one could be something of merit. I have been involved in the location and documentation of a lost shipwreck, and it is something very exciting splashing on a wreck you know none have been to, and making the first positive ID. My first was over seven years ago on the clammer: "Four Daughters" which I have revisited eight times since 2005, when it was discovered by Captain Jim Bauers, after being lost for two years after it's sinking. I was a mate then, and captured the first dive on her with video, and positive ID with a life ring inscribed on that trip 9/5/05. Some were just learning to dive then...
Happy hunting!
-Dan

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Dan Wright <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Dan+Wright' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/16/2012, 7:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

Rob:
Generally not. Charter boats go to well documented wrecks usually. Other dive vessels go to their own "secret" spots that are good for hunters, but not artifact, photography or history buffs such as myself. It's the private boats that search for the unknown wreck sites, taking chances on coming up empty, but sometimes hitting the mother load. There are plenty of great wrecks that are normally visited, such as the Arundo, Resor, Stolt and Algol come to mind. These are frequented by such vessels as the Gypsy Blood, John Jack, Independence, and the Ol Salty II.

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Glenn <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Glenn' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/13/2012, 4:12 pm, in reply to "Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

Amazing the ability of those Hero camera's to "see" with the available ambient light.

It's been a long time and maybe I'm wrong but is that barge known as the Cow? Sort of looked familiar.

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Angela <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Angela' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/15/2012, 9:41 am, in reply to "Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

I love your videos and exploring new sites.!

Is that helmet light camera set up your invention or a commercially sold unit?

What was the fish with the double dorsal fin?

As barges go the "BIG ASS BARGE" was pretty interesting.

Keep up the good work!!! I feel like I am exploring the "deeper" stuff with you guys when I watch" Thanks for sharing with us!!!

Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12

Posted by Dan Wright <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/info/user=Dan+Wright' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/15/2012, 3:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Depth Charge visits and unknown site and this report from 7/8/12"

Cod I believe, I am glad you liked the video. I try and make them as realistic as possible, a true "POV", even the natural sound. Feel no need to blast a viewer with heavy metal sound track that I don't have right to use anyway! Not to mention cliche...
Be safe out there!
-Dan

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