My Wreck trip to Nanaimo

[GillyWeed]

Hi Everybody,

Well this is the dive trip report section so I thought I should give a report of my dive trip this last weekend.

Last weekend I got to go up to Nanaimo BC and dive with Diver's Choice boat charters. Our goal was to dive the HMCS Saskatchewan. I had never dove wrecks before this weekend and this charter was going to be my sign off dives for the wreck course.

Saturday was very windy and rainy and the boat was rockin and rolling first thing in the morning. The report was that the water was going to be too big to dive the Saskatchewan so Ken our fearless captian took us over to Snake Island wall where the weather wasn't as bad. The wall was beautiful although I expected to see more life on it. There were a few big Ling Cods and some Nudies and lots of Plumose but there wasn't a lot else. I saw some black-eyed gobies and a rock fish or two. It surprised me but I really thought that the water would be teaming with life, like it is here... It didn't seem to me that it was. We really wanted to get some wreck diving in that day (as this was a wreck class) so we talked the Captian into taking us back towards the harbour where the Riv Tow Lion rests. We did two dives on the Lion and they were awesome. This is a very large Iron and wood boat. It had scores and scores of anemone on it. As well as a HUGE GPO under the bow. He really wasn't interrested in a group of divers shining their lights into his den and staring and he kept undulating his tenticles in a menacing way. So we left him alone. I did a few small penetrations on the first dive, following my instructor (Sonya Baker) and on the second dive she wanted us to do some leading through some of the places we had been and a few we hadn't. I did ok until I picked a spot that I thought had an out. When it didn't I freaked out a little and had to get out as quickly as possible and hang off a beam while I composed myself. Sonya said I did ok, but I am sure I mucked things up in my little mini panic
The next day (Sunday) the weather was nice and clear and I would venture to say even a little sunny. Although not warm. So we headed straight out to where the Saskatchewan lay. The water couldn't have been calmer and there was hardly any current to speak of so the conditions were absolutly perfect. We studied the plans of the boat before going down to come up with the plan of how we would dive it. We were anchored to the hull line and that's where we droped down. All the way down to 100' on the farthest back deck of the ship. Right there is the Mortar bay and as planned we dropped into it and I followed Derek Smith into Burma row. Burma row is the long corridor that runs the entire length of the 366' ship. This ship was geared up for divers before it was sunk so there were lots of outs along the way. We took it slow and steady as to not muck things up and before you know it we were at the end. I was very proud of myself because I was very apprehensive about wreck diving and I feel that I have overcome my fear a little. Not my awe and respect, just my fear. After Burma row we headed back to the hull line over the top of the huge ship. This is probably one of the coolest things to do. It's like a bird's eye view of this great battleship. One that most humans can never see while the ships are above water. There were several HUGE Ling Cod and lots of stars and anemone.. On the second dive down to the Saskatchewan we didn't do any penetrations and stayed reletively high up on the boat because after 4 other dives in 2 days we were all a little loaded and didn't want to end up in deco time. We saw 2 huge Vermillion Rock fish, one that was guarding his own little room of the battleship. And we made one more pass over the great ship before we had to come up and head home.

It was an amazing weekend and I am sad to be back home. I am tired and sore but happy and content. And I did all of that diving wet !!! I should get extra kudos for that!

If you get the chance, get with Ken at Diver's Choice http://www.divingbccanada.com/

They wont steer you wrong and the food was excellent. They run a very nice boat charter and took exceptional care of us..

Cheers,

Holly

[enigmatic]

That sounds like tons of fun! You make me want to do a wreck course! (well maybe after I have a few more dives under my belt)

[Cephlah]

Wow Holly, you are fearless!! I'm glad you had a great time and came back safe

Wrecks sound interesting to me, and I love to look at the life that covers them, but right now I think my fear would be there just a little too much to want to take a wreck course. The last time I tried to get over my fear by trying something (rock climbing), I ended up spending a lot of time frozen in fear, hanging on the side of a rock *LOL*

[CaptnJack]

Were you running line?

[Dmitchell]

That's funny,

I was up there this weekend as well, We were on the Ocean Explorer's boat and I think we saw your boat on Snake and on the wrecks as well.

We did 2 deep wall dives on Saturday at Snake, The wrecks on Sunday, and another wall that I missed the name of on Monday. we had a whole group (13) on the boat and my buddy and I were the only Open Circuit guys everyone else was on rebreathers.

Here's a good comparison of Rebreather vs. OC

5 Dives,
I used 5 sets of double 95's, nine al 40's of deco gas and 2 80's of travel mix. On her Rebreather, Mel used two 19's to do the same dives.

Dave

[Pinkpadigal]

Isn't Nanaimo awesome! I love diving there!!!

[GillyWeed]

We didn't run any line. Just short little penetrations and then in the Saskatchewan we just went really really slow follow the leader style. Vis was really really clear so it wasn't an issue for lines...

[Sasquatch]

Excellent trip report, Holly! I really want to try that and now more than ever.

Good job on multiple wetsuit dives in chilly weather, too. Was it ever an issue?

Dave

[GillyWeed]

The wetsuit wasn't an issue until the very last dive.. The 5th total dive over 2 days. I was ok. But I remember thinking to myself that I was more concerned with how cold my fingers were than what I was looking at (the cool big ol ship).. So that's it.. I am tough..

[Cera]

A wetsuit!!! I didn't know it was possible! Just Kidding. I salute you! You are a tough girl!

[CaptnJack]

We didn't run any line. Just short little penetrations and then in the Saskatchewan we just went really really slow follow the leader style. Vis was really really clear so it wasn't an issue for lines...

Line is SOP for overhead environments, I won't enter any overhead without line. Speed is not the issue, silt can get kicked up quite easily or rust can rain down from the ceiling. Without line your chances of making it out are slim to none. Please run line.

[gcbryan]

We didn't run any line. Just short little penetrations and then in the Saskatchewan we just went really really slow follow the leader style. Vis was really really clear so it wasn't an issue for lines...

Line is SOP for overhead environments, I won't enter any overhead without line. Speed is not the issue, silt can get kicked up quite easily or rust can rain down from the ceiling. Without line your chances of making it out are slim to none. Please run line.

Please don't confuse your opinion with fact.

[peo]

We didn't run any line. Just short little penetrations and then in the Saskatchewan we just went really really slow follow the leader style. Vis was really really clear so it wasn't an issue for lines...

Line is SOP for overhead environments, I won't enter any overhead without line. Speed is not the issue, silt can get kicked up quite easily or rust can rain down from the ceiling. Without line your chances of making it out are slim to none. Please run line.

I'd say that's very context-dependent. Of course, if there's any doubt, then run line. If it is a simple swim-through or navigation otherwise is dirt-simple for one reason or another, I may opt to not use a line, even on a very deep dive.

But, I also personally know of divers who have died within 6 feet from getting out without finding the exit, in a silt-out, where navigation SEEMED simple but wasn't.

I haven't been to the prepared wrecks up in BC, so I can't give my opinion on them, but generally speaking, wreck penetration is something that is more dangerous than what is first seems. Ask any seasoned wreck diver about their war stories. Don't take it too easily, and make sure your fundamentals are really squared away. A good way to assess where you are and learn some of the tricks of the trade is to take a wreck penetration workshop or class.

[CaptnJack]

Please don't confuse your opinion with fact.

WTF? I have been biting my tongue so far but this is the last straw.

There are 3 PADI standards spelled out for this course and this class violated all three:
1) Max penetration shall be no more than 130ft from the surface horizontal and vertical depth combined. Burma Road is about 315ft long and at a depth of 98-105ft

2) Max penetration 1/3rds. Seriously doubtful they "slowly" swam that far on <1/3rd of a single tank at 100ft.

3) You are supposed to remain within the light zone, Burma Road definately has several areas without ambient light. It is no swim through.

Class standards are from the 1995 e.d PADI wreck Manual, pages 39-40.

The manual for this non-technical class also says the following, "the most common cause of fatalities in overhead environments is a failure to run a continuous line to open water; never make a penetration dive without this line and a proper reel for handling it." (page 36) So there's the 4th PADI class limit violated.

I have dove all 4 of the BC destroyer escorts and yes there is definately thick silt in places. Penetrating these without line, exceeding 1/3rds and leaving the daylight zone without proper training is foolish.

Gray, you don't know squat about overhead diving, and neither does the instructor for this class.

People have died on all of them. Don't be the next statistic.

Rant over,
Richard

[gcbryan]

Please don't confuse your opinion with fact.

WTF? I have been biting my tongue so far but this is the last straw.

There are 3 PADI standards spelled out for this course and this class violated all three:
1) Max penetration shall be no more than 130ft from the surface horizontal and vertical depth combined. Burma Road is about 315ft long and at a depth of 98-105ft

2) Max penetration 1/3rds. Seriously doubtful they "slowly" swam that far on <1/3rd of a single tank at 100ft.

3) You are supposed to remain within the light zone, Burma Road definately has several areas without ambient light. It is no swim through.

Class standards are from the 1995 e.d PADI wreck Manual, pages 39-40.

The manual for this non-technical class also says the following, "the most common cause of fatalities in overhead environments is a failure to run a continuous line to open water; never make a penetration dive without this line and a proper reel for handling it." (page 36) So there's the 4th PADI class limit violated.

I have dove all 4 of the BC destroyer escorts and yes there is definately thick silt in places. Penetrating these without line, exceeding 1/3rds and leaving the daylight zone without proper training is foolish.

Gray, you don't know squat about overhead diving, and neither does the instructor for this class.

People have died on all of them. Don't be the next statistic.

Rant over,
Richard

You have no idea of what I know or don't know. I do know that no one asked you for your opinion or for a description of how you dive.

[BDub]

Gray-

With all due respect, I believe Richard did state some facts...he quoted specific materials from the PADI manual. I don't know if Holly's class was a PADI class or NAUI, or SSI, etc. I can tell you that NAUI's S & P requires proficiency with the following before the open water/practical application (ie, entering a wreck for the class):

Dive planning shall include limits based on gas consumption, oxygen toxicity exposures, and inert gas absorption for each dive and breathing gas mixture. Each diver is to demonstrate switching and isolating a malfunctioning regulator, first in confined water and following adequate practice, at a depth between 33fsw and 66fsw, OOG sharing w/ 5' hose or longer through a simulated restriction, modified frog kicks, back downs, and helicopters, locating a lost penetration line, silt-out/black-water procedures, underwater navigation appropriate to the dive plan, and deployment of lift bag. Students shall participate in a rescue simulation to include management of a diver experiencing underwater oxygen toxicity.

NAUI's Wreck Penetration Course Policy states:

There must always be a continuous line to open water while teaching in an overhead environment

Holly, the wrecks up in BC are amazing, and I'm glad you had a great trip. Please remember when entering a wreck, it's easy to say "we went follow the leader style and vis was really good...". It's easy to dive in a wreck cleaned up for divers in those conditions, but as I'm sure you probably know, conditions can change fast, and there's many divers whose bodies were found very very close to cave and wreck entries/exits.

I think that many divers (this is not directed at you Holly, just a general statement) believe that just because the wrecks in BC are "cleaned up" for divers (ie, many entries/exits, etc), anyone can enter them. An exit 10' away won't help you if you can't find it, and a line may very well be the only way you'll find that exit that you so desperately need to find when things fall apart.

[Sasquatch]

I don't think anyone has to ask permission or be granted permission to state their opinion on this forum. In this way we keep the dialogue lively.

I'm not a wreck diver but I appreciate everyones opinion here whether I agree with them or not. I will be diving these wrecks in the Spring and find this thread interesting.

We now return to our regularly scheduled thread.

[gcbryan]

Gray-

With all due respect, I believe Richard did state some facts...he quoted specific materials from the PADI manual. I don't know if Holly's class was a PADI class or NAUI, or SSI, etc. I can tell you that NAUI's S & P requires proficiency with the following before the open water/practical application (ie, entering a wreck for the class):

Dive planning shall include limits based on gas consumption, oxygen toxicity exposures, and inert gas absorption for each dive and breathing gas mixture. Each diver is to demonstrate switching and isolating a malfunctioning regulator, first in confined water and following adequate practice, at a depth between 33fsw and 66fsw, OOG sharing w/ 5' hose or longer through a simulated restriction, modified frog kicks, back downs, and helicopters, locating a lost penetration line, silt-out/black-water procedures, underwater navigation appropriate to the dive plan, and deployment of lift bag. Students shall participate in a rescue simulation to include management of a diver experiencing underwater oxygen toxicity.

NAUI's Wreck Penetration Course Policy states:

There must always be a continuous line to opne water while teaching in an overhead environment

Holly, the wrecks up in BC are amazing, and I'm glad you had a great trip. Please remember when entering a wreck, it's easy to say "we went follow the leader style and vis was really good...". It's easy to dive in a wreck cleaned up for divers in those conditions, but as I'm sure you probably know, conditions can change fast, and there's many divers whose bodies were found very very close to cave and wreck entries/exits.

I think that many divers (this is not directed at you Holly, just a general statement) believe that just because the wrecks in BC are "cleaned up" for divers (ie, many entries/exits, etc), anyone can enter them. An exit 10' away won't help you if you can't find it, and a line may very well be the only way you'll find that exit that you so desperately need to find when things fall apart.

This was a trip report thread. I was taking exception to the lecturing nature of Richard's response and now to his later condescending reply.

I understand that most people use line in this type of environment although some feel that it gives a false sense of security. I personally have no interest in wreck penetration as (for me) it's too dangerous even when done correctly.

[Cera]

I hate to sound like the pseudo-peacemaker, but we shouldn't chastise people for posting reports here.. This forum is a place for information and learning (in my opinion) and I just think we should be curtious of how we post things. I am sure people would accept your opinons if you post them in the right way. Alot of divers here are here to learn from others, I think everyones opinion is valued here.... no need to argue.