Attn: Captains for the Oriskany

[CBulla]

I love this sort of honest, straight forward communication!

I visited the Oriskany as a deckhand on board the H2Obelow today and I noticed something very interesting that you should be aware of - You guys are not going to be able to find your buoy balls if you don't maintain them. When we pulled up we found the super structure on the bottom machine but I looked and looked and couldn't see a single buoy from the bow of the boat. Where were your balls?

When we got out there all six of the balls were hidden by 'growth' on them from under use! As you all know there are six balls out there but none of them could be seen from the surface because they were black with algae.

Captain Daves were very 'hairy' with long brown growth on them. Captain Ron's (though they are smaller) were covered in a grimey brown growth. Captain Douglas (his are the biggest ones out there) also needed maintenance.

So on the second dive I scraped and cleaned all your balls (buoys)! They were a mess! You know that you are not the only ones who use your balls, they are public property to all the captains. We dive master/deckhands hate to be looking for your balls and not be able to identify them easily. Now you can get a good nights sleep knowing that everybody can find your balls on the Oriskany.

The moral of this story is that if you want someone to be able to see your balls, you must keep them CLEAN!

I'll bill later for my service!

 

[philmottrek99and02]

Donna,
Cudos on your authoring skills. Now I got to read your book.
Howard

 

[evensplit]

...Its like having your bottom scraped, the cost is dependent on the amount of sluge that has built up. :mooner:

Capt. Douglas has you cleaning his bottom too?

 

[seadoggirl]

Donna,
Cudos on your authoring skills. Now I got to read your book.
Howard

Shameless Plug....

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Howard, you will love the next one it's called Wet Revenge and its got lots of sex and diving in it! Should be out in August 08

 

[seadoggirl]

Capt. Douglas has you cleaning his bottom too?

A good clean bottom makes you run faster and gives better performance. Jim everybody knows that!

 

[veriqster]

Thanks seadoggirl for the assist,
It seems that I have been the only person (besides Capt. Jeff and Capt. Ron) who have taken the time to clean the Oriskany sub-surface buoys in the past.
I cleaned mine (the doubles attached to the structure above the flags) on our New Years Eve dive, so you may have mine confused with someone elses).

I think it is important to keep our dive sites in the best condition possible, because it speaks volumes about who we are and how we value not only the Oriskany dive site, but every site we dive. This is why most divers beleive in leaving the dive site in better condition then when they arrived. Just removing a dropped can or bottle, or cutting some fishing line from the site will enhance the experience for those who follow (it may even prevent an entaglement issue, for us and those who live there).
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy maintaining the dive sites and any excuse I can find to get in the water does my heart and soul good.

You are correct when you say that the buoys are public property and should be maintained.
There are however eight buoys on site and having them out there makes it very safe and easy to tie into the site without risking a divemaster or damaging the growth on site when "chaining" in time after time.

Most of the captains when they run charters out there have their hands full and do not have the time to clean their buoys, this is where a good divemaster will show some initiative and take on the challenge themselves while on a safety stop or just snorkeling on the surface (even when the water is a little chilly).

The other items on site that require maintenance are the American and POW flags.
These are not required items and do not play a role in dive or safe boating operations, but do however enhance the dive experience, and may enlighten those who dive this site that brave American soldiers served their country aboard this magnificent ship, and it deserves respect.
For those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice aboard the USS Oriskany we placed the American flag on Her during the summer solstis of "06" followed by the POW flag shortly after.
As a veteran I consider it an honor and a priveledge to dedicate my time and resorces to maintaining this worthy cause, and if you or anyone else sees that they need to be replaced, please drop me a line and it will be done.

I think open communication between those of us who frequent the Mighty "O" on a regular basis will keep this awesome dive site in the best codition possible until we pass the responsibility to the next generation of responsible divers.

Thanks again.
Safe diving,
Capt. Dave

If you ask me, then this "preaching" above sounds like a lawyer saying "we don't do dirty work we just cash the checks and go home".
Sorry to say it guys, but, when somebody cleans YOUR buoy the ONLY thing you should say is "SORRY, THANKS A LOT, THE BEAR IS ALREADY CHILLING", that's if you don't have the common sense to offer a free ride to the site or at least a discount for the next ride.
It is YOU who benefits the most from those buoys and it should be YOU who takes care of them as well; just my unimportant 2 PSI.

Back to fun: What's the fee for having a ball on that site?????????

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

No fee, the captains put em on the Oriskany. It cost them the ride out, and materials.

seadoggirl has no problem getting out to the Oriskany LOL

 

[Missdirected]

veriqster fftopic:

seadoggirl has no problem getting out to the Oriskany LOL

Or on top of those balls

 

[seadoggirl]

seadoggirl has no problem getting out to the Oriskany LOL

Slave tank luggers have no problem finding free passage. I am but one of the massive oppressed captive of the Master Captain.

 

[seadoggirl]

veriqster fftopic:



Or on top of those balls

Being on top always gives you a different perspective!