I have just gotten back from Newfoundland diving in Conception Bay. I had contacted Ocean Quest Adventure about diving on any of the four wrecks located just off of Bell Island. These are ships that were sunk by a German U-boat during WW-II. There depth ranges from about 65 ft to 130 ft, if my memory serves me correctly. We set up what I would like to do in conjunction with what was required for my advanced open water dives. Everyone at Ocean Quest was very helpful. The rentals prices seemed very reasonable and boat dives were also a great value. There is also a lodge next to the dive shop if you need a place to stay.
I wanted to try the first dive wet to see what the water would be like for my first cold water dive. At first having on all the extra pieces for the exposure suit was a bit uncomfortable, this included a full 7mm suit and a second 7mm shorty suit, hood, gloves and boots then the extra 20 lbs of weights. My first dive was a deep dive to the ship PLM-27, as we descended I couldnt tell what the visibility was, as there was nothing to focus on, around the 30 ft level I could see the ship. Descending further I noticed what seemed like a faint glimmering layer below me, passing through it I realized it was a thermocline that I was told about. I wasnt expecting the water temperature change to be that noticeable through a thick wet suit though. The temperature was 45 degrees. I didnt know where to look first there was so much that was new to me. My instructor pointed out a number of things to me, I was amazed at how well preserved the ship was after being sunk so long ago. After swimming around the stern deck we entered a cargo hold and descend to 85 ft to do the required exercise for the deep dive. I still felt quite normal and was able to complete it taking twenty seconds longer than on the surface. The total dive time I was down was 25 minutes, my guess is because of the cold water and the excitement I really went through the air.
I also got to try out using enriched for my navigation portion of the AOW. After the test portion we swam around and I got to catch a few lobsters, the largest we got would have been about 5 lb. To bad I couldn't keep them. There were also lots of crabs in the area because of the fish plants scrapes that are dumped in the water.
For my second day of diving I couldn't seem to get myself comfortable, still not sure what it might have been. But I called the dive off an sat on the boat, it was still a good day talking to the other divers who have dove the wrecks many times.
The second wreck dive was on another cargo ship, we swam over about a quarter of the ship looking into doorways and holes in the ship. There were pieces plates, portholes, and spare parts that were on the ship when it sunk. I was also shown what looked like short pieces of one inch brass pipe, when I turned it over to look at the one end I realized it had a primer cap, these were case of machine gun shells.
On the shallow dives that I did there was also a lot to see. I wish now I would have looked up what the names of the fish and animals were before diving. All in all I thought it was an incredible dive and will definitely do it a few more times when I go back to St. Johns, Newfoundland. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone.
I wanted to try the first dive wet to see what the water would be like for my first cold water dive. At first having on all the extra pieces for the exposure suit was a bit uncomfortable, this included a full 7mm suit and a second 7mm shorty suit, hood, gloves and boots then the extra 20 lbs of weights. My first dive was a deep dive to the ship PLM-27, as we descended I couldnt tell what the visibility was, as there was nothing to focus on, around the 30 ft level I could see the ship. Descending further I noticed what seemed like a faint glimmering layer below me, passing through it I realized it was a thermocline that I was told about. I wasnt expecting the water temperature change to be that noticeable through a thick wet suit though. The temperature was 45 degrees. I didnt know where to look first there was so much that was new to me. My instructor pointed out a number of things to me, I was amazed at how well preserved the ship was after being sunk so long ago. After swimming around the stern deck we entered a cargo hold and descend to 85 ft to do the required exercise for the deep dive. I still felt quite normal and was able to complete it taking twenty seconds longer than on the surface. The total dive time I was down was 25 minutes, my guess is because of the cold water and the excitement I really went through the air.
I also got to try out using enriched for my navigation portion of the AOW. After the test portion we swam around and I got to catch a few lobsters, the largest we got would have been about 5 lb. To bad I couldn't keep them. There were also lots of crabs in the area because of the fish plants scrapes that are dumped in the water.
For my second day of diving I couldn't seem to get myself comfortable, still not sure what it might have been. But I called the dive off an sat on the boat, it was still a good day talking to the other divers who have dove the wrecks many times.
The second wreck dive was on another cargo ship, we swam over about a quarter of the ship looking into doorways and holes in the ship. There were pieces plates, portholes, and spare parts that were on the ship when it sunk. I was also shown what looked like short pieces of one inch brass pipe, when I turned it over to look at the one end I realized it had a primer cap, these were case of machine gun shells.
On the shallow dives that I did there was also a lot to see. I wish now I would have looked up what the names of the fish and animals were before diving. All in all I thought it was an incredible dive and will definitely do it a few more times when I go back to St. Johns, Newfoundland. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone.