Trip Report: 3-Wreck Dive on the Scutty/Tracy/Mercy Jesus on May 05/11/2008

[SFLDiver3445]

Yesterday, a group of active rebreather divers that regularly coordinate our dives through Rebreather World, went out in Pompano Beach, Florida aboard Scubatyme for some beautiful diving on the Wreck(s) of the Scutty/Tracy/Mercy Jesus.

There were ten of us on rebreathers and a couple of friends and acquaintences that were diving open circuit that joined us as well. Most of the rebreather divers did one long dive - I personally did a 3 hour and 7 minute dive which spanned all three wrecks. It's a great dive to do on rebreathers, because at that depth, approximately 70', it can be accomplished with minimum decompression, if any.

Much of the same group did the exact same dive last Sunday, also aboard Scubatyme, but opted to dive it again, because we all had such a great time!

The three wrecks sit in an almost straight toe-to-toe line from each other and are approximately 100 yards away from each other in around 70 feet of water. We started on the stern of the Scutty, then proceded on to the Tracey, and finally on to the Mercy Jesus. Assuming there is a mild to no current, even on open circuit, if you do not waste too much time, all three wrecks are within reach on the same dive. These particular wrecks have a very respectable amount of growth on them, and as a result of that, are covered with plenty of marine life and an assortment of little critters to spot.

I'm including a few pictures I took during both last week and yesterday's dive so you can get an idea of some of the things we saw:


Here's a picture of Tony and Don hovering over the stern of the Mercy Jesus:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Tony_-_Don_-_Wreck_of_the_Tracey_05-04-2008_-resized.jpg

Here's a picture of a Sprawled Filefish on the Tracey:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Sprawled_Filefish_-_Wreck_of_the_Tracy_05-04-2008_-resized.jpg

These next two pictures will give you an idea of the abundance of life around and in the wheelhouse of the Tracey:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Wreck_of_the_Tracey_05-04-2008_-resized.jpg
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_104.jpg

I also saw lot's of Blennies in the sand surrounding all three wrecks - Here's a few:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Salfin_Blenny_on_Wreck_of_the_Scutti_05-04-2008_-resized.jpg
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_117.jpg
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_046.jpg

Here's a couple of pictures of the main deck of the Tracy - The diver in the picture is Howard Packer (ScubaDadMiami) and he also happens to be an Optima Instructor, if you're thinking of switching to the Dark Side:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_085.jpg
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_068.jpg

Here's a big Porcupinefish that was hanging out on the Mercy Jesus last weekend:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Porcupinefish_-_Wreck_of_the_Mercy_Jesus_05-04-2008_272aa-resized.jpg

Here's a couple of pictures of a French Angelfish on the Scutty, that seemed to enjoy having his picture taken:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_020.jpg
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_038.jpg

I also found lot's of little shrimp hiding out inside tube sponges on the Mercy Jesus:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_155.jpg
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_144.jpg

Here's a picture of videographer extrordinaire, Lisa Edwards, on the Scutty. If you haven't checked out any of her great video's, you can see them at Lisa Edwards Dive Video - Home (http://www.ledivevideo.com). BTW, she also dives a Dive Rite Optima Rebreather.
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Lisa_Edwards_On_the_Wreck_of_the_Scutty_05-11-2008_.jpg

Finally, here's a picture of the eight Dive Rite Optima Rebreather divers at the dock after the dive:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Scubatyme_3-Wreck_dive_05-11-2008_206a.jpg

Definitely put any or all of these wrecks on your list of dives to dive, because their definitely worth visiting!

BTW, if I've never had the pleasure of meeting you, I'm the one wearing the Speedo shirt in the group picture - Hope to see you underwater sometime!

Enjoy!

Adrian

[Dsix36]

Thanks for posting the awesome pics. You did an outstanding job, again!

[Scubastud16]

Awesome pictures! The Optima looks like a great unit, maybe one of these days! Oh, and did I mention the Tracy is one of my favorite wrecks?

Danny

[deepstops]

Adrian,

You're giving fisheyeview a run for the money in the picture department :D
Outstanding work, it looks like you had a fun day.

[SFLDiver3445]

Thanks for posting the awesome pics. You did an outstanding job, again!

Don, as you know, because you were there for both Sunday dives, these really are amazing wrecks, and with the added ability provided by the Optima to stay down longer and be bubbless, it's on only that much better!

[SFLDiver3445]

Awesome pictures! The Optima looks like a great unit, maybe one of these days! Oh, and did I mention the Tracy is one of my favorite wrecks?

Danny

Danny, I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. The Optima really is a great rebreather, and even though it was expensive, I would do it all over again in a heart beat, especially if I can do dives like this one!

Adrian

[SFLDiver3445]

Adrian,

You're giving fisheyeview a run for the money in the picture department :D
Outstanding work, it looks like you had a fun day.

Hi Brian,

I've seen some of fisheyeview's pics - They're truly awesome! I regularly write up trip reports like this one with lots of pictures, but I post them on on Rebreather World. However, I'm going to try to do them more regularly on this site, as I know the Rebreather World audience is limited.

And yes, it was a really great day of diving!

Thanks,

Adrian

[diver918]

Awesome pictures....3 hours seems like a LOOONG time...thanks for sharing.

[SFLDiver3445]

Awesome pictures....3 hours seems like a LOOONG time...thanks for sharing.

When your shooting digital photography with a point and shoot system, which for me generally gives me the ability to take several hundred shots before I drain the camera's battery, three hours actually goes by pretty quickly. However, with the 78 degree water temperature we had that day, I did start to get chilly following the 2+ hour mark!

Glad you enjoyed the pictures.

If all goes well, I'll post some pictures after this weekend's dive on the Hydro Atlantic, so keep an eye out for those pictures, because the Hydro Atlantic is an awesome wreck with lots and lots of growth!

[SFLDiver3445]

If all goes well, I'll post some pictures after this weekend's dive on the Hydro Atlantic, so keep an eye out for those pictures, because the Hydro Atlantic is an awesome wreck with lots and lots of growth!

Here's a picture I took of my dive buddy Don (Dsix36) back in February while diving on the Wreck of the Hydro Atlantic. This picture, which was taken on the deck of the wreck at about 155 feet of depth, should give you just a small taste of the kind of growth that wreck has developed over the years!

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Don_on_Hydro-1_02-02-2008_-1d.jpg