It's been a while since I've been to the Oriskany, but last Saturday I got the chance to take a couple of Advanced students to the Mighty O for their "deep" and "boat" dives onboard Captain Douglas Hammock's 36' Newton -- the H2O Below. Seas were running about 3 to 4 but not real close. Fortunately, the big Newton loaded with divers takes the waves very well. We had a couple of chummers, but most everyone made the trip just fine.
There's still a green layer on the surface from all the midwestern rain that's come down the Mississippi and Mobile Bay. This made sighting the sub-surface bouy difficult, but Captain Douglas pulled the boat right over the numbers and the dive master rolled and tied us in with no problem. The current was ripping on the surface, but completely dissipated about 20 feet down as did the green layer. Under the surface layer, the water became crystal clear with nearly no current, but sunlight was reduced giving the Orkisany an errie feeling. The H2O Below crew placed a memorial wreath on the Oriskany and filmed the ceremony for the Oriskany veterans. The veterans had a reunion in Pensacola a couple weeks ago and were going to take the wreath out and drop it in the water, but seas were too rough to get them out. Captain Douglas and the crew of the H2O Below told them they would take it out and place it on the ship which they did on this trip. It gave a special significance to the dive.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the dive and my advanced students did a great job. It was good to back on the Big O.
There's still a green layer on the surface from all the midwestern rain that's come down the Mississippi and Mobile Bay. This made sighting the sub-surface bouy difficult, but Captain Douglas pulled the boat right over the numbers and the dive master rolled and tied us in with no problem. The current was ripping on the surface, but completely dissipated about 20 feet down as did the green layer. Under the surface layer, the water became crystal clear with nearly no current, but sunlight was reduced giving the Orkisany an errie feeling. The H2O Below crew placed a memorial wreath on the Oriskany and filmed the ceremony for the Oriskany veterans. The veterans had a reunion in Pensacola a couple weeks ago and were going to take the wreath out and drop it in the water, but seas were too rough to get them out. Captain Douglas and the crew of the H2O Below told them they would take it out and place it on the ship which they did on this trip. It gave a special significance to the dive.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the dive and my advanced students did a great job. It was good to back on the Big O.
