U-853: took the plunge !

[trappist]

So we did it :) My buddy and I joined Fran last Friday in RI to dive the U-853, laying down at 130ft :) This was a magic moment ! We did plan way ahead our deco, knowing we wanted to do 2 dives. First dive was 20'BT for ~37min deco on our way up... Second dive ~1h30 later was 15' BT for a reduced ~20min deco. Temperature at the bottom was a refreshing 63F :D I did regret to use my drysuit !!
The descent was done on the Tower, then we progressed on the left side to the bow, went around it and came back on the mooring. We saw the nice torpedo tubes, quite some life on and around the sub. For the second dive we went on the right side but came back on the "deck" and came across all the open doors. It was, as always, too short but we had a great time !
I did take my camera but wrongly positioned the shutter lever on camera insertion, so I carried it for nothing :( I'm left with memories pictures in my head, that I can not share and will probably forget over time, but this gives me an excuse to try and go another time !

Oh yes... almost forgot... got sea sick at the end of the second dive :( This is part of the fun.. sometimes ;)

Fran definitely runs a great charter :D We definitely will dive with him again in its normal or more regular destinations :)

[RIOceanographer]

Glad you made it out there!

I feel like any time Fran's name is mentioned I have to take the chance to recommend him. He runs the best charter operation I have ever been on. Reasonable prices, always friendly, always helpful and very skilled at what he does.

How was the visibility?

[walke121]

Sounds awesome. I am going to try to do that dive soon.

[tgsmith]

So we did it :) My buddy and I joined Fran last Friday in RI to dive the U-853, laying down at 130ft :) This was a magic moment ! We did plan way ahead our deco, knowing we wanted to do 2 dives. First dive was 20'BT for ~37min deco on our way up... Second dive ~1h30 later was 15' BT for a reduced ~20min deco. Temperature at the bottom was a refreshing 63F :D I did regret to use my drysuit !!
The descent was done on the Tower, then we progressed on the left side to the bow, went around it and came back on the mooring. We saw the nice torpedo tubes, quite some life on and around the sub. For the second dive we went on the right side but came back on the "deck" and came across all the open doors. It was, as always, too short but we had a great time !
I did take my camera but wrongly positioned the shutter lever on camera insertion, so I carried it for nothing :( I'm left with memories pictures in my head, that I can not share and will probably forget over time, but this gives me an excuse to try and go another time !

Oh yes... almost forgot... got sea sick at the end of the second dive :( This is part of the fun.. sometimes ;)

Fran definitely runs a great charter :D We definitely will dive with him again in its normal or more regular destinations :)

Wait until you dive the Bass. That's an awesome sub, definitely the coolest I've dove yet. Starts at 110-120 and goes to the sand at 155-160. Huge.

[RIOceanographer]

Wait until you dive the Bass. That's an awesome sub, definitely the coolest I've dove yet. Starts at 110-120 and goes to the sand at 155-160. Huge.

Agreed, it is a spectacular dive. It is gigantic compared to the U-853. I just wish it wasn't so far out there or I'd dive it more often!

[trappist]

Can't believe I did not even talk about the vizzzz !!!
Given the weather conditions in the previous days before our dive, I think I'm very happy with the 10-15ft we had :) There was no current at all either except slightly on the second dive (I had the impression to be a flag during my deco ;))
I did not know that the Bass was better, otherwise we would have looked for this one !

One note though, Fran is definitely a great charter, and if its prices on its regular/common sites are fair, the dives in RI are too expensive... but we have to remember... he has to bring his boat down and arrange for marina's access and everything so that all adds up. It's just a pitty as I would have easily done a second day (and include the Bass !)... Well, can't have it all, right ?

[RIOceanographer]

One note though, Fran is definitely a great charter, and if its prices on its regular/common sites are fair, the dives in RI are too expensive...

Believe it or not, Fran's RI prices are competitive with the local RI boats even given his added expense for traveling all the way to RI.

[charlesg3]

Thanks for the report... some buddies and i were trying to go out the monday before last but got blown out with bad weather. We're now planning on next monday and I'm hoping that the water temps and vis are as good as you guys had (if not better). :)

[Sean222]

Believe it or not, Fran's RI prices are competitive with the local RI boats even given his added expense for traveling all the way to RI.

Cheaper than mine? LOL

[RIOceanographer]

Cheaper than mine? LOL

Well no but you aren't exactly open to the general public :D

[trappist]

Well no but you aren't exactly open to the general public :D

Who is the open public ? How can we get out of that open public and become "private" ;)

[RIOceanographer]

Who is the open public ? How can we get out of that open public and become "private" ;)

I meant that he is a friend of mine who is nice enough to take me out on his boat not a charter op so its sort of comparing apples and oranges. :D

[all4scuba05]

Ah yes. Did the Bass with Fran the first week he was down here.. A hell of a wreck.

Trappist, that much deco on a 20 minute BT? Am curious, was it on air? Were you using a computer? V-planner?

[trappist]

We did use air to get down, i'm not (yet) having Nitrox certification that would help for deco time... This is next on my list ;o)
In terms of planning, I would have planned it with my computer (with a backup on my dive tables) but we finally did check a few other items including V-planner, VR3 deco and iDeco on Ipod Touch :D
At the end, we selected the VR3 that was fair enough and it only added 3min intermediate stops (deep deco) versus what my Uwatec Smart Tec would have recommended (set on level 2 micro bubbles).

This is where I wish I would have a tek certification ;o) But at least it still shows me there is more I can learn !

[Mr.X]

We did use air to get down, i'm not (yet) having Nitrox certification that would help for deco time... This is next on my list ;o)
In terms of planning, I would have planned it with my computer (with a backup on my dive tables) but we finally did check a few other items including V-planner, VR3 deco and iDeco on Ipod Touch :D
At the end, we selected the VR3 that was fair enough and it only added 3min intermediate stops (deep deco) versus what my Uwatec Smart Tec would have recommended (set on level 2 micro bubbles).

This is where I wish I would have a tek certification ;o) But at least it still shows me there is more I can learn !

The nitrox certification these days consists mostly of simple academics which assesses learner understandings about diving PPO2 etc. There are even online courses now. I'll use the Brit term - easy squeezy.

What the basic course does is start the gateway towards making those super long, oft-cold Northeast deco hangs a near thing of the past. What's really worth it is getting technical nitrox under your belt to start using oxygen deco. This is why I love the RB - I can mix my own PO2 at any depth and get out of the water so much faster than using standard air. That being said, standard air and OC is the way to go when you don't have the time to fuss around with all the gizmos/protocols that a RB diver needs.

Someday, if I ever get the chance to get away from my chains of work / travel - i'd love to meet some Cape Ann divers on local deeper dive trips.

Cheers,


X

[SadiesMom]

Pffft. I've been blown out on the U-853 THREE times this year!!! Now I'm dealing with shoulder issues and my dive season's done until that's cleared up. But then again, it's not going anywhere, so there's always next season! ;) Glad you had a good time - but I'll second everyone on getting that Nitrox cert - definitely would make the difference on those bottom times and deco obligations. I'm hoping to take Advanced Nitrox and Decompression maybe next year....