East Coast U-boats

[CajunKelpi]

Just wondering if anyone has dove some of the U-boats up on the East coast (U-85, U-352, U-701, U-853 & U-1105). I'd like to try and dive some of these next year. How was it, and what dive operator did you use?

Safe diving y'all,
Steve

[TexasMike]

I'll be diving with NC Wreck Diving (http://www.ncwreckdiving.com) the first weekend of October. They dive on several war casualty wrecks including U-352. I know several divers who have been with this operator and have spoken highly of them.

One of the neet things is that they have several instructors on staff who can get you certified in wreck diving and other disciplines that apply to the dive profiles.

I will be posting a trip report on my return. For more information, click the link provided above.

[Ontario Diver]

Let us know TM. Diving on the NC U-Boats is one of those Life Dives

[NetDoc]

Any room on this trip??? Need a Dive Master? I am ready to go check out a U-Boat. History like that just fascinates me to no end!

:tease:

[TexasMike]

Pete...actually, yes...there is still room for the October trip.....

If you dig a bit on the website I provided, you will find a phone number for Kamala, the Wreck Wench, who is the charter owner....she is a real neat lady and will be glad to answer your questions. Call her and see what you can book.

Be really nifty if you can come along. Think of all the song parodies we can invent!

[Scubaroo]

If anyone ever heads down that way, there's 4 or so First World War submarines (yes, they had them back then) scuttled in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Australia. All are 40m or less, 3 less than 30m. One is broken in two and you can do a swim-thru from one end to the other. Haven't dived them yet but will the next time I'm back home.

[NetDoc]

I will see if I can finagle that...

[herman]

Hi Steve,

Just a bit of information for you, don't know what your cert level or experience level is but be aware that many of the dive operators here in NC (at least the ones you want to dive with) require as a minimum an AOW with some experience, in addition some require a deep or wreck cert as well on some of the more demanding dives. Our diving is not for the beginner. A typical dive is a 2 to 3 hr boat ride, each way, with dives in the 90 to 120 ft range, 15 minutes of bottom time, a 2 hr surface interval before another 15 min dive. All of which can be in seas that range from flat to 6 ft. If you have not gotten aboard a boat in 5 ft seas, it's an experience you will not soon forget. On the good side, the wrecks are great and the fish life includes tropicals as well as sharks. Large tiger sharks are common and will get close to divers, some times too close for comfort. Before planning a trip, make sure you know what certification level the dive operator requires.

[NetDoc]

I'm a PADI divemaster, so that shouldn't be a problem. I have NOT been certified in deep or wrecks, although I have done lots of the former and only played around the latter. I would love to learn wreck penetraion, but would want a GOOD class on that first. Call me chicken, but I just enjoy the outside of wrecks for now!

As for Yak attacks... I am and will always be, the OFFICIAL SCUBABOARD CHUMMER!!! I say that without shame or hesitation... although it does leave a bad taste in my mouth :tease: I have dove in 8 ft seas, and would not want to repeat that if possible. I think I still have that knot on my head from the ladder! Uh, maybe its just that I act that way...

:tease:

[NetDoc]

Your post was to "Steve", and not "Pete"... My bad!

:tease:

[herman]

No Problem Pete, it's for all to learn from. We get a lot of press on how great our wreck diving is but I almost never see a mention of the level this diving actually is. I don't mean to turn anyone off to our diving, just want them to have a realistic idea of what it's like. For the most part, it's long range(20 to 40 miles off shore), deep, possibly rough seas and wrecks are in and of themselves hazardous if not respected. You know what a surging dive ladder looks like, it is intimidating and can be down right dangerous, not the thing a new diver needs to have to deal with. We do have some good 50 ft dives and the seas are glass smooth on some days but these are the exception. As for the yack club, I too am a member, luckly a part time member and getting better. This is also another reality that needs to be understood...saw 2 people turn a lovely shade of green and lay on the deck for about 7 hrs the other week, not exactly the dive trip they had planned. I have seen more than one diver miss one or both dives due to seasickness. When you comming up to dive with us?

[TexasMike]

Herman....am I inferring that you are one of the folks going on Kamala's trip?

[herman]

No Mike, I have no plans to be on the trip. Since I live in Raleigh and spend a lot of time on the ocean, I am just familiar with the diving and sea conditions around here and thought the info might be useful to Steve. Which weekend is it, I may be down at the coast fishing, if you get blown out, give me a call, maybe we can do some fishing or at least got together and tell lies....I mean dive stories, face to face. I will buy the first round.

[TexasMike]

It's the weekend of October 5-9. And there is some sort of Sea Food festival going on too for the town we are based out of, so I expect some good food.

Check the website for more details of where we are going to be.

btw, My dad's a tarheel. Born in Broadway, NC (his dad used to own the flour mill) and schooled at East Carolina St.

[large_diver]

The U-853 off of Rhode Island is on my "list" but I have not been diving on it yet. It is a very advanced dive. Surface sea conditions are often rough, since you are in the open ocean. Depth to the conning tower is typically about 90 feet, 110' to the deck and 130' to the bottom. Visibility is notoriously poor on this wreck, often only about 10 feet. Currents are variable and often strong. A friend of mine who has been diving for 20 years and who has been on this wreck about 20 times has said that it is a dive for which your skills need to be "finely tuned".

All that being said, it is a historic wreck, especially being the last U-boot sunk during WWII.

Here are a few informative web sites:
http://www.wahoo2001.com/wrecks/u853page.htm
http://www.nedive.com/thedives.htm
http://www.uboat.net/boats/u853.htm

[CajunKelpi]

Hey Herman,

Thanks for the info. I've been trying to do my homework on the diving off N.C. before making any solid plans to go up there (hence my original question). I'm an experienced AOW diver with wreck penetration cert. I love to poke around the innards of dead ships! I'll admit tho that most of my diving has been in the Gulf rather than the Atlantic. I'm a WWII buff and find war wrecks especially facinating. Y'all have some great wrecks up your way and diving on the U-boats has been a long time dream of mine.
The long boat trips don't bother me, tho I agree that the ladder rides can sometimes give you more excitement than anything at Disney World. More bruises too :-)

Safe diving y'all,
Steve

[CajunKelpi]

Originally posted by Ontario Diver
Let us know TM. Diving on the NC U-Boats is one of those Life Dives



I second OD on that!

Definately let us know how it was TM.
Safe diving y'all,
Steve

[carlislere]

Wow, guys, talk about a coincidence. I was looking at one of the websites from large_divers post regarding the U853. It states that the sub was repeatedly strafed by planes from the USS Croatan. My Dad was a radarman on the USS Croatan from the time it was built till Sept of 1945!

RonC.

[large_diver]

That's cool Ron -- thanks for passing on your personal "connection".

[CGoheen]

26 August U352 with Olympus Dive Charters. $100 a day, 2 dives (second dive that day was on "Schurze"). Be sure and reserve your tanks ahead of time, some of our tour waited until the night before, and there weren't enough tanks -- yes they have nitrox. The Charter does not provide food or snacks. They do have water on board.

Cloudy, 78 degrees, 3-5ft swells. Olympus uses "flippers on" ladders and they instruct you to leave your mask on, regulator in, and flippers on as you board the boat. My first time in the deep blue, and their instructions got me on the ladder and on the boat the first time.

The U352 is at 110+ feet, the temperature was 62 degrees with the thermal cline at 70 feet (5MM was fine for my cold blood), visibility only 20 feet, minor current.

For a relatively novice diver this was a great dive even with only 20 feet max visibility (The quarry usually only has 15 feet). My air let me stay down almost 15 min, what a hog. I need more bottom time, means more practice.

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by CGoheen
26 August U352 with Olympus Dive Charters. $100 a day, 2 dives (second dive that day was on "Schurze"). Be sure and reserve your tanks ahead of time, some of our tour waited until the night before, and there weren't enough tanks -- yes they have nitrox. The Charter does not provide food or snacks. They do have water on board.

Cloudy, 78 degrees, 3-5ft swells. Olympus uses "flippers on" ladders and they instruct you to leave your mask on, regulator in, and flippers on as you board the boat. My first time in the deep blue, and their instructions got me on the ladder and on the boat the first time.

The U352 is at 110+ feet, the temperature was 62 degrees with the thermal cline at 70 feet (5MM was fine for my cold blood), visibility only 20 feet, minor current.

For a relatively novice diver this was a great dive even with only 20 feet max visibility (The quarry usually only has 15 feet). My air let me stay down almost 15 min, what a hog. I need more bottom time, means more practice.

wow thanks for the great info -- am trying to plan a not-so-surprise b'day present (how do you wrap up a charter to a sub?) for someone, this is just the kind of info I need to help decide on the when...

[joewr]

Barbara and I are notorious Candy A_s Divers, but I think we might be able to handle this with 5mm suits and 3mm vests--really! There is nothing like an historic wreck dive or the chance to see sharks to get us ready to go!

CGoheen, could you tell us a little more about the condition of the U-Boat and a little more about what you saw?

Thanks again!

Joewr

[socaldiver]

but #1 Candy**s Joewr going in water 20 degrees colder than norm? You OK pal? What have you been drinking, surely not your hot tea?


I would also like more info on this dive. It sounds like a must do. Maybe we can arrange a group dive there JOewr.

[large_diver]

Try this link -- there are a few pics of the U-352:

http://www.olympusdiving.com/wreckfrm.htm

From what I've heard -- Olympus has a good reputation among Morehead-area charter ops.

[joewr]

My face may turn this blue, Socaldiver, but since we will probably not meet at Catalina next summer, we may have to shoot for North Carolina!

Let's work on it! But we need to keep it a secret or I might get drummed out of the CAD...even though I am one of the founders, the rules are fairly strict! So, mums the word...

Joewr...quoting Winston Churchill: "... the truth is so precious that she should be attended by a bodyguard of lies."

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by joewr
My face may turn this blue, Socaldiver, but since we will probably not meet at Catalina next summer, we may have to shoot for North Carolina!

Let's work on it! But we need to keep it a secret or I might get drummed out of the CAD...even though I am one of the founders, the rules are fairly strict! So, mums the word...

If I get the details together, and really work on the charter - I'm looking at the April/May time frame... want to come along?

PS the surprise is for OD -- so you may not want to come..... but for the offer of beer, he'll behave (for awhile)..

[socaldiver]

DG,

I am still stuck here on the "left coast" but if all goes well I should be back on the "easy coast" by then and would love to tag along. Especially if my "bud" to the north can take the giant stride.

I was looking at several websites last night and NC seems to be a "hotspot" for wrecks. I came across one that brought back memories. There is a Navy ship that was sunk as part of an artifical reef, USS Yancey. That ship was in our squadron way back in the 60s. Made a couple of "Med Cruises" looking out over the mighty blue at that ship. Would love to descend down to visit that as well.

Another soon to be artifical reef in Fl was among our squadron also, USS San Marcos. That will be cool to see as well.

[joewr]

DG and SCD,

Could be a possiblity...Barbara and I will be in Micronesia in March and in the Caribbean in early July. So, a week in May might work for us. We will be looking at 5mm wet suits in the next few weeks--do you know what the water temp would be in May? I am being dead serious here! If I am a Candy A__ Diver, Barbara is a Super Candy A__ Diver!

Beer is not a problem! I'll bring along some...you just make sure his choke chain is in good shape!

Joewr

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by joewr
DG and SCD,
... So, a week in May might work for us. We will be looking at 5mm wet suits in the next few weeks--do you know what the water temp would be in May? I am being dead serious here! ...
Beer is not a problem! I'll bring along some...you just make sure his choke chain is in good shape! Joewr

I'll check into details, and will keep you informed. The choke chain -- that's your problem

[herman]

Joe,
If you decide to come and dive in my backyard, let me know. I would enjoy the opportunity to meet you and maybe do some diving together.

[joewr]

Herman!

How are you! You know, you are mighty important fellow--I do not know if folks realize that, with the exception of KN and LD, you have the longest history as a resident of this Board! There ought to be some sort of "smile" down by your "signature" to indicate that...just "herman" does not do you justice!

And we will keep you aware of our NC plans, indeed. Further, Barbara and I would be more than delighted to meet you and do something fun!

Joewr...

[herman]

Thanks Joe,

Think I was #16 or so. I don't comment quite as much as I use to, in the beginning there were only a few of us so we all had to comment just to keep things lively but now there are enough to keep things going. I still try to read all the post but it's getting hard to do and there is no way I can comment on all of them so I try to limit it to ones I can be of help on. Do let me know if you get in the area. Maybe I can take some time and show you around.

[ElectricZombie]

I live in Greenville, NC and am familiar with many of the wrecks mentioned. The U352 is a good dive, about 125' to the sand. I think everyone should do that dive at least once. If you ever decided to dive out of Morehead/Beaufort, NC, Sea Tales and The Pelican are the best charters in my opinion.

[carlislere]

I would also be interested in reading your trip report, TM. In reading the uboat.net accounts it mentioned the U853 was straffed by planes from the USS Croatan in June, 1944. My Dad was a Radarman on the Croatan till September, 1945. I might have to look into this as a future dive trip in a year or two.

[CincyBengalsFan]

2 of my dive buddies dove one of the U-boats down in N.C. The dive company advertised the wreck like it was the best thing since sliced pineapples. Once they got down there, they couldn't make anything out. All the really saw was a hatch on the sub. They were VERY disappointed.

[Diversauras]

If diving the U-352 you should try to do it from Olympus of Olympus Diving. The capt is George Purifoy and he was one of the three that discovered it back in '73. The dive shio is a mini museum to the sub and the German survivors are personal friends of George's. His Son Bob runs the Midnight Express out of Olympus and he too has some insight that makes the sub really special.

[wateronbrain]

Hi all,

For those who do not wish to wait for the experience of a liftime, There are several trips to Morehead City with the same charter group that Texasmike mentioned. They are : memorial day weekend, July 4-8 , July 27-30, august 10-12 and the NC Seafood Festival trip that TM is on. I will be on all of these trips. I have logged over 50+ dives with this operator and it remain my favorite diving experience. Not only is there the U-352, but many casualties of the many U-boat that visited our coast. The famous Paposse (I've seen over 60 Sandtiger Sharks at one time on this wreck), The Schutz (WWI Gunboat Rammmed by SS Florida), Caribsea, The Atlas Tanker, The Aeolus ( cool Artificial), the Hutton, Neoco (A Rare Treat).

Please Visit www.ncwreckdiving.com and check all the services this charter provides. Her prices are better than all the other, b/c she books the boat and the hotel years in advance. The charter company totes all the tanks for you ( That my job btw) They can arrange largeer cylinders and special mix gases for those of us that are into that kinda stuff.


If you have any further questions give me a yell : divingsolo@yahoo.com


RC

[Paul168341]

Hello all.
I usually do the 853 with a friend of mine who runs a small charterboat out of Charlestown, RI. It would be tough to set up a trip that way, though. Give me some time and I'll try to post some locals who'll take you there. What's been said so far is partly true. The U-853 is at 130' the deck is around 110' the conning tower at 90'. The whole wreck lists about 30 degrees. There are some very large holes in the hull from the DCs and hedgehogs dropped on her. The remains of her 43 man crew can still be found. Visibility on the wreck is 10 on a GOOD day. Usually one must use the "pull n' glide." Virtually all of the wreck is penetrable if you know what you're doing. The biggest problem is that there can be 3-4 boats tied-up at a time with some obnoxious salvagers crawling all over it. Obviously this is bad for vis. The only good thing is that it can be reached within an hour depending on your point of departure. It is 7 mi. off the NE shore of Block Island, RI.

[Spectre]

Originally posted by CajunKelpi
Just wondering if anyone has dove some of the U-boats up on the East coast (U-85, U-352, U-701, U-853 & U-1105). I'd like to try and dive some of these next year.

I know of U-352 and U-853. But what about the other 3, I've
not heard of them. Does anyone know where they are and
what their divesite conditions are?

-Jeff

[Waterlover]

I haven't dove any of these . The U85 and U701 are off of Hatteras NC in the 100 ft range. The U1105 is in the Chesapeake Bay in about 100 ft of dark cold Bay water. They also for got the
U869 of "The Last Dive" Fame in 240 ft of cold NJ water. Hope this helps.:jester:

[DivingGal]

What can I say? Plans and schedules change. I'm still planning to dive the sub(s) off NC, but now the timing is for right after Wreckmania. Lucky for me, a couple of buds are also interested, so I may get there yet. :D

I've been reading this thread with great interest. I didn't know of the other subs other than the U-352 in the NC area with in rec limits - I gues I just haven't been reading enough.