Here she comes....Vandenberg!!!

[fisheyeview]

April 17, 2009
Position Report 0600 EDT - LAT: 30 º26” 3 N - LONG: 080º01”85 W
COURSE: 200 T off Fernandina Bedach FL - SPEED: 3.3 kts- SEAS: 6-8 ft - WINDS: NE 15kts- MTG 430nm
Capt Billy Notes: Slow going, change course slightly to offshore, looking for sweet spot to keep ship from yawing and stay out of Gulf Stream. Currently,in 800 ft of water, seas and winds diminishing. I hope to pick up more speed when we get in closer. All Ok aboard tug and ship.
Vandenberg will not arrive in Key West on Monday. Keep watching for updates as weather conditions change.

 

[Tug]

Dont see it on the Marine traffic link. Ill have to find it on another one.

Marine Traffic is only good where there are private AIS receivers connected to the site, they might pop up on the site as they pass port canaveral and then the port everglades/miami area

FWIW, I also checked ELSBETH III tracking map on Sailwx.info: Weather for Mariners but they rely on the vessels submiting their positions along with the weather to the VOS(voluntary observing ship system), something that tugs rarely if at all take part in. The best bet for the position/updates is looking like Sink the Vandenberg

 

[truck1]

Thans Lewis. I had noticed that Marine Traffic does not get all of the ships. I was playing with that site a while ago, and noticed that even when the Disney ships or anything else out of Port Canaveral, is near it, they dont always show. The Disney Magic should show an a saturday night after 5 as she leaves on sat for her trips and I have rarely seen he on the site. Even the Disney Wonder doesnt always show on her trips.

I think I tried sailwx last night and didnt see it, though may have missed it(did a search in her name).
I did put the curson on her last reported position ans saw she was really far off shore at the time.I just thought it was cool if she would have shown up on the page(s).

 

[Mayor]

Does anybody know of a good operator in Key West to book through?

In 2008 I used Subtropic Dive Center right in Key West. Nice dive op with a very nice boat. I would use them again.

 

[mike_s]

One of the bad/stupid things about this is that some dive shops are going to charge $100 or more to dive the Vandenberg. (taking cue from the monolopy the shops in P'cola formed on the Oriskany costs).

However, the Vandenberg isn't sunk far offshore. only 6 miles, which is about the distance of a lot of their other sites.

Here is one exampe.

Dive Key West charges $69 for a normal site, yet they are charging $99 for the Vandenberg even before it's sunk...

reference Dive Key West; Key West Scuba Diving Charters, Scuba Dive, Diving, Dive Charters in Key West Florida

 

[trtldvr]

First let me say that I do not work for any of the shops, I teach diving at the college and I am a diver for the Sheriff's Dept, so I have no gain by the shops charging more.

There is reason to do this. The shops must change how they run a dive. The way most opporators run a dive in the lower Keys is with a captain and a divemaster/mate. The divers are given a max time, put in the water on their own and the DM stays on deck watching bubbles. The majority of the reefs are 30' max and only a couple of the wrecks are deeper than 100'.

Now bring on the Vandy, they are now faced with a large penatrable wreck with a max depth of 140' with decks at many different levels. The opporators are prudent by adding staff to put in the water to supervise (I know for a fact that Dive KW is planning on this). They are hopfully increasing the safety of the dive and making my job easier.

I am very excited about the Vandy It is a great thing for KW and I can't wait to dive her, but as a public safey diver she scares the *&#! out of me.

Please safe dives
trtldvr
Florida Keys Safe Diving Initiative

 

[mike_s]

well none of the dive shops in Key Largo jacked up their prices for the Spiegal Grove....

why should the operators in Key West?



EDIT: but I understand your concerns as a public safety diver....

 

[trtldvr]

The opporators in KL are welcome to run their business' as they see fit, as are the opporators in KW. As a diver you also have the choice of diving with whom you desire. I do not profess to know what is going on with any business' bottom line. I applaud any opporator that adds any safety measures and if they say it adds cost I must take it at face value.

I know it is not a question of if, but when my services will be needed on the Vandy, just as they were needed on the Grove. So any measure that is taken to prevent it, I support.

Safe dives
trtldvr
Florida Keys Safe Diving Initiative

 

[User0559]

In 2008 I used Subtropic Dive Center right in Key West. Nice dive op with a very nice boat. I would use them again.

Pardon me if I'm wrong but Subtropic has a horrible boat, their better boat sunk when it crashed in to the coral reef.

 

[Mayor]

If I recall you must have the Captain and First mate on board at all times. Then a divemaster can dive with the group if needed. When I was diving in KW they only ever had the Captain and First mate / divemaster on board. No one in the water so I can understand a few extra bucks for the trip. It's only money, help keep people working!