Chesapeake Bay, Virginia

[Maguire]

Matt, that's exactly what I do all summer long. A few buddies and I usually go out to the tower and spear but I have filled up some coolers at the CBBT. The cool thing about swiming around the rocks of the islands is that its shallow and there's lots of fish. I'll be out there as soon as the water temp gets above 60.

 

[Distraction]

How much tackle do you find around the islands?

When does the water temp reach 60, and why do you wait so long? A good wetsuit can keep you warm down into the 40s.

What's the viz like this time of year? Is it clearer because of less algae growth?

 

[Distraction]

Lobster?

Oh yeah...have you ever caught any lobster around either the islands or the light tower?

What other wrecks in the area do you dive for spearfishing?

 

[Maguire]

Well, I have seen a bunch of tackle and anchors also. My dad keeps on telling me I need to go out and get him a few anchors seeing how I've lost one or two of his. I hate cold and I'm broke andI only have a spring suit right now so it looks like I'm waiting until it warms up a bit. The vis is definitely better this time of year for that reason. I went through Lynhaven Inlet last weekend and it almost looked clear enough to dive the inlet! As for lobster, my brother and I did hunt for them last summer a few times with no luck, I know they are there and this summer I plan on slaying lobster often. They tend to be offshore underneath structures like wrecks. My dad just got this book of wrecks of our area with all the GPS numbers so this summer it will help us alot. I have dove several of the artificial wrecks within a mile of the light tower. Also the gulf hustler, the hanks, the ricks, and the santore. All within range with my boat. What type of boat do yu have?

 

[Distraction]

What kind of fish do you see around the CBBT islands, in what quantities, and what sizes?

 

[wb416]

divernva once bubbled...
Haven't heard of much to dive in the Chesapeake Bay. There is the U-1105 near the inlet of the Potomac.

Here's a good web site that I got a couple of years ago when buddy was researching the U-1105 Black Panther

It's an informative site for both history and dive logistics and/or conditions.

 

[Maguire]

I see lots of Spadefish, which are one of my favorite fish to eat. Sheepshead, Flounder, Striped Bass, Tautog. Spanish Mackeral, bluefish. I dove the light tower about 20 times last summer. A few wrecks a few times within a few miles of that. I only dove the islands 3 times but I really want to explore that spot more extensively. It is much closer therefore not nearly as much fuel is needed and just as many fish.
Jon

 

[harbourlyt]

I sail my catamaran to the islands when the water is warm for underwater video and still photography, and for free diving for fish. I can always carry a person with me, the boat only holds two.

 

[tapuout2]

I am new to the whole spear fishing thing, but I like to hunt, I am orginally from Minnesota so combing scuba and hunting sounds like the best of both worlds to me. I am very interested and would like to try, low vis and some current ok, I just finished advanced open water but have a very diverse background and quite a bit of experience.

Email me if your looking for a dive partner, I live in norfolk.
tapuout2@hotmail.com

Patrick

 

[mheaster]

We just got back from this diuve today. I live in Tappahannock, VA so this was almost a local dive for me.

We drove over to a Dennis' river house at (near Coles Point, Virginia) he took his boat out to site. We were supposed to meet another guy at the site who had experience diving this sub. We had no problem finding the site and mooring to the morring buoy (Blue and White and clearly labeled). We were there at 11:30am in time to dive at the recommeded High, Slack Tide. Our contact never showed?

Conditions were PERFECT. Very Smooth water, warm, clear day. Hadn't rained in days. There was no appreciable surface current! There were 3 of us (John, myself and Dennis). We wanted to leave someone on the surface so John and I made 1st dive. Visibility was a bit better that I had psyched myself up for (maybe 8 feet ?)

We all had 10 watt HID lights (I would NOT make this dive without HID). Our prep experience was several trips to Cooper River, SC doing shark tooth dives. We were as comfortable as to be expected with zero viz diving.

We surface swam over to small orange ball that was ascent/descent line connected to the Conning tower. You are NOT to moor to this line! Be mindful of jelly fish and fishing lures around the downline (We all wore full wetsuits - I wore 7/5 mm,hoods and gloves) Water temp was very comfortable 79 degress F.

As I reached 60 feet I still could not see any signes of wreck. It was only at 66 feet before I saw Stainless Steel base that downline was tied off to. We were amazed by the surving Wooden slates lining inside of Conning tower area. This has been submerged for some 57 years! As this was our 1st time here, we stayed pretty near conning tower and didn't venture too far fore and aft but did descend to 79 feet to get a look at the HEAVY silt! It brought a new full appreciation of how bad silt could be! I did manage to locate the missing OMS Wrech Reel we were told about and recovered it. The owner promised to buy drinks for whoever recovered it?

We ascended and after a almost an hour Surface Interval then Dennis and I made the next dive leaving John to mind the boat. Again we saw Jelly fish on descent line and managed to stay clear of them. We again cricles the conning tower but didn't go far forward or aft but it seemed most of the actual deck disappeared into the silt quickly.

All in all it was not near as difficult as much of the available literature made it out to be BUT it is a very poor viz dive and you can not bring too much light! We did have GREAT Conditions and I imagine it doesnt get much better.

I am sure that it would be far more difficult if current was stronger!

I wouldn't want to do that type diving every day (we just got back from a weeK AND 24 dives in Bonaire!) but it was a great day trip!

If you have any questions about the U-1105 feel free to email me!