Wil
Contributor
Had Kevin (Kevin_K) and Randy (Randy g) aboard for a trip to the Tiger. We experienced a small amount of chop heading to the wreck but made great time covering the 20nm from Little Creek to the Tiger. The Tiger rest about 6nm off SandBridge in 60-65ft of water. She foundered while under tow back to Norfolk during WWII and was later demolished. Though a victim of the WWII wrecking crew, the Tiger wreck has much to offer. The highest part of the wreck are her boilers, located amidship, they clearly define the differing portions of the the wreck. Aft (South) of the boilers the wreck is very low-lying, mostly a debris field without significant relief. Forward of the boilers (North) the wreck has a large amount of wreckage, steel plates, hull beams protruding upward, and many great locations to find flounder, sea bass, and tautogs. The forward end of the wreck is the place to be!
We hooked the wreck forward of the boilers and adjusted the anchor scope to place our vessel directly over the boilers. Kevin and Radny made the first dive and explored the forward section of the wreck. Visibility was estimated at 10ft with a small amount of surge. Temps were wonderful; 76deg on the surface and 74deg on the bottom! Visbility limits had Kevin and Randy working the wreck reel while exploring the Tiger. Their first task was tying us in the the wreck.
I made my dive and decided to use an underwater sonar unit to navigate around the wreck. Though I'd been on Tiger many times, I hadn't dove her in a number of years. About half way through my dive I looked down at my sonar receiver and found it telling me the transponder was out of the water (not true), and that I was 176ft from where I placed it. Thankfully, each time I check my tank pressures, I also make note of the distance and bearing back to the transponder. I set my compass heading and away I went. I soon found the boilers and saw the transponder still hanging from the equipment line. I already had two nice flounders so I made my ascent and climbed back in the boat.
Kevin and Randy jumped in for their second dive and not long after they were down I saw from the boat two distinct bubble trails....NOT heading in the same direction. I soon had Randy surface next to the boat to let me know he'd lost sight of Kevin and that he'd be on the starboard side near the boilers. Just after he'd descended, I saw Kevin's lift bag (not surface marker) on the surface with a sizeable area of bubbles around it (hanging about 20ft down vice on the bottom). I knew Kevin was making a wreck-reel ascent with his lift bag and was tied into the wreck (textbook method to let someone know you're coming up AND stay tied to the wreck). He soon surfaced and gave me the OK sign. In low visibility conditions it always good to have a plan if you get separated from you buddy. Kevin and & Randy did it exactly by the numbers.
On my second dive I was tasked to float the wreck anchor free. I planned to "fly over the wreck" after attaching my lift bag. I was diving with double 112's and going solo for my dives. After repeatedly clearing the chain from the debris field, I decided to float the bag, anchor, and chain to the surface. I did my safety stop on the anchor chain while drifting with the boat. I must give Kevin credit on his tie-in; it was perfect!
So was the day diving with Kevin and Randy. The winds backed off n the afternoon and the seas settle to a small 2ft swell. In all it was a great day to be off Va Beach diving the Tiger.
We also happened on another group of divers out of Rudee Inlet. When we arrived on the wreck the SEA DREAMS with Capn Dave had already hooked into the wreck. It was great talking with them and Dave swam over to our boat to see how my side scan works as we moved into position to hook the wreck.
Safe Diving,
Wil
We hooked the wreck forward of the boilers and adjusted the anchor scope to place our vessel directly over the boilers. Kevin and Radny made the first dive and explored the forward section of the wreck. Visibility was estimated at 10ft with a small amount of surge. Temps were wonderful; 76deg on the surface and 74deg on the bottom! Visbility limits had Kevin and Randy working the wreck reel while exploring the Tiger. Their first task was tying us in the the wreck.
I made my dive and decided to use an underwater sonar unit to navigate around the wreck. Though I'd been on Tiger many times, I hadn't dove her in a number of years. About half way through my dive I looked down at my sonar receiver and found it telling me the transponder was out of the water (not true), and that I was 176ft from where I placed it. Thankfully, each time I check my tank pressures, I also make note of the distance and bearing back to the transponder. I set my compass heading and away I went. I soon found the boilers and saw the transponder still hanging from the equipment line. I already had two nice flounders so I made my ascent and climbed back in the boat.
Kevin and Randy jumped in for their second dive and not long after they were down I saw from the boat two distinct bubble trails....NOT heading in the same direction. I soon had Randy surface next to the boat to let me know he'd lost sight of Kevin and that he'd be on the starboard side near the boilers. Just after he'd descended, I saw Kevin's lift bag (not surface marker) on the surface with a sizeable area of bubbles around it (hanging about 20ft down vice on the bottom). I knew Kevin was making a wreck-reel ascent with his lift bag and was tied into the wreck (textbook method to let someone know you're coming up AND stay tied to the wreck). He soon surfaced and gave me the OK sign. In low visibility conditions it always good to have a plan if you get separated from you buddy. Kevin and & Randy did it exactly by the numbers.
On my second dive I was tasked to float the wreck anchor free. I planned to "fly over the wreck" after attaching my lift bag. I was diving with double 112's and going solo for my dives. After repeatedly clearing the chain from the debris field, I decided to float the bag, anchor, and chain to the surface. I did my safety stop on the anchor chain while drifting with the boat. I must give Kevin credit on his tie-in; it was perfect!
So was the day diving with Kevin and Randy. The winds backed off n the afternoon and the seas settle to a small 2ft swell. In all it was a great day to be off Va Beach diving the Tiger.
We also happened on another group of divers out of Rudee Inlet. When we arrived on the wreck the SEA DREAMS with Capn Dave had already hooked into the wreck. It was great talking with them and Dave swam over to our boat to see how my side scan works as we moved into position to hook the wreck.
Safe Diving,
Wil