Diving the M/V Newtown Creek - aka "Lady Luck"

[TF-Rick]

I enjoyed my second dive on the Newtown Creek, known locally here in south Florida as the "Lady Luck". We went out with Pompano Dive Center and tied into the wreck around 9am this morning. We enjoyed a light northerly current, 80-degree water temperature and 80-feet of visibility; near perfect diving conditions. This is an awesome site to dive with a DPV, and I used mine to move around the 324-foot long wreck. Prior to being sunk off of Pompano Beach this past July 13, the Newtown Creek was a coastal tanker working the harbor of New York City; perhaps more affectionately called a "honey Tanker" as she transported sludge and sewage.

Now she sits upright on her keel in 130-feet of water, her main deck sitting at 100-feet depth. She's known locally for her eclectic arrangement of casino elements; card sharks, poker tables stacked with poker-chips, slot machines and even a bar mermaid! While that is fun, I think the wreck is more interesting explored. The ship is ideally suited for divers with large easy to navigate passageways, rooms and engineering spaces to investigate. Appropriately trained and certified divers may start deep near the (damaged) props at 129-feet, working up to the main deck, and into the superstructure where you may finish the dive at around 70-feet depth.

If the Lady Luck is not quite enough wreck to keep your dive interesting, there is the wreck of the Rodeo 25 sitting north of the Lady Luck; an easy swim over on a 330-degree compass heading from the stern.

 

[sportxlh]

Great dive report. Thx for posting.

 

[Texasguy]

I don't think that going to rodeo 25 and back is possible without a decompression dive. Current is usually too strong. Also, no scuba op will be impressed if one leaves the wreck, way to get blacklisted.

 

[TF-Rick]

Actually a couple operations fully endorse the idea of navigating between the two wrecks; they lie less than 200 feet apart. On a good day both are visible at the same time at the mid-way point. Saturday there was virtually no current. Prudence dictates that you pick your day and the appropriate conditions. It can be done as a recreational dive, but far better as a dive with a decompression obligation. If you make the appropriate plan with the boat captain (and have the training) you can start on the Lady Luck, finish on the Rodeo 25, send a SMB up and have the boat pick you up after surfacing. So far I have only done the wreck diving a 21/35 mix as a deco dive, and with a DPV.

Like always, plan your dive, dive your plan and let your topside support know your plan. Also dive within your certification limits.
Many of the dives we do are wreck-treks! South Florida diving is perfect for this.

 

[iamrushman]

thanks for the dive report....having done this wreck a few times so far since the sinking it's great to have the ability to observe the progress of coral growth and critter occupation on this wreck over time.

 

[ft.lauderdale diver]

I don't think that going to rodeo 25 and back is possible without a decompression dive. Current is usually too strong. Also, no scuba op will be impressed if one leaves the wreck, way to get blacklisted.

Partially agree with you. Navigating between the 2 is doable as a non decompression dive if the current cooperates. More than doable with a scooter. I would imagine some dive ops would shun the idea, especially if the capabilities of the diver is questionable.. I also know a handful that do not object to it, as you can see both wrecks when the vis is good.

 

[Texasguy]

Was on Rodeo this week. Vis was like 40 feet. Surely, Lady Luck was not seen. Current was not too bad, 2 out of 5.

 

[ft.lauderdale diver]

I believe it. vis isn't always good and go figure..when current isn't bad--vis sucks..I should clarify that I have done the dive as a non decompression dive (well maybe with a few minutes of deco), albeit with a scooter.. When the vis is at least 50 ft, as long as you are on bow of the rodeo you should be able to see the stern of the lady luck. if not just follow the chain and within a few kicks you will see the Lady Luck. Once again.. a dive that a novice dive should not consider or one that isn't able to gauge the current and their abilities to get back and forth.