Diving Yukon/RubyE and experience!

[lijewski]

I've always been interested in diving these wrecks, but have been a little put off by all the boat charter website warnings about experience.

I was certified in soCal winter water back in '95 and have done perhaps 70 dives since then, but mostly on vacations from central america to asia in warmer water....not much around here but the occasional Catalina dive every 5 years.

Done plenty of current, surge, deep dives, but not sure what to expect here.

My question is how much I should heed these warnings or are they aimed at beginners?

They also recommend a dive master if not experienced in the area...given the viz and the cold water is this recommended or necessary for me?

I also dive a 5mm wetsuit no hood with a rash-guard underneath...is this enough?

Thanks

 

[dwaters]

1) Welcome to the 'board.
2) Wait 'till summers end as the water is a bit warmer (high 50's to low 60's) and clearer.
3) How comfortable are you with lower viz and cold water. 5mm might be okay for a dive in the low 60's but everyone is differant. The Yukon could have 50' viz one day and 10' two days later. No surge one then plenty the next.
4) Both of those dives are awsome and only you can be honest with yourself if this is something you and your buddy can safely dive.
5) Join in few local dives off Catalina or our shores this summer and see for yourself...heck Casino Point is a great place to test the water this summer.
6) Hope to see you in the water someday soon.

 

[AzDiver23]

I just got back from diving the Yukon and Ruby E last week on the Lois Ann. I had a blast with the staff. Like stated before the vis could be hit and miss. When I went I was told it was the best conditions it could be (15-20), the surface was choppy but other then that went well. I was in a 7mm with a hooded vest and I was freezing by the second dive (45F). So I suggest you pick up a 7mm. I dont see why you should have any trouble not enjoying these locations. For some odd reason I enjoyed the Ruby E alot more then the Yukon. Does any one else feel like I do?

 

[Dr Wu]

Ignore the warnings. The dives are easy. They will be very easy for you.

 

[jridg]

I just got back from diving the Yukon and Ruby E last week on the Lois Ann. I had a blast with the staff. Like stated before the vis could be hit and miss. When I went I was told it was the best conditions it could be (15-20), the surface was choppy but other then that went well. I was in a 7mm with a hooded vest and I was freezing by the second dive (45F). So I suggest you pick up a 7mm. I dont see why you should have any trouble not enjoying these locations. For some odd reason I enjoyed the Ruby E alot more then the Yukon. Does any one else feel like I do?

They are very different dives. The Ruby E is a great dive on a smaller wreck in shallower water. Even though they are relatively close to each other, the conditions can be radically different.

The dives are not extremely challenging - you need to be comfortable with cold, and depth (up to 105 on the Yukon). A decent amount of experience and appropriate certs will serve you well.

 

[Teamcasa]

These are great dives but like Jim said they are very different and conditions can change fast. The RubyE is sitting upright on the bottom and is like diving an underwater Rose parade float. The Yukon is on its side, much larger and deeper.

A 5mm is not enough suit for the vast majority that dive it.

But not to worry, if the conditions are too bad the boats have other, nearby choices. Go dive and have fun.

 

[D_B]

If you know about and plan the dive accordingly (depth/air/conditions) and consider it as something other than a beginners dive, you already have the right attitude

I'm going to say that 5mm and no hood is not going to be comfortable in the mid 50f water

 

[tc]

The warnings are there for a reason, ignoring them isn't a very good idea. (But you probably already had that figured out or you wouldn't be posting the question ) Most days they are not too difficult but the sites are open and can get swell, surge and current.

Best bet is to pair up with someone that's been on the dives before, if you can't find a buddy that has then the boats can sometimes provide a DM if you request one ahead of time. (for added cost of course)

The dives are ofter in the low 50 degree range- I know I wouldn't try it with less than a 7mm. I normally wear a drysuit there but have worn a 7mm and hooded vest inthe warmer months and been OK.

 

[on_two_wheels]

I'll simply reiterate some of what has been said. The Yukon in and of itself is NOT a difficult dive if:

1. You are not looking to penetrate
2. You are comfortable in low visibility conditions
3. You are comfortable in cold water

Last time I dove it I was wearing a 7mm suit plus a 3mm hooded vest. A week later I dropped big bucks on a drysuit and haven't been wet since. A 5mm even with a hood will leave you so cold it'll carry over to the next two dives. I was chilled the rest of the day. Aside from that, I had a blast. Personally, I think the fact it is on it's side adds a bit to it.

You will simply descend on a line, swim around it and return to the same line for your ascent. Makes the safety stop easy, too. Great for divers with mediocre buoyancy. Go do the dives but definitely do it in a much warmer suit. If you can do nitrox, even better.

 

[liuk3]

I can't remember the last time I dove a wetsuit as I currently use a drysuit. When I do dive socal in a wetsuit, I have a 7mm wetsuit along with a 5mm hooded vest underneath.