25th Dive (and 26th), North Carolina Wreck, What a trip!!!

[DarinMartell]

Just got back from two great dives. I went out with Capt. Dave with DiveHatteras.com - NC shipwreck diving at it's best! , what a great operation! When his main party canceled a week ago he called me up to give me a heads up and said if he didn't go out he would call around to other captains to find me a spot. Thats great service, most other places wouldn't have bothered. When I asked if I could hire a DM he said it wasn't necessary and that I could buddy up with him.

When I first contacted him I told him (Thanks Joe for the referral) I wanted to see Historic wrecks with large animal life. Boy did I get that and more!

First Dive was on the Dixie Arrow, it was a 16 mile trip out with good seas of around 2'-3' with a light wind. The wreck is a 500' tanker sunk with two torpedo's from U71 on 3/26/42. We anchored on the stern with 90' to the sand. The water was a beautiful bright Blue with 80' of vis. We did a negative descent and as we came through a cloud of Spade fish the wreck became visible. First thing we saw were a handful of Sand Tigers! Those and a good collection of Amber Jacks where the animal highlights of the dive. Capt. Dave took us on a nice tour of the stern section. It was an interesting structure and we saw a-lot more Sand Tigers. I sucked through the 100cf that he was kind enough to let me use all to soon and we headed up. While we were down a 20 knot wind kicked up the waves to 3' - 4' for boarding.

The 4 mile run to the Keshena was fun. The Lions Paw is a smaller 6 diver boat and we could feel each wave. This was my first time in deep water on any sized boat. I'm proud to say I was not only able to weather the motion with no problem, I was able to do it while wolfing down a big ol ham sandwich and a gallon of water at the same time! The Keshena is a 142' tug that hit a friendly mine on 7/19/42 while doing salvage work for the Navy. The heavy winds had pushed some green water down from north of the shoals so vis was cut down to about 40'. We did another negative entry and came down right in the middle of a BUNCH of Trigger fish. It must have been mating season because about a 3rd of them where sitting on the bottom in holes. They would follow me with their eyes and turned their bodies as I went past. As if daring me to try to go near their nest. I saw two Toad fish, one in a hole, one in a vertical pipe on the wreck itself. We saw one more Sand Tiger and a whole school of Amber Jack swimming in a big circle above us. Capt. Dave found a 2' 3' Ray mostly buried in the sand. He came up next to it and tried to get it to move. It only went about 20' before settling back in as if to say "leave me alone, you don't scare me". I lasted a little longer this time but it was over all too soon again. This time the wind and waves kicked up even more so hanging on the safety stop was like riding a roller coaster. After we all boarded we headed the 12 miles back in 4' - 5' seas. Even Capt. Dave said it was pretty rough so I feel pretty good about weathering the ride home with my stomach intact!

All in all very memorable dives. I will definitely be coming back to the Grave Yard of the Atlantic!

[Travelnsj]

Great report...my favorite diving I've done in the USA....just those seas can be a bit rough for people prone to seasickness!

[navyhmc]

Sounds like a great time! Any pics to post?

[DarinMartell]

No pics, my camera flooded on the first dive , I am hoping to get a few e-mailed from the guy I dove with. One thing I didn't mention is there was a decent current on the Dixie Arrow, that was another first for me, wow can they kick you in the ass!

[chinacat46]

Congrats on number 25!

[mm2002]

Sounds like awesome dives! Congrats! I wish my 25th had been something that cool!

[Glub000]

Sounds like a great trip. I hope to get there some day soon. Must be a nice change of scenery from the midwest carp and 5' vis.