Dive Report: Rankin

[doczerothree]

Wow!! is all I can say about this wreck. Now I've been on her abour 3-4 times. Once I even remember looking for her. Sometimes the water is good AND sometimes it's not so good. Yesterday it was great temp 77, air temp around 90. We left http://www.emeraldcharters.com/divereport.html around 8:45a. The hardest part of the dive was putting my gear on board. (I rented tanks on this dive and these guys loaded and unloaded them for me). The boat drive was about an hour but it gave everyone time to get aquainted. When we arrived at the site another boat was already there so our capt asked their capt what the conditions were: "5 knot current and about 25 ft viz" was the report......... mmmmmmmm!! Not to be discouraged we 8 divers (on a boat that could easily hold 3 times that) geared up and got ready. The captain positioned us about 1/2 miles up current and we jumped.....for the first few seconds nothing but blue...then from about 30 feet she made her appearance. She is huge over 400ft, laying on her starboard side. Although I've been on her a few times I needed once again to get to know her. With lots of place to penetrate she would be a challange. I decided "not today" especially since todays mission was to get the lay of the land. (I did took a few looks inside...I couldn't help myself At 125ft I could have spent all 3 dives that day getting a good feel for her. Who knows when conditions would be this good again? Very minor < .5 current vis 75-100ft teaming with life and coral. After 3 passes I drift off her and blew my bag and watch her fade away....(I gotta get a camera!!!) 30 min on her, not all of it in the sand required SOME deco. But I was not alone I spent my entire hang time with Lee, the owner of Scuba Works http://www.scuba-works.com/ and a very inquisitive Remora. At one point it even tried to attach itself to my neck. Of course we were the last ones to come up. But not to worry...This dive boat was all about diving well, safely, and enjoying the experience! We were given 65 minutes to use up...We used 56.

After the 2nd dive we got fed!! Boxed lunch consisting A roast beef sandwich, fruit salad, and the biggest cookie I've ever seen!! OH YEA!!!

The next 2 dives paled in comparision, but suffice it to say 2 hr in the water for both dives, lots of turtles, marine life and beautful reefs.

[No Misses]

Congratulations! Yes, the USS Rankin is a great wreck. It seems that every time that I drop in on her, there is a whicked thermocline.It is like getting a bucket of cold water thrown in your face. I'm glad that you had good conditions.

[doczerothree]

Originally Posted by No Misses

Congratulations! Yes, the USS Rankin is a great wreck. It seems that every time that I drop in on her, there is a whicked thermocline.It is like getting a bucket of cold water thrown in your face. I'm glad that you had good conditions.

Really unusual vis No Misses. Temp was 77. I think this make 5 times and I've not seen these conditions. I really had no idea just how big she is! We had a good day. And did I mention we got fed?

[Grin]

Yes, it is a great wreck if you get lucky enough to hit it with good conditions. I dove Thursaday and Friday, about a mile from the Rankin with the same spectacklar conditions, except shallower. For Stuart the conditions we have right now are not common any time of the year. Just a week ago the current really was 5 knots, and the temp was less than 55 below the thermo. Every time I have dove the Rankin it is cold like No-Misses has experienced. But if the vis is good, it is still a great dive. I have dropped on it with about 5 ft of vis a few times, hoping to break through a thermocline and get some vis without any luck = right back up. One thing you can count on, it won't last! Good luck ever seeing it again like you saw it this time, being warm, with great vis, and little current. That's a trifecta for the Rankin!
If I had a brain I'd be out there right now.

[SlvrDragon50]

Hm.. pretty good prices too..

and that lunch... better than what I normally eat.

[mchain]

That sounds amazing. I've only dived wrecks here by cancun. Thanks for your report!

[SouthernSeas]

Hi. Thanks for the report... You didn't mention where this wreck is, however. Location? Also, I'd be curious to know the min and max depth on the wreck.

Thanks.

[sidneydiver]

We tried to dive the Rankin last weekend but the conditions were bad and we completely missed it! Boo! Well, it just means I'll have to go back!

[doczerothree]

Originally Posted by SouthernSeas

Hi. Thanks for the report... You didn't mention where this wreck is, however. Location? Also, I'd be curious to know the min and max depth on the wreck.

Thanks.

I've posted a couple of site with more imformation on the Rankin and her sister ship "Muliphen" AUE TRIP REPORTS Many sites give conflicting depths for the Rankin. She is however between 118-135 depending on which account you have in front of you at the time.
Deep Sea Images Library - Diver and fish school on the USS Rankin - Natural History Images shows a very good day on the wreck

FLORIDA East Coast Shipwrecks USS Rankin Wreck Stuart is another soucre of imfo.

[No Misses]

Originally Posted by SouthernSeas

Hi. Thanks for the report... You didn't mention where this wreck is, however. Location? Also, I'd be curious to know the min and max depth on the wreck.

Thanks.

Stuart, Florida

Max Depth that I have witnessed is 131'.