In the previous articles we have discussed several subjects relating to wreck diving. I enjoy this diving activity more then any other diving related event. I do think it’s the most dangerous diving you can do, but there is nothing like it. Again I would caution you that before you decide to go wreck-diving you should take the training. Prepare yourself and your equipment. I suggest that Nitrox and or tri-mix would be a great start. This will help your head clear in those close places where you really need to have a clear head.

We have discussed finding out about the ship or wreck you are diving on. History of the site will help you a lot when you pick the place you want to dive. Once you have the site and an alternate, you should evaluate the wreck, especially if you are diving it for the first time. I have dived in Canada B.C. on the same wrecks several times. We still like to take a look on the first dive to get the feel of the dive and look over the site to see if there have been any changes. We discuss what we are going to do after the inspection dive or the tune up dive.

My dive partner and I have discussed our next wreck dive in B.C. in July and are two months out from the dive. We know the wreck and where we would like to enter and exit the ship.  We are also talking about the new wreck that was put in place several weeks ago. This will be a great training opportunity before we go to the much deeper wreck in that area.

The dive will last about one hour from surface to surface. This will give us lots of time to check things out before we enter the ship. Lots of mental notes will be taken on the first dive and a review of the dive is always a must. Here we bring up the part about navigating on the wreck. A compass is useless on a steel ship. I like to view the ship as we descend down the line and get oriented to the lay out. This way we know where we are and where we have to return. You can get lost real easy on a wreck. That is a good reason to discuss the events before you go there. Note, we plan a dive and dive our plan.

We must also remind ourselves that we are visitors to this environment.  We come only for a short time to enjoy the company of those creatures which have made a home there. Please respect it as if it were your home and leave it as you found it. This goes for all of us. If we take it there we bring it back. Leave nothing; well maybe a Scooter for me to find, then I’ll bring it back. We hope that you enjoy wreck diving. Once you get into it you will enjoy the adventure. 

Some would say cave diving is the most dangerous and I would agree with them, but I have no desire to do that; so I will never know. I hope that if we have sparked your interest in wreck-diving you would take the training and enjoy the adventure. Living in the Northwest we have a lot of wrecks to explore. It will take a long time to see them all. Dive safely and remember, don’t dive it if you don’t have the training.  

 © 05-22-2005 G. McK.