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On Wed, 12 May 1999, Kevin Connell wrote:

> Although I've never dove on the east coast, I don't understand why the
> conditions there are any different then the conditions here in the
> northwest.  Low vis, high current, cold water.  We don't get the swells
> inland, but I don't see why that matters.

High current is not the norm here in NJ. It happens from time to time, and
on some dives there can be a ripping current on the bottom with nothing at
all (or going in a different direction) on the surface. And this can
change during the course of a dive (I've seen it myself), perhaps related
to tides.

> No one here uses an "upline". Liftbag and drifting deco is the norm,
> some keep the hook on the wreck were it can unsnagged from the surface
> and deco on the anchor line.

All of the boats that I have dived off of here anchor on or near the
wreck. Some forgo an anchor in favor of having a diver take a line down to
tie in, and a few use a sand anchor in a manner that positions the boat
over the wreck and run a downline which is tied to the wreck. Some will
attempt to anchor on the wreck in a manner that allows freeing the hook
from the surface, using a grapple.

Normal procedure is to deco on the anchor line, or on other lines deployed
from the boat for the purpose. The anchor is not lifted until all dives
are complete and everyone is on board, unless diver intervention is
required in order to get free.

I haven't been diving long enough to have first-hand knowledge of the
history of local diving. It is true that here in NY/NJ/DE/MD/VA/NC, things
are done differently than virtually anywhere else. I do sometimes wonder
why.

-- 
Art Greenberg
artg@ec*.ne*







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