These are all fairly simple questions to answer.

Most of the objects I lift are bodies, which don't weigh that much
underwater.  These must be tended in a controlled ascent to preserve
physical evidence and minimize the risk of barotrauma to the deceased,
to make the autopsy easier.  For lifting large objects, fill your bags
just enough to float them, and make sure your bridle is secure.  Then
establish a line from the SURFACE to the bridle, instead of from the
bottom.  Make the bags slightly positive and have the surface take up
the slack on their end, via a cleat or capstan.  This way, if the bag
dumps or ruptures, the object will not sustain damage (or damage the
site beneath) when it falls to the bottom, but rather will just hang
from the boat so you can re-rig it.  I try to make a habit of
preserving wrecks.  If I find something interesting, I photograph it,
map it or catalog it for future reference, instead of pillaging it. 
The research is easier to do when the artifacts are left alone.  When
diving amongst commercial traffic, the boat operator participates in
the marine traffic control system whether mandatory or not for the size
of vessel.  This gives a heads up to the ships that diving is underway.
 Diving
within the boundaries of shipping lanes (as established by Transport
Canada and noted on Canadian Hydrographic Service charts) is illegal
here, except under special permit which requires Coast Guard
notification and VHF security transmissions to shipping from Coast
Guard Radio and Traffic Services.  I don't usually dive in the midst of
heavy commercial traffic.  Of course, the shipping lanes here were
designed to take advantage of safe (read: deep) water for ships, so
shipwrecks within this zone are few and far between, except within
Vancouver Harbour.  Drifting deco is not SOP on every dive.  Usually I
use the anchor line, unless it has moved or pulled free.  In this
scenario, I would shoot a bag and drift deco under that.  The chase
boat (27 foot Zodiac Hurricane or aluminum skiff of similar size)
recovers the diver when he surfaces.  Chase boat has water, oxygen,
first aid, extra gas, and a support diver or two for monitoring
drifting decompresees.  I do not like to tie into wrecks for deco
because I don't like unnecessarily cluttering the wreck with line
(which is non-biodegradable synthetic so I can count on its strength),
I don't like having to fight to maintain my deco stop depth if the
current picks up and the scope of the line changes.  More exhertion
means less effective decompression.  If the weather or current gets too
much to make the logistics easy, the dive is called, period.  As for
the Jersey reel thing, I am not a fan of this device because of the
ease with which it can slip from your hand, the fact that it requires
two hands to operate, and the amount of time it takes to recover line
as compared to a reel.  Also they tend to be very large and their shape
is inherently an entrapment hazard.  For these or any large tools, use
two surgical tubing loops through the bottom edge of the backplate. 
Clip off to the rear d-ring, and use the tubing to keep the tools tight
to the plate and out of the flow.  I have successfully carried wrenches
and body bags this way.

Rule of thumb for chartering:  Primary vessel is 8 feet of boat per
diver, minimum.  Chase boat should accomodate 1 driver, 1 support
person, and 1 buddy team (likely 2 or 3 persons), + gear.

-Sean


On Thu, 26 Aug 1999 08:04:43 -0400, Paltz, Art wrote:

>Don't want to debate this one.  I think you are living in a utopian wor=
ld.
>Kind of hard for the average dive boat six pack (35 ft long) to have a =
chase
>boat and the surface support you talk about.  Remember, we don't have t=
he
>dive industry of say Florida where there are tons of boats and they are=
 big.
>Up here there usually is the captain and a mate or 2.  Add in 6 divers =
with
>2 sets of doubles plus stages and the scene starts to get a little crow=
ded.
>The Jersey Up-line does not have to have sisal, mine doesn't.  My up-li=
ne
>stores very neatly and is easy to deploy.  Try putting =AC line on a  d=
inky
>little 5" cave or wreck reel.  Heck, I don't think you'd be able to fit=
 250'
>of 1/8"stuff either, now we're back to the 1/16th stuff.  Now if you sa=
y you
>don't need this much line then you're not going to far with it as a
>penetration line.  Oh my God, now we need 2 again!  :-)
>
>Ever try bringing up a 275 block and tackle and controlling it while yo=
u
>come up the line and deco with it?  We're not talking about a 25 portho=
le
>here.  Heck I'd probably just stick that sucker it in my bag, attach it=
 to
>my crotch D-Ring and carry it up.  Bigger items like hatches and such
>require different methods and taking it up with you would be nuts!
>Honestly, one of the main reasons for tying the artifact into the wreck=
 is
>should the bag dump, you can go back down and hopefully follow the up-l=
ine
>and retrieve the artifact and bag.  Not everyone has a Halcyon closed b=
ag.
>Heck last time we used one of these it filled with about 1/16 water.  N=
eed
>to figure that one out.....
>
>I guess I must really be a Jersey diver.  I've done the buoy thing in
>Florida before.  I found that when the surface current is running at a
>different speed/direction than the bottom it was not a pleasant dive.
>Besides, what do you do when you go inside a wreck?  Having the buoy
>bouncing along the roof silting everything up would not be a good
>idea.......  Just being sarcastic!
>
>Again, you're forgetting the shipping lanes.  Container ships routinely=
 come
>within =AB mile of the dive boat, or closer.  Then we're forgetting the=

>fishing boats.....  Strong current and your in their props within 15-30=

>minutes.  A chase boat is fine but if you can tie into the wreck and no=
t
>float off, why isn't this optimal?  I think you're trying to ram the wa=
y you
>dive into an environment where it's isn't optimal.  I don't think you'r=
e
>going to be able to convince me that drifting, with or without a chase =
boat
>is safer and less stress full than hanging from an up-line secured to a=
 100
>lift bag.  
>
>Here's a question that I really don't know the answer to (not being
>sarcastic).  In YOUR environment, when the chase boat goes out to get y=
ou,
>what do they do?  Do they tow you back or just hang out with you?  I as=
sume
>they can't hang out with you since other divers are popping up all over=
 the
>place.  Plus we're forgetting the ships, now you have an 800 foot conta=
iner
>ship going 18 knots baring down on the diver on the bag and another in =
the
>dingy.  Towing back doesn't seem pleasant either.  2 knot current away =
from
>the boat and the tow boat pulling you at say another 2 knots, that's a =
4
>knot current to hang from.  Doesn't seem too pleasant to me.  Again, I'=
d
>rather tie in to the wreck and just hang from the 2 knot current.  If t=
here
>was a stronger current like say 5 knots we would just not dive.
>
>Art.
>
>
>		-----Original Message-----
>		From:	Sean T. Stevenson [mailto:ststev@un*.co*]
>		Sent:	Wednesday, August 25, 1999 9:09 PM
>		To:	Paltz, Art; techdiver@aquanaut.com
>		Subject:	RE: Jersey Up Line
>
>
>		There is more to a successful technical diving venture than
>just
>		competent divers.  Effective planning and competent surface
>support
>		personnel are mandatory.  The lift bag is not intended to be
>chased
>		down by a ship, but rather by the (mandatory) chase boat,
>while the
>		primary vessel remains at anchor.  A competent boat crew
>comes in handy
>		here.  Deco is not exclusively done adrift.  Planned drift
>dives
>		actually make use of a towed float ball, so the live boat
>can follow
>		the divers at all times.  The reel and lift bag for deco is
>just a
>		contingency.  There really is no reason to tie into a wreck
>for an
>		ascent.  (For some reason, NY/NJ divers seem to feel more
>comfortable
>		when they're tied to something.  Hmmm, that could go to
>explaining the
>		bondage wings..., but I digress.)  On wrecks, ordinarily the
>ascent and
>		deco is performed along the anchor line, unless strong
>current warrants
>		shooting a bag to do a drifting deco, or if you return to
>the anchor
>		line to find it is not there, you shoot the bag.  Your
>surface
>		personnel should be aware of their position and if their
>anchor is
>		dragging, and have responded accordingly.   They should have
>the chase
>		boat ready and lookouts posted to spot your bag.  Sound
>excessive? 
>		Then you are not diving with adequate surface support.  As
>Jim
>		mentioned, the biodegradeable sisal line that is typically
>employed on
>		the Jersey uplines has a tendency to become weak and fail at
>the worst
>		possible time - in an emergency.  Braided nylon line or
>equivalent is a
>		better choice.  If 1/16 is unsuitable for the environment,
>such as in
>		wrecks, then use larger or more durable line - just put it
>on a well
>		designed reel instead of the Jersey spool.  The reel is used
>for laying
>		line during a penetration, and for deploying a bag if
>necessary.  One
>		tool for two functions - starting to make sense?  The reel
>also allows
>		deployment with one hand only, leaving one hand free to deal
>with
>		emergencies.  It stows easily and cleanly, and is deployable
>in
>		seconds.  For raising artifacts, why not just tend the bag,
>keeping a
>		controlled rate of ascent (with you) instead of tying it in
>and sending
>		it rocketing to the surface.  Just hand it off to support
>divers at a
>		deco stop.  You are diving with shallow support divers,
>aren't you? 
>		Better yet, leave the damned wrecks alone so others can
>enjoy.  Just a
>		thought.
>
>		-Sean
>
>
>
>		On Wed, 25 Aug 1999 14:09:28 -0400, Paltz, Art wrote:
>
>		>Sean,
>		>
>		>I think one of the reasons you don't see them used is
>because the divers are
>		>doing drift diving.  At least for NY and NJ the reason we
>have so many great
>		>wrecks in one concentrated spot is because this area is the
>entrance to NY
>		>and Newark/Elizabeth harbors.  Thinking that an approaching
>ship is going to
>		>be able to see your dinky lift bag or sausage is nuts.  The
>dive boars
>		>anchor into the wreck site.  Drifting means the boat's got
>to pick you up.
>		>Very difficult to do when the boats got other divers in the
>water.
>		>
>		>A container ship hit Ambrose Light tower a few years back.
>It stands out of
>		>the water about 150 feet and is probably 75 foot by 75 foot
>at the base
>		>(probably bigger).  If you think they'll see a free
>floating bag and worry
>		>about it you'd be fish food.
>		>
>		>Using a wreck reel with 1/16 inch line on it won't really
>cut it either.  We
>		>regularly send up artifacts on bags and tie them into the
>wreck with wreck
>		>or cave line and about 50% of the time we end up chasing
>the bag down cause
>		>the line has been cut on the wreck.  I don't know about the
>wrecks in your
>		>area but in the NE they are all rusty and sharp.  It's
>easily cuts through
>		>thin line quickly.
>		>
>		>Some say always use a wreck reel and tie in near the anchor
>line.  This is
>		>also a good option assuming that a). the anchor line will
>be there when you
>		>return and b). your wreck line won't accidentally be cut.
>Anchors come
>		>dislodged from the wreck even if they are tied in or have
>permanent
>		>moorings.  I've also seen divers get tangled in others
>wreck line and
>		>instead of waiting for their buddy to untangle them they
>whip out the knife
>		>and cut it.  This naturally poses a problem to the diver
>expecting the wreck
>		>line to lead them back to the anchor line.  I have in this
>situation re-tied
>		>the persons wreck line.
>		>
>		>Not bashing just giving the reasoning for carrying an
>up-reel of some type.
>		>I really don't want to start up another "Jersey Up-Reel"
>thread.  This one
>		>was tiresome last time.
>		>
>		>Art.
>		>
>		>
>		>		-----Original Message-----
>		>		From:	Sean T. Stevenson
>[mailto:ststev@un*.co*]
>		>		Sent:	Wednesday, August 25, 1999 1:41 AM
>		>		To:	goindown@be*.ne*
>		>		Cc:	George Irvine; Jim Cobb;
>techdiver@aquanaut.com
>		>		Subject:	Re: Jersey Up Line
>		>
>		>		I can't tell if this is a tongue in cheek
>sarcastic reply or
>		>if this
>		>		guy really didn't get the joke.  If it is
>the latter case,
>		>might I
>		>		suggest quitting diving and taking up
>golf...
>		>
>		>		Chris, seriously...  these upline reels are
>completely
>		>unnecessary. 
>		>		I'm guessing you are diving on the Atlantic
>coast?  Take a
>		>look at how
>		>		everyone else in the world does this and ask
>yourself why
>		>you do not
>		>		see these upline reels used anywhere else.
>		>
>		>		-Sean
>		>
>		>
>		>		On Tue, 24 Aug 1999 17:18:55 -0400, Chris
>Gregory wrote:
>		>
>		>		>Would that same buddy be there to retrieve
>it should you
>		>need to shoot a
>		>		>bag, and if he's not available what are the
>"DIR"
>		>alternatives?
>		>		>Chris
>		>		>
>		>		>
>		>
>		>
>		>		--
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>
>		
>--
>Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.=

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