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Hi Everyone Just thought everyone would like to know how I spent my Birthday and would like to thank everyone who joined me on the dive. I plan the trip every year and no one is black listed from the trip as it is always to a shallow depth of no more than 130ft. A special thanks to Karen Frank who gave me the bottle of "Viagra" and mini-condoms for my present, told me to take 5 and bring a half dozen condoms to her room after midnight for the rest of the present. Well I went to the wrong room and no one was in it. The next day I had to buy a tube of sportscreme as my arm and hand was very sore ............ she also borrowed the tube from me ;-))) Others who also were there like Dave Dalton and Todd Clagett who decided to camp together........ Frank L. who snored all night, Tom and Kent who kept taking my fish...... Stella who was in such a hurry to see me, got a ticket......... Clay, who actually got to stay in the room with Karen (lucky dog, but their just friends you know ;-0 ) ........ Mike S who got invited to my cookout for having the smellyest DUI underwear EVER.......... Charlie Johnson, that I like even though he dives a CCR....... The dives were great and the real report is made by someone else below, the above is just joking........................... ;-))))))) BTW I'm now 29 ;-)))))))))))) From: "Roy Cowan" <cowanr@sq*.co*> To: <cowanr@sq*.co*> Subject: Diver Down Update for 6-7 April 2002 Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 13:47:17 -0400 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook 8.5, Build 4.71.2173.0 Importance: Normal X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by casper.sqq89.com id NAA28205 If you do not wish to continue receiving these updates please let me know and I will remove your name from our mailing list. If however you do enjoy our reports and think the information is useful, please feel free to forward them to Dive Buddies, Friends, Family, Fellow Club Members, Etc., Etc. Hello Everybody, The Diver Down Dive Season is off and running with the successful completion of Capt JT's Birthday Trip!!! We made it out both days though Saturday was a bit challenging. In fact we had to cut the day short after one dive due to an unresponsive starboard transmission and steadily building seas but we were at it again on Sunday with all repairs accomplished and much better sea conditions. On Saturday we headed off shore to the WWI wreck, alias USS Schurz, which sank in June of 1918 after colliding with the SS Florida in heavy fog. The Schurz lies in 113 feet of water in close proximity to the Papoose and U-352 Wrecks. The weather was beautiful with bright sunshine but there was the minor inconvenience of a rather cutting 15-25 knot wind, straight from the North Pole it seemed, that dropped the wind chill way down and eventually whipped the waves up to about 5 foot before the day was done. Fortunately the sea offered outstanding conditions below to compensate for the chilly air above. Kenny "The Worm" Long tied us into the wreck just forward of the port boilers where there were lots of critters to see including a Atlantic Sandtiger Sharks, Southern Stingrays, Spotted Moray Eels, Grouper, Amberjack, Barracuda, a big Loggerhead Turtle and Flounder, Flounder and more Flounder every where. I think they knew that the season is currently closed on Flounder until July 4th so they were relatively safe from the Divers anyway. On my dive to untie I saw one Sandtiger, a Frog Fish and a French Angel Fish. There were plenty of baitfish about but not the usual numbers that blot out the sun. Also present were a large quantity of baby Sea Cucumbers which look pretty strange. There were almost as many of them as there were Flounder. Our ride home, though a bit slow on only one engine, was otherwise uneventful. Once back at the dock Capt Bob donned his bilge diving gear and repaired the ailing transmission in no time at all. On Sunday the seas were a whole lot nicer and the temperatures where significantly higher making the ride out to the Papoose fairly pleasant. The seas were mostly 3 foot the whole way but that pesky northeast wind was still hanging around putting a chill on surface intervals and sunbathing. Once on site at the Papoose, The Worm hooked us in on the rudder. Here too the subsurface conditions were fantastic for this time of year with a vertical visibility of 100+ feet, a horizontal visibility of 70+ and a temperature range of 70 on the bottom to 76 at the surface. It was pretty hard to take. Then of course there were the local denizens hanging around which included lots of Atlantic Sandtigers, a few small Bull Sharks, several Southern Stingrays, Spotted Morays and a large Loggerhead Turtle. Here too Flounder where every where. Also cruising the wreck were Spade Fish, Grouper, Amberjack and Barjack. No one spotted any of the Lionfish this time but I'm sure they are around somewhere. Almost all the Divers came back to the boat with a hand full of Shark's teeth. On my dive when I had the wreck to myself I only saw one small sandtiger, a medium sized southern Stingray, a large moray and the Loggerhead. It was a very pretty dive and there was only a minor cross current just above the wreck. Our next stop was the U-352 where we had more of the same for visibility and temperatures. Here too there was a large Sandtiger, a huge southern stingray, lots of flounder and according to Captain Bob, an Angel Shark too. Somebody even brought up a rather scrawny Slipper Lobster which he was quite proud of. Everybody had a great dive. When it was time for my dive the better part was spent drifting over the sand away from the wreck to the southwest where I saw lots of Starfish and not much else. One Brittle Star was very impressive at about 2 feet wide. The ride back in was very quiet with the exception of an occasional snore since most of the passengers were napping. Back at the dock we all wished Capt JT a Happy Birthday with many happy returns. Early Spring can be very exciting in Morehead City with water temperatures usually in the middle sixties (and Sometimes 70's) and visibility averaging about 40-50 feet (or more) but the best part is the wildlife! Atlantic Sandtiger Sharks are usually present on all the wrecks with many of them being very young and seeing divers for the very first time. This tends to mean that encounters are more up close and personal than later in the year. In addition to shark encounters, Rays, Turtles and Ocean Sunfish are seen with more regularity. The shear quantities of fish on the wrecks defy description. Our next confirmed trip is scheduled for 20-21 April and currently has 10 spots available. We are also available to run this coming weekend as well as any day through May 9th, when the bulk of our Summer schedule begins. It's beginning to look like another great year of "Diving the Graveyard of the Atlantic". If you want to join us check the schedule below and e-mail Captain Bob at diverdown@cl*.co* or call 252-240-2043 for reservations. There are several charters, which may have spots open through the charter group. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses can be provided upon request if you are interested in joining one of these groups. Please check our schedule below for details on open dates and open spots. Lodging: For the most convenient accommodations in the area and the friendliest proprietors contact Billy and Barbara at the Fisherman's Inn, fishermansinn@ma*.cl*.co*, 252-726-2273 or 800-347-4571 in the mid-atlantic region. They are only about 20 steps from our boat and the rooms are clean and the rates very reasonable. Anyone wishing to book accommodations at the Fisherman's Inn needs to make arrangements as far in advance as possible to insure room availability. The rooms go just as fast as the spots on the boat. Location: We are still located on the Atlantic Beach Causeway (SR 58) right behind the Fisherman's Inn in Atlantic Beach, NC adjacent to Morehead City and Beaufort. Be sure to checkout our new and improved website at http://www.diverdownscubadiving.com/ for a picture of the boat and some more details on diving the historic wrecks in the "Graveyard of the Atlantic". Reservations: We are available to accept individual as well as group inquiries. Any weekend can be run as a three or four day weekend and we are now also available to run week day charters at your request. Reservations can be made through Captain Bobby Cox at 252-240-2043 or via e-mail, diverdown@cl*.co*. Our rates are very reasonable for Offshore Trips and extended Range Trips. Contact us for specific rates and group discounts. We have a 10 Diver minimum to run an offshore trip and carry a maximum of 18 divers. Cancellations must be received at least 30 days in advance of the charter to qualify for returns on deposits. Our regular departure time is 6:30 am and everyone should plan to be on the boat by 6:00 am unless other arrangements have been made. We are currently taking reservations for 2002 and 2003. Weekends don't last long so don't wait too long or all the spots will be gone. We are also open to run Weekday Trips! 2002 CHARTER SCHEDULE April 10-12 Wed-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 13-14 Sat-Sun (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 15-19 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 20-21 Sat-Sun (10 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 22-26 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 27-28 Sat-Sun (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 29-30 Mon-Tue (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 May 1-3 Wed-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 4-5 Sat-Sun (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 6-10 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 11-12 Sat-Sun (6 spots open) Jim Smith & Friends, Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 13-17 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 18-19 Sat-Sun (Chartered) Scubaventures, Winchester, VA 20-24 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 25-27 Sat-Mon (Chartered) Red, Wet & Blue, Dallas, TX 28-30 Tue-Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 31 Fri (Chartered) Chesapeake Bay Barracudas, Portsmouth, VA June 1-2 Sat-Sun (Chartered) Chesapeake Bay Barracudas, Portsmouth, VA 3-6 Mon-Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 7-9 Fri-Sun (Chartered) Underwater Adventure Seekers 10-14 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 15-17 Sat-Mon (Chartered) Red, Wet & Blue, Dallas, TX 18-20 Tue-Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 21-23 Fri-Sun (Chartered) Maryland Hydronauts Dive Club 24-27 Mon-Thu (Chartered) Sub-Aqua Training Systems, NJ 28-30 Fri-Sun (Chartered) Laurel Divers, PA July 1-3 Mon-Wed (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 4-7 Thu-Sun (Chartered) Red, Wet & Blue, Dallas, TX 8-10 Mon-Wed (10 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 11 Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 12-14 Fri-Sun (Chartered) Atlantic Edge, Gaithersburg, MD 15-19 Mon-Fri (Chartered) Planet Ocean Dive Club, NJ 20-21 Sat-Sun (Chartered) Dive Quarters, Virginia Beach, VA 22-26 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 27-29 Sat-Mon (Chartered) Red, Wet & Blue, Dallas, TX 30-31 Tue-Wed (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 August 1 Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 2-4 Fri-Sun (Chartered) Chesapeake Bay Barracudas, Portsmouth, VA 5-8 Mon-Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 9-12 Fri-Mon (Chartered) Red, Wet & Blue, Dallas, TX 13-15 Tue-Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 16-18 Fri-Sun (Chartered) Brass Anchor, MD 19-23 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 24-26 Sat-Mon (Chartered) Red, Wet & Blue, Dallas, TX 27-29 Tue-Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 30 Fri (9 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 31 Sat (Chartered) Regency Divers, New Jersey September 1-2 Sun-Mon (Chartered) Regency Divers, New Jersey 3-6 Tue-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 7-8 Sat-Sun (Chartered) Dive Quarters, Virginia Beach, VA 9-13 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 14-15 Sat-Sun (Chartered) Scubaventures, Winchester, VA 16-20 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 21-22 Sat-Sun (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 23-27 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 28-29 Sat-Sun (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 30 Mon (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 October 1-4 Tue-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 5-7 Sat-Mon (Chartered) Red, Wet & Blue, Dallas, TX 8-11 Tue-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 12-13 Sat-Sun (Chartered) Dive Quarters, Virginia Beach, VA 14-18 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 19-20 Sat-Sun (Chartered) Maryland Aquaholics Dive Club 21-25 Mon-Fri (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 26-27 Sat-Sun (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 28-31 Mon-Thu (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 November 1-30 (18 spots open) Contact Diver Down, 252-240-2043 We will continue to keep you updated on openings, as they become open. We hope to be diving with you soon in the warm, clear Gulf Stream waters off of Morehead City, North Carolina. Thank you and Safe Diving, Roy Cowan Diver Down Charters Divemaster dm99270@ms*.co* http://www.diverdownscubadiving.com/ "You can't learn to dive on the net, sooner or later you have to get in the water" Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East Coast & more Web Site http://www.capt-jt.com/ Email captjt@mi*.co* -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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