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JT:
I love the way you try to make fun of the people that had more sense =
than to dive with you, whether the reason was that the dive was beyond =
their abilities and experience or that they just were using good =
judgment and abiding by rules no. 1 and 2.
You make the dive sound like a dare. What's up with that?
Best.
Joe
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Capt JT=20
To: vbtech@ci*.co*=20
Cc: techdiver@aquanaut.com ; FLTechDiver@mikey.net=20
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 11:19 AM
Subject: Lake Jocassee Project
Lake Jocassee is a dammed valley with depths at times to 350ft. After =
last years trip to the lake ( read about it here =
http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/display?51280,from =
) a new project was born. When the valley was flooded around 1968 =
several structures were left and is the bases for many rumors as to what =
is still there and who left what. With forest, roads, peaks, and who =
really knows what is down there, it was a challenge to find a starting =
point to began a search for some of these rumored things.
Jackie Smith who has many dives to the lake had started to follow a =
road that would lead him to a bridge, sound easy? Once you add in the =
depth of 300ft and distance one might have to swim while poking a rod =
down through the muck to feel for the road you get the feeling this will =
take some time. =20
Capt Bill Routh owner of "Off The Wall Dive Charters"( =
www.offthewalldiving.com ) had done 3 years of interviews and archives =
of old aerial soil assay pictures from the 60's. After endless hrs =
motoring around looking Bill contacted friends with a Side Scan Sonar , =
Jonathan Royer & Danelle Haley with Deep Seekers to help map the bottom. =
After a few days an area was located that showed what could be a bridge =
with a creek/river, the bridge was over what used to be White Water =
River that ran adjacent to a camp. An old photograph taken from someone =
standing on the bridge revealed a place called "Camp Jocassee". Camp =
Jocassee established in 1922 for girls ran until late 60's the summer =
before the DAM, it had a main building and residence for the camp owners =
and several concrete block cabins for the campers.The entrance to the =
camp was lined with stone walls with pillars on each side of a white =
picket fence gate as shown in the picture taken from the bridge looking =
toward the camp entrance.
=20
I asked Jackie if I could help and the project was born. Jackie =
arranged for the charter with Capt Bill Routh owner of "Off The Wall =
Dive Charters"( www.offthewalldiving.com ) and I assembled the group, I =
had at first limited it to 8 divers. Knowing that many would back out =
once the time came near I allowed 12 to commit. Saying you can do a =
300ft dive in cold water in very low vis and actually doing it are 2 =
different things. The first only takes your mouth, the second takes much =
more.=20
As the date came within a week the excuses started rolling in, I even =
heard one guy say his wife was planning on getting pregnant that weekend =
and he wanted to be there when it happened, so he couldn't make the =
dive. (not really true, but sounds good don't it)=20
With the group down to 7 we headed to the lake, one guy said his =
engine blew up, so we were down to 6 at dive time.=20
Capt. Bill with Samantha Swenson as crew (who did a great job) dropped =
a shot line in what was believed to be the old creek bed, the level of =
the lake was low and the depth here was only 315ft, some trees remained =
on each side of the creek and we believed that we could scooter it until =
we found the bridge and a lift bag would be deployed and secured to the =
bridge, then a permanent line could then be attached to it.=20
Tom Sawicki, Bill Ripley and myself were tasked for this and geared up =
for the dive. The air temp had warmed up from the morning cool of 33, to =
a cool of around 43. We entered the water carrying all gas needed for =
the dive, we were diving gas mixes and tables recommended by Tom, I am =
not allowed to disclose the mixes and tables. The water temp was 65 on =
top down to 80ft and did a drop to 46 degrees, vis went from 20ft down =
to 5ft around 200ft. Tom stopped at 225ft and called the dive during the =
descent, I could not understand why. Everyone returned Ok signs back to =
me and yet Tom still was calling the dive, I could not understand why. I =
asked Tom why and on his wet notes he wrote "VIS", I was pissed........ =
It is a standing rule that if one calls the dive we must all surface, =
but that did not mean I had to be happy about it. At one point I knocked =
my own mask off while moving stages around because I was so pissed. Once =
on the boat he explained that scootering in that low vis was not doable =
and we were getting to far apart for such low vis, he was correct, but =
we did not know it was that bad on the bottom yet, but later we would =
find he was right about that and was only concerned with every ones =
safety.=20
The plan was then changed and Jackie Smith, Charlie Johnson, and =
Rodney King (not that Rodney King) would go down another line that was =
dropped and hoped it had hooked the bridge(if it was there) or near it, =
hopefully not in the trees. We watched as they went down and could see =
they were not leaving the line. They surfaced to report that the hook =
had in fact snagged the bridge, but vis was less than 5ft.
With the first day gone, plans were made for the second day. Tom, =
Bill, Rodney, and myself would go down the line we left buoyed to the =
bridge,Tom would run a line from the bridge in a direction we believed =
the camp to be, Rodney would video, Bill and myself would stay near them =
and survey.=20
Once at the top of the bridge which was at 289ft I waited for everyone =
to show up, Rodney videoed while Tom and I secured the line to the =
bridge that would be run. Once everyone made the move away from the =
bridge I was at the rear and checked my gas(I was the only one using the =
same tanks from the first dive and they were less than full when we =
started, I had gave my second set of doubles to Tom to use). I had =
reached my turn pressure and returned to the bridge, vis was so bad they =
were not aware of this and I chose to remain close to the up line and =
just inspect the bridge to conserve gas. They returned with excitement =
in their eyes having run the line to a white picket fence that surrounds =
the camp which has stone pillars at the entrance and can be seen in the =
video, the reel was left on the fence for who ever goes next to run the =
line into the camp house which should be just inside.
Jackie and Charlie were tasked to take down a permanent line and chain =
it into the bridge that would be left for future dives, a keg was placed =
on the line 20ft under the surface and GPS coordinates were taken.=20
I will show the video at the VBtech meeting on Thursday and place =
photos on my site as soon as I can.
Hope you have enjoyed this report
Capt JT=20
=20
"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=20
Web Site http://www.capt-jt.com/
Email captjt@mi*.co*
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>JT:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I love the way you try to make fun =
of the=20
people that had more sense than to dive with you, whether the reason was =
that=20
the dive was beyond their abilities and experience or that they =
just were=20
using good judgment and abiding by rules no. 1 and 2.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>You make the dive sound like a =
dare. What's=20
up with that?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Best.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Joe</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dcaptjt@mi*.co* =
href=3D"mailto:captjt@mi*.co*">Capt JT</A>=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dvbtech@ci*.co*=20
href=3D"mailto:vbtech@ci*.co*">vbtech@cisatlantic.com</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A =
title=3Dtechdiver@aquanaut.com=20
href=3D"mailto:techdiver@aquanaut.com">techdiver@aquanaut.com</A> ; <A =
title=3DFLTechDiver@mikey.net=20
href=3D"mailto:FLTechDiver@mikey.net">FLTechDiver@mikey.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 06,
=
2002 11:19=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Lake Jocassee =
Project</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR>Lake Jocassee is a dammed valley with depths
at =
times to=20
350ft. After last years trip to the lake ( read about it here <A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/display?5128=
0,from"=20
=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/d=
isplay?51280,from</A>=20
) a new project was born. When the valley was flooded around 1968 =
several=20
structures were left and is the bases for many rumors as to what is =
still=20
there and who left what. With forest, roads, peaks, and who really =
knows what=20
is down there, it was a challenge to find a starting point to began a =
search=20
for some of these rumored things.<BR><BR>Jackie Smith who has many =
dives to=20
the lake had started to follow a road that would lead him to a bridge, =
sound=20
easy? Once you add in the depth of 300ft and distance one might have =
to swim=20
while poking a rod down through the muck to feel for the road you get =
the=20
feeling this will take some time. <BR><BR>Capt Bill Routh owner =
of "Off=20
The Wall Dive Charters"( <A href=3D"http://www.offthewalldiving.com/"=20
eudora=3D"autourl"><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><U>www.offthewalldiving.com</A></FONT></U>
) had =
done 3=20
years of interviews and archives of old aerial soil assay pictures =
from the=20
60's. After endless hrs motoring around looking Bill contacted friends =
with a=20
Side Scan Sonar , Jonathan Royer & Danelle Haley with Deep Seekers =
to help=20
map the bottom. After a few days an area was located that showed what =
could be=20
a bridge with a creek/river, the bridge was over what used to be White =
Water=20
River that ran adjacent to a camp. An old photograph taken from =
someone=20
standing on the bridge revealed a place called "Camp Jocassee". Camp =
Jocassee=20
established in 1922 for girls ran until late 60's the summer before =
the DAM,=20
it had a main building and residence for the camp owners and several =
concrete=20
block cabins for the campers.The entrance to the camp was lined with =
stone=20
walls with pillars on each side of a white picket fence gate as shown =
in the=20
picture taken from the bridge looking toward the camp =
entrance.<BR> <BR>I=20
asked Jackie if I could help and the project was born. Jackie arranged =
for the=20
charter with Capt Bill Routh owner of "Off The Wall Dive Charters"( <A =
href=3D"http://www.offthewalldiving.com/" eudora=3D"autourl"><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><U>www.offthewalldiving.com</A></FONT></U>
) and =
I=20
assembled the group, I had at first limited it to 8 divers. Knowing =
that many=20
would back out once the time came near I allowed 12 to commit. Saying =
you can=20
do a 300ft dive in cold water in very low vis and actually doing it =
are 2=20
different things. The first only takes your mouth, the second takes =
much more.=20
<BR><BR>As the date came within a week the excuses started rolling in, =
I even=20
heard one guy say his wife was planning on getting pregnant that =
weekend and=20
he wanted to be there when it happened, so he couldn't make the dive. =
(not=20
really true, but sounds good don't it) <BR>With the group down to 7 we =
headed=20
to the lake, one guy said his engine blew up, so we were down to 6 at =
dive=20
time. <BR><BR>Capt. Bill with Samantha Swenson as crew (who did a =
great job)=20
dropped a shot line in what was believed to be the old creek bed, the =
level of=20
the lake was low and the depth here was only 315ft, some trees =
remained on=20
each side of the creek and we believed that we could scooter it until =
we found=20
the bridge and a lift bag would be deployed and secured to the bridge, =
then a=20
permanent line could then be attached to it. <BR><BR>Tom Sawicki, Bill =
Ripley=20
and myself were tasked for this and geared up for the dive. The air =
temp had=20
warmed up from the morning cool of 33, to a cool of around 43. We =
entered the=20
water carrying all gas needed for the dive, we were diving gas mixes =
and=20
tables recommended by Tom, I am not allowed to disclose the mixes and =
tables.=20
The water temp was 65 on top down to 80ft and did a drop to 46 =
degrees, vis=20
went from 20ft down to 5ft around 200ft. Tom stopped at 225ft and =
called the=20
dive during the descent, I could not understand why. Everyone returned =
Ok=20
signs back to me and yet Tom still was calling the dive, I could not=20
understand why. I asked Tom why and on his wet notes he wrote "VIS", I =
was=20
pissed........ It is a standing rule that if one calls the dive we =
must all=20
surface, but that did not mean I had to be happy about it. At one =
point I=20
knocked my own mask off while moving stages around because I was so =
pissed.=20
Once on the boat he explained that scootering in that low vis was not =
doable=20
and we were getting to far apart for such low vis, he was correct, but =
we did=20
not know it was that bad on the bottom yet, but later we would find he =
was=20
right about that and was only concerned with every ones safety. =
<BR><BR>The=20
plan was then changed and Jackie Smith, Charlie Johnson, and Rodney =
King (not=20
that Rodney King) would go down another line that was dropped and =
hoped it had=20
hooked the bridge(if it was there) or near it, hopefully not in the =
trees. We=20
watched as they went down and could see they were not leaving the =
line. They=20
surfaced to report that the hook had in fact snagged the bridge, but =
vis was=20
less than 5ft.<BR><BR>With the first day gone, plans were made for the =
second=20
day. Tom, Bill, Rodney, and myself would go down the line we left =
buoyed to=20
the bridge,Tom would run a line from the bridge in a direction we =
believed the=20
camp to be, Rodney would video, Bill and myself would stay near them =
and=20
survey. <BR><BR>Once at the top of the bridge which was at 289ft I =
waited for=20
everyone to show up, Rodney videoed while Tom and I secured the line =
to the=20
bridge that would be run. Once everyone made the move away from the =
bridge I=20
was at the rear and checked my gas(I was the only one using the same =
tanks=20
from the first dive and they were less than full when we started, I =
had gave=20
my second set of doubles to Tom to use). I had reached my turn =
pressure and=20
returned to the bridge, vis was so bad they were not aware of this and =
I chose=20
to remain close to the up line and just inspect the bridge to conserve =
gas.=20
They returned with excitement in their eyes having run the line to a =
white=20
picket fence that surrounds the camp which has stone pillars at the =
entrance=20
and can be seen in the video, the reel was left on the fence for who =
ever goes=20
next to run the line into the camp house which should be just=20
inside.<BR><BR>Jackie and Charlie were tasked to take down a permanent =
line=20
and chain it into the bridge that would be left for future dives, a =
keg was=20
placed on the line 20ft under the surface and GPS coordinates were =
taken.=20
<BR><BR>I will show the video at the VBtech meeting on Thursday and =
place=20
photos on my site as soon as I can.<BR><BR>Hope you have enjoyed this=20
report<BR>Capt JT <BR><BR><BR>
<BR><BR><BR>"You =
can't learn=20
to dive on the net, sooner or later you have to get in the =
water"<BR><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><U>Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East =
Coast &=20
more <BR> Web Site <A href=3D"http://www.capt-jt.com/"=20
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.capt-jt.com</A><A =
href=3D"http://www.capt-jt.com/"=20
eudora=3D"autourl">/<BR></A>Email =20
captjt@mi*.co*<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></U></BODY></HTML
>
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