Doria Trip Photos

[theskull]

OK, I finally got them, and the best of them are available for you to view at:

www.the-skull.com/doria (http://www.the-skull.com/doria)

Enjoy!

theskull

[do it easy]

Thanks for posting the photos. It looks like you had 3 sets of doubles- would you be able to work with 2 sets?

I was surprised to see the ocean was that flat- is that unusual or am I just not seeing the scale correctly?

[Atlaua]

OK, I finally got them, and the best of them are available for you to view at:

www.the-skull.com/doria (http://www.the-skull.com/doria)

Enjoy!

theskull


I think I know somebody in some of those pictures. Oh wait, it's you!

I've read both versions of the Rouse's demise, but it wasn't until I saw this that I really realized how difficult a rescue it must have been:

http://www.the-skull.com/doria/Boatfullagear.jpg

These are great pics but they have me torn. Part of me is thrilled that there are still wrecks with stuff left to take. The other part of me is morning the rape.

Either way, fantastic pics!

James

[theskull]

Thanks for posting the photos. It looks like you had 3 sets of doubles- would you be able to work with 2 sets?

I was surprised to see the ocean was that flat- is that unusual or am I just not seeing the scale correctly?

The trip plan was for a possibility of 5 dives if all conditions were perfect. In this case we would have used 3 sets of doubles with 17/50 and topped them off with air to still have app. 18/30 for an additional 2 dives. Likewise, the EAN 50 bottles could have been topped off to get app. EAN 36 for a second dive. O2 was carried as a contingency, as the boat supplied O2 at the deco hang station. So yes, you could get by with 2 sets of doubles and bottles as long as you were OK with knowing you could not get more than 4 dives on the trip. In our case, noone got more than 4 dives anyway, and most got 2 or 3.

Yes, the ocean was that flat! If only the current had cooperated as well. I understand the folks who were out last weekend had all 4--flat seas, little current, great viz, and 70 F water for the shallower deco stops! That's one of the things that makes a Doria trip such a gamble, the conditions can vary tremendously and with little advance notice.

theskull

[theskull]

I think I know somebody in some of those pictures. Oh wait, it's you!

I've read both versions of the Rouse's demise, but it wasn't until I saw this that I really realized how difficult a rescue it must have been:
These are great pics but they have me torn. Part of me is thrilled that there are still wrecks with stuff left to take. The other part of me is morning the rape.

Either way, fantastic pics!

James

James,

The wreck is now collapsing. What was the Promenade deck is now just a debris field. I understand your feelings, but anything worth taking that is not taken will soon be crushed, washed away, or buried in a pile of rubble. This is one case where I am very much in favor of souvenir-taking. Wish I had come across something worth shoving into my goodie bag. :)

theskull

[juls64]

Wow. Great pictures. I can only imagine the feeling on the first dive when you got down there and realized you were finally seeing the Doria.


Mola Mola - Weird Weird !

Thanks for sharing with us!


Julie

[MgicTwnger]

Yeah, Bill. Amazing, just amazing.

[nauifins73]

Great photos! It does look like a trip of a lifetime - the photo of the gear is amazing!

Since I haven't yet had the pleasure of getting to meet you is the photo title WH Last Day you?

[Atlaua]

James,

The wreck is now collapsing. What was the Promenade deck is now just a debris field. I understand your feelings, but anything worth taking that is not taken will soon be crushed, washed away, or buried in a pile of rubble. This is one case where I am very much in favor of souvenir-taking. Wish I had come across something worth shoving into my goodie bag. :)

theskull

I didn't mean to sound like I was judging. Yea, I'd prefer that these little historical gems be left for those that come after, or in a case like this, moved to a museum for all to see, but I'm not so opposed to it that you'd catch me tongue lashing someone on a boat. I take much more offence at divers dragging their <insert your favorite dive equipment here> all over a reef.

I'd be darn tempted to grab a plate or cup if it was one of many myself...

James

[theskull]

Great photos! It does look like a trip of a lifetime - the photo of the gear is amazing!

Since I haven't yet had the pleasure of getting to meet you is the photo title WH Last Day you?

Yep. I'm also the one in the photo of the diver geared up and seated on deck ready to dive. Didn't you recognize the eyes? ;)

theskull

[sobfrogg]

I can't get the link to work :(

[nitroxbabe]

I can't get the link to work :(

Me neither! I want to see your Mola Mola photos, Bill... :)

[divbum]

[quote=theskull;9791]OK, I finally got them, and the best of them are available for you to view at:

www.the-skull.com/doria (http://www.the-skull.com/doria)

Enjoy!

theskull[/quote
Not working for me...

[Scubacat]

whhhaaaaaa. Can't get over to your site to view the pics. Site says it is directing me to an external page & then flips me over to that white screen that says there's either a problem with the site or it may not be in existance. wwwhhhhhhaaaaaa, I want to see, haha

[theskull]

All fixed. Site is up and running again.

Sorry.

theskull

[Scubacat]

Cool photos! I especially like the group photo w/the dude hanging from the top of the boat :D LOL. Nah, seriously their fantastic & OMG, look at all that gear!

[nitroxbabe]

Very cool photos Bill!

Great shot of the Mola Mola - one of these days I'm going to see one up close (but don't touch it, right?) :)

That looks like such an amazing trip... I am so envious of the guy w/the teacup...

Next year, trimix training - then, who knows?

[sobfrogg]

VERY COOL PICS.

I would like to get out there once before shes gone. A tea cup would be very cool. Just to touch her.......

[theskull]

Very cool photos Bill!

Great shot of the Mola Mola - one of these days I'm going to see one up close (but don't touch it, right?) :)

That looks like such an amazing trip... I am so envious of the guy w/the teacup...

Next year, trimix training - then, who knows?

Yes it was an amazing trip. But just in case I left the wrong impression, let me clear up that most of the photos (and ALL the UW photos) were not taken by me. The guy with the teacup also found a saucer, but those were the only china retrievals on our trip. We were sort of in the wrong location for china, and had to spend a good part of our effort and attention on staying ON the wreck due to the strong bottom currents.

There is still plenty of china to be found, though. A group a couple weeks ago got a number of pieces--lucky dogs had very little current the whole weekend.

theskull

[Dean810]

Wow! Now they are even ripping the sinks out of the boat! I guess they must have missed the toilet.

[juls64]

After returning from North Carolina, I pulled out my Deep Descent book to re-read about Mike DeCamp and see his pictures that were in the book. He was aboard the Olympus in NC with us one day. He led the first Sport Diving trip on the Andrea Doria in 1966. 40 years of divers aspiring to get to this wreck. Still pretty cool. Think of all the advances since then. Drysuits, better gauges, computers, mixed gases. He still dives independent doubles.

[nitram]

Just saw the pic,s. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! As a new diver you can imagine how in awe I really am. WOW, again.

[nitram]

I just got back from Sturgis, SD. I thought it was awesome scenery out there. re, the badlands etc, WOW to those pic,s.

[nitroxbabe]

Wow! Now they are even ripping the sinks out of the boat! I guess they must have missed the toilet.

Well, in my experience men frequently miss the toilet.


:p

[sobfrogg]

Well, in my experience men frequently miss the toilet.


:p


And we'll hit the sinks if the moment is right:)

[theskull]

Well, in my experience men frequently miss the toilet.


:p

Good one! Did you have to pay for that straight line?

theskull

[reefraff]

OK, WH, color me officially green. Quite the trip, thanks for sharing the photos and comments with us.

Heh. I met Mike on the the little boat a few years ago when Bobby was taking us further offshore - he's quite a character and more than a little inspiring. Still wearing doubles and a beavertail and using a scooter, 40 miles from shore. Some of the stories he told made my toes curl (rethreading fire extinguishers to use as pony bottles was a favorite) but my hat is definitely off to him and his cohorts.
After returning from North Carolina, I pulled out my Deep Descent book to re-read about Mike DeCamp and see his pictures that were in the book. He was aboard the Olympus in NC with us one day. He led the first Sport Diving trip on the Andrea Doria in 1966. 40 years of divers aspiring to get to this wreck. Still pretty cool. Think of all the advances since then. Drysuits, better gauges, computers, mixed gases. He still dives independent doubles.

[theskull]

OK, WH, color me officially green. Quite the trip, thanks for sharing the photos and comments with us.

Heh. I met Mike on the the little boat a few years ago when Bobby was taking us further offshore - he's quite a character and more than a little inspiring. Still wearing doubles and a beavertail and using a scooter, 40 miles from shore. Some of the stories he told made my toes curl (rethreading fire extinguishers to use as pony bottles was a favorite) but my hat is definitely off to him and his cohorts.

I understand. I felt the same way being on the same boat with Gary Gilligan and Joel Silverstein, and listening to them share stories from early days diving the Doria from the Seeker and Wahoo. My "apex experience" was just another day at the beach for them.

[juls64]

OK, WH, color me officially green. Quite the trip, thanks for sharing the photos and comments with us.

Heh. I met Mike on the the little boat a few years ago when Bobby was taking us further offshore - he's quite a character and more than a little inspiring. Still wearing doubles and a beavertail and using a scooter, 40 miles from shore. Some of the stories he told made my toes curl (rethreading fire extinguishers to use as pony bottles was a favorite) but my hat is definitely off to him and his cohorts.


Ah, you forgot to mention the Jersey reel!

[Dean810]

Once they rip everything out of the boat, it probably will collapse for sure

[nitroxbabe]

Good one! Did you have to pay for that straight line?

theskull

Thank you, thank you very much.

I owe him a beer for sure. That was way too good. :)