OT - Sinking Of An Aircraft Carrier!

[saltyshoe_nano]

Has anyone seen this show, the us navy sinks the USS Ariskine (sp?) an aircraft carrier from the vietnam war. It will become the larges man made (artificial) reef in the world! I bet you could find more Info on the net but sounds pretty cool!

 

[scbadiver]

You're something else! It was the "Oriskany". It was sunk a few years ago about 20 miles off Pensacola Beach, Fl. The keel sits at about 200 feet deep but the conning tower starts at about 50-60 feet. There are several dive shops in P-cola that offer day trips to it. Whenever Fort Pickens National Park re-opens my buddies and I are going down to dive it. The huricanes removed the road from the beach that gets you to the campground. It's supposed to re-open sometime this summer.

 

[saltyshoe_nano]

lol well I just saw the tv show lastnight lol and it was late well kinda late lol man I feel stupid now thanks robbie lol

 

[scbadiver]

Don't feel stupid! I just like to pick on you, thats all. I haven't seen the show yet but I'd love to. Its a really neat deal. Get certified to dive and we'll go look at it!

 

[saltyshoe_nano]

lol are you kiddin me Im clostrophobic lol Ill endup blackin out! XP lol that would be neat to see I will have to over come my clostrophobia and we'll see

 

[scbadiver]

Here is a site with lots of pics and info on it too;

http://www.visitpensacola.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=125

 

[icepick96]

scbadiver,

Have you ever done any local diving? I know it's not as exciting but can be cool. Never now you might come face to face with a big ol catfish or even a gar.

 

[scbadiver]

Yep, done a bunch and yes, I have come face to face with many big ol' cats. Once, on a night dive at Tablerock Lake, with a student on her first night dive no less, I put my light on a little 2 inch sunfish hanging over a rock. She reached out to touch the little fish, it moved a little and huge mouth opened right behind it a sucked it in! Her scream was almost defening even underwater. pretty cool and funny. We were able to get her settled down and she still dives .

I also do a lot of diving right near you at the Quail Run Quarry just outside of Rolla. Have you been there?

 

[scbadiver]

Speaking of carriers, ck out this pic of the CVN 76, The Ronald Reagan performing "rudder checks". That must be awsome to have an 1100 foot boat banking into a hard turn! What a ride!

http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/027650.jpg

 

[saltyshoe_nano]

lol my com. is crap it wont bring it up

 

[scbadiver]

Nope, my link was crap, try it again. sorry!

 

[scbadiver]

Nope. it is a cool picture though. I'll try to fix it later.

 

[saltyshoe_nano]

lol 3rd times the charm!

 

[icepick96]

scbadiver,

Never heard of Quail Run Quarry, I'll have to check it out.

Never thought about diving a freshwater lake at night..... only been on one night dive down in the Flordia Keys. I was pumped the whole dive.....until my dive partner had issues with her BCD and we went topside. I think she was sacred of the dark.

 

[scbadiver]

Night dives are awesome, even in freshwater. It's just an entirely different look and feel to eveything. The fish flash when you put your light on them. We did MANY night dives at that quarry. I used to take the camper there and Mary Jane, the lady who owns it, let us camp there. My daughter was in her early teens back then and we'd teach classes all day and then we'd do fun dives at night. You can shine your light on a little bluegill and soon a bass will see it flicker and suck it up. Very cool to watch. If you haven't done it, you should. Make sure you have good lights (at least 2!) and a good buddy and you'll really enjoy it. Night dives on a reef though, WOW, that is the best diving ever IMO.

Quail Run is right between hwy V and 63 on the southside of 44.
I think 10th street in rolla runs south or east off of 63 and takes you to it. Seems like the left turn is just past a Hucks gas station but I'm not sure. I haven't been out there in a few years.