Richard Wait
- Richard Wait's trip Hermes Expedition
Down the shotline to the midsection and towards the bow (ship sank to port). Lots of life but the wreck is very collapsed. Visited the starboard anchor (only spotted one - later I found the second). Nick forgot to fill crack bottle so back up the shotline.
First camera dive, again down the shot line but this time to the stern. Saw one of the props (Port side). Again lots of life - many Lion fish. Ascended up on SMB with an Angel fish in tow. Only downer of the dive, Ninja2 cable broken :( So no viewfinder. Long dive (it felt) Long deco.
Afternoon dive, so no camera, as it got choppy for the 2nd dive. Headed again to Bow section and followed lots of life around, on way back saw Luke and Nigel fiddling with kit on bottom - didn't ask for help. Forgot SMB, so came up the shotline (early) Very bumpy and wished I had the SMB!
Early start - 05:15!! Again heading for the bow to get some nice video. Saw both of the starboard anchors, swam through a lovely coral garden. Headed back to midsection, found the bow toliets and massive anchor chain pullers. Videoing the wheelhouse (or was it the crows nest..?) and surrounding area.
Dropped off the boat east of the wreck due to some current pulling us towards the current, so doing a free descent. Landed on Prop, I think there is another below. Again no camera, due to the conditions - which was ashame, as there was more fish life on the wreck than I've ever seen before! Swimming between the tuna!! circling me, swimming around me, amazing. At SMB deployment place, a big bagfish was happy to stick around with me - close enough I could touch it. Up on SMB and floated along with some current.
Only one dive today. Didn't take camera due to current on surface. Swimming from the props - we swam under the hanger deck corridors until Nick went inside, didn't venture inside and so lost Nick. Due to current, came up the lazy shot only to see the main shot - decided, even in the strong current to swim to the other shot - very hard work. At 10m I bagged off and drifted away from the shot line, saw Nick flying past me while hanging on the shot line - which showed how fast the current was. Feli and his wife were also diving the wreck. 18/35tx. Viz 15-20m Dark
Diving from the mid section internally through to the bow, passing under large corridors. Lost Nick, as he went inside (meet by Luke, Tom and NIgel) Viz wasn't particularlly good and the water temp was a little bit chilly. Strong currents from the stern to the bow at the bottom and on ascending current flowing the other way. Took camera. 21/35tx. Viz 15-20m Dark.
First proper look inside the wreck passing through hole on starboard (top) side and heading back towards the stern. Took camera inside, but due to lack of charge in batteries, I came out early - too tight with BO cylinders attached. Lost Yellow SMB on entery - only found out when i decided to use it while adfrift for 15min...very scary feeling. Rough weather, big troffs - couldn't see boats or land while waiting to be picked up.
Camera dive. Contining our exploration of the inside of midship area (towards the bow) we dived the day before, coming across the boilers and further the engine area. Saw remains, helmet, plates. turned around and continued up passages (towards bow) and found another room with cabling. VERY strong currents on way down to wreck - almost lost my camera.
Entering under the bridge towards the bow. Left tanks outside and explored inside the starboard side of the board in the the mess deck. Exited the wreck on the starboard side and so had to swim back to find out BO tanks, a few minutes of thinking - where are they! Lost mask on removing gear and getting on boat. Rough topside. tx19/20, bad visibiltiy on the wreck, but at 35m cleared to about 20m
Last dive of the trip, this time with Nigel in tow. Looks like I've lost my spare mask too - so luckily borrowed a Hollis M1 mask of David. Explored inside the midsection to the stern, finding whole plates, helmets and more remains. Very tight and quite bad visibility. On turning around to exit we lost nigel. Ascended on SMB. On 16/28tx. Viz 15m. Clam Water
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