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  • Nº97 # Date: 2012-07-24 - 14:30
  • # Max Depth: 20.1m Duration: 50mins
Diver's Notes

(Jill 47): USS Kittiwake (enter ship specs from sheet) For this one you have to drive over to West Bay and park next to the Burger King that will let you drive your boat up to get hamburgers (if you call ahead, they will bring them down to the dock). So, we came in, had a nice lunch at the condo and then drove ourselves over. The Kittiwake is a former Submarine Rescue vessel whose job was to rescue sailors from downed submarines. It was intentionally sunk about 18 months ago as an artificial reef. Supposedly most of its missions are still classified, and it assisted in the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster recovery. It was placed closer to shore than it is now because a big storm pulled it 60 feet farther out and closer to the reef and wall. It is still upright, though listing slightly. We descended on the bow and swam about 270 degrees around the ship, between the propeller and rudder at the stern. Then we entered below decks and swam the length of the ship back to about the bow, and then we went along the main deck (outside) and zig zagged in and out a bit, even going into the bathroom where there is still a mirror in which you can see yourself. Lots of tiny Silverside fish filling the wreck at points to where there was no visibility due to all the tiny fish. Then swam up to the bridge. Divers with more than 1000 pounds could then stay down and the rest had to go up. Jill and I were the only ones with enough air to stay down (though I fudged - I was at 950). I presume Virginia could have stayed down, but she chose to return with Darryl to the boat. So, we swam around for a few more minutes and then returned to the boat. This was the first time I had ever dove without a wetsuit. I got a tiny bit cold at times, but overall was comfortable. I could have used a few less pounds of weight for certain without the wetsuit. Not sure I will do it again since I got a little cold, but was nice.


7/24/12 14:30
Depth: 66
Time: 50
Weight: 12 lbs (good)
Wetsuit: 3M Shorty
Visibility: ~60'
Water Temp: 86
Air Temp: 90
Conditions: Calm, some light chop
Weather: partly cloudy

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  • Dive type : Recreational, Wreck
  • Visibility: Good Water: Salt
Specific gear used
  • Weights: 5.4 kg
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