STDC newsletter - Sea Turtle Charters.com

March 18, 2009
S EA TURTLE
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Block Island
Beneath the Sea
Side Mount Rebreathers
Featured Wreck
Plan a mini vacation with us on
We’ll be there, booth 423.
Information on Bill Gambrill’s
This page is devoted to not so well
Block Island, the “Bermuda of
Stop by and see what we look
new manufacturing company,
known wrecks we dive. In this
the North”.
like after the winter.
Side Mount Rebreather Systems
issue it’s the Gurney’s Barge
Inc..
wreck off Montauk.
Page 3
Page 4
Page 2
Page 3
WELCOME TO THE SECOND ISSUE
This is our second issue and it’s filled with information about local diving from our
two boats, the Sea Turtle, out of Montauk, and the Sidekick, out of Shinnecock.
After a rough January and February, we’ve been very fortunate thus far in March and
Ted McCoy
Ted is the featured crew
member on page 5.
Read about what he’s up to.
have been out the the past three weekends with beautiful conditions above and below
the water. The most memorable dive: the Larchmont on the 21st where we enjoyed
over 50’ of visibility on the wreck, with ample sunlight, in 120’ of water! The Sidekick
will continue to run out of Montauk through the month of April until the Sea Turtle is
launched, then the Sidekick will return to its seasonal slip in Shinnecock. We have a
very exciting schedule planned for the next few
months and this can be a great time of year to
experience some awesome visibility on the inshore
wrecks. So, get your stuff tuned up and join us or
one of the other great dive boats in the Northeast
and go diving!
Capt. Chuck Wade
Sea turtle dive charters llc
Top photo: Lightburne wreck by Ted McCoy
Bottom left: Larchmont paddle wheel 03/21/09
www.seaturtlecharters.com
March 18, 2009
B LO C K IS LA ND EX P ED ITIO NS
Take a vacation close to home!
Maybe this year would be a good year take a
vacation to a small beautiful island with white
sandy beaches, clear water and great diving? No
I’m not talking about the Caribbean. I’m talking
about Block Island “the Bermuda of the North”.
We offer multi-day vacation packages to Block
Island for both divers and non divers. Come out
and explore the island both above and below the
water! For divers, we
offer wreck diving
from 10’-300’. Shark
cage expeditions offer
two days of diving on
wrecks and in the
cage. Air and Nitrox
fills are available on the island. For non-divers, we
offer snorkeling and site seeing excursions during
your visit. Stay on the boat at the dock. The Sea
Turtle is equipped with six bunks for a camping
like atmosphere. For those that want more privacy,
the island hosts many hotels and B&B’s available
at your cost. For someone traveling a long distance
to dive with us, this is the best way to relax and
enjoy our diving. A Block Island expedition is also
a great way to complete dive training or take a full
rebreather course with us. For more information
or to set up your own expedition contact us by
email [email protected]
The Island
Block Island is a picturesque island with rolling hills that lead
to steep cliffs facing the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the land is
preserved and the waters that surround it are clean
and blue. Block Island was named by the The Nature
Conservancy as one of twelve sites in its list of
"The Last Great Places" in the Western
Hemisphere. The one village, set on the water,
comes to life during the summer season with
restaurants, stores, boats, outdoor activities,
night life and more.
An expedition for everyone
• Wreck Diving - These excursions are designed to explore the shipwrecks
around the island ranging in depth from 10’ to 300’. Sign on to one of our
scheduled trips or put together your own group and dive where and when you
choose.
•Shark Diving - On the shark expeditions, we do a combination of shark cage
diving and open water/wreck diving. Usually, the day includes a morning dive
around Block then off with the cage to the deep blue waters and the big fish.
•U-853 - The German submarine, U-853, rests only 7 miles from B.I. This is a
great way to get in multiple dives on this fascinating wreck with rich history.
We have scheduled trips for individuals and are available for private groups.
•Friends and Family - Block has the areas best snorkeling with some
absolutely beautiful wrecks in only 10-20’ of water. Put together your own
custom trip with divers and snorkelers for an exciting summer vacation.
Sea turtle dive charters llc
Sea Turtle tied up for the night in
Old Harbor, B.I.
Above: All rebreather B.I. trip 2007
www.seaturtlecharters.com
March 18, 2009
S ID E MO UNT REB REA TH ERS
Why side mount?
“Setting the standard for serious underwater exploration”
Side Mount Rebreather Systems Inc. has
been formed by Bill Gambrill to provide parts
and custom fabrications to convert a standard
Megalodon, Prism or Hammerhead rebreather
into fully functional side mount rebreather. Side
mount has its advantages both above and below
the water. Above
the water the unit
is disassembled in
smaller pieces
making it lighter to
carry and easier to
travel with. Below
the water, the
advantages include better trim and a lower
profile. These two advantages alone make
diving a side mount unit feel “like diving with
no gear”. Want to get in that room that no one
else has? Want to swim more effortlessly?
Then maybe it’s time to convert your rig.
SMR’s website www.smrebreathers.com includes a
complete list of components available to make
your own conversion.
Bill Gambrill
Bill Has been diving a rebreather since 1999 and in fact, was one of
the first people to introduce me and a long list of other divers to the
rebreather world. Over the years, his experience and tonacidy has led
to his own side mount rebreather conversion and start of SMR. He was
inspired by his obsession with finding wreck artifacts. Bill has traveled
the world diving his side mount rig to places such as; Truk Lagoon,
Dominican Republic, Florida’s Cave Country, Lake Huron and Catalina
Island, Ca. For more photos of the rig in use see his “in use” page.
www.smrebreathers.com/why_SideMount.htm
Beneath the Sea
Rebreathers, videos and beer
Top right photo: Bill Gambrill
diving his Prism conversion in
Catalina, Is. October 2008
Above Left: Bill with fellow Prism
convertee diver , Bill Graham.
Photos by: Capt. Chuck
Bottom: Capt. Chuck working
out for BTS.
Photo by: Carl Bayer
BTS is one of the biggest and best dive trade shows anywhere and is
taking place on March 27th-29th in Secacus, NJ. We will be there,
booth 423, so come to the show and stop by to see us. We will be
sharing a booth with Bill Gambrill and his collection of new side
mount rebreather stuff. We will also be playing some great video
footage of our local diving and introducing our prototype “rebeerer”.
Sea Turtle Dive Charters LLC is also is Megalodon rebreather dealer/
trainer, so if you’re thinking about taking the plunge come talk to us about options, training and
costs. Also at the show will be Innerspace (the creator and manufacturer of the “Meg” booth
605) This is one weekend the weather can do whatever it wants, so raise and glass and let it blow!
Sea turtle dive charters llc
www.seaturtlecharters.com
March 18, 2009
F EA TURED WREC K
Gurney’s Barge
Not just another barge
I’ve been diving since 1983 and started diving Montauk
waters in 1986, doing shore dives such as the Culloden, jetties and
Fort Pond Bay. In 1989, I started working for Uihlein’s Marina
and boat rental. With this job came the perk of boat usage after
hours or on days off. This perk led to my fascination with local
wrecks and N.E. diving in general. From a local fisherman friend,
I quickly learned of some well known
wrecks in the area and was even given
loran numbers. Sounds simple right?
Okay maybe if I knew what loran was or
if one of the rental boats at least had
one... solution, buy one! So, I bought my
first loran and rigged it with alligator clips
and a make shift antenna holder to move
from boat to boat and we were off to
Gurney’s Barge (we being myself and
now captain, Dan Guinta; I think Dan was still in grade school).
Of course it’s fogging; that’s okay we have a compass, the new
loran and a day off. We’re going! “Dan get on the bow and
lookout for the beach or rocks or boats or anything we don’t want
to run into”. After mistaking some rips for the beach and taking a
zig zag course, we finally make it to the barge or at least we think
we’re close. “Boy, a depth finder would be nice to have right now”.
At this point we decide to just start throwing the anchor, not a
couple times, more like hours of throwing and
drifting with the anchor. Finally, we got it... let’s
go diving! So we gear up and just before we get
in, the anchor pulls out. Now we’re back to
throwing, drifting, sweating, cursing and
thinking about calling it a day when we hook it
again. This time we get in real fast and have
an incredible first dive on Gurney’s Barge.
Compared to diving the beaches, the visibility
is like something I didn’t think existed “up here” and seeing a real
intact wreck for the first time was inspiring to say the least. This
day led us to years of exploring the wrecks around Montauk,
Fisher’s Island and Block Island in a 20’ rental boat equipped with
one loran, a compass and a thirst for adventure. Those adventures
led to Sea Turtle Dive Charters and the adventure continues!
Top right: Skeletal remains from the
inside out.
Top left: School of scup inside the barge.
Photos by: Ted Mccoy
Sea turtle dive charters llc
Wreck Facts:
The name Gurney’s Barge comes only from the fact
that the wreck lies 1 1/2 miles south of Gurney’s Inn
in Montauk. Rumors have it that the barge sank
during a storm in the ’70’s. The wreck is mostly
intact and laying upside down in 60’ of water. The
barge is much as you might picture: rectangular in
shape and thus easy to navigate. Overall dimensions
are 110’ long by 50’ wide. One side of the barge is
almost completely buried in the sand, while the
other side is totally exposed with 10’ of relief from
the white sandy bottom. This is the side that faces
south and is usually lit up by the sun. When we first
started diving the wreck, it was almost completely
dark inside with multiple rooms to navigate. Over
recent years, much of the hull plating has started to
cave in, leaving easy access to the inside of the
wreck and allowing ample light to penetrate. The
barge swarms with life. Looking out from the
inside of the wreck is like looking into a giant
aquarium of North Atlantic marine life.
www.seaturtlecharters.com
March 18, 2009
C REW P A G E
Ted McCoy
Ted McCoy really needs someone to
write a book about his diving experiences,
but I’ll do what I can in a paragraph or
two; maybe we need a whole issue for Ted.
Ted has been diving since 1984 and is
currently an IANTD rebreather instructor,
Favorite N. E.Dives:
rebreather cave instructor and technical
Norness, Coimbra & Lightburne.
diving instructor. For now, diving is a part
Best N. E. dive 2008:
time business/obsession. Luckily, for me
Coimbra with the mooring. No tie-in
no untie, just dive and enjoy!
he always finds the time to crew on the
Sea Turtle and has been the “Sunday guy”
Worst N.E. dive 2008:
since our first season.
All in all not a lot to complain about
When he’s not teaching, crewing or just
other than a couple bad vis days.
helping divers on the boat in general, he
Favorite U/W Activity:
enjoys the opportunity to take his camera
Photography and cave exploration.
and never disappoints with some amazing
shots. Ted has always got a new idea or
philosophy about diving and believe me
Some of Ted’s favorite gear
• Megalodon rebreathers
• Lar V rebreather
• DUI CF 200 dry suit
• Salvo 10 watt HID light
• Oxycheq wings
• Scubapro jet fins
• Aquatica camera housings
• Hogarthian and side mount
systems
it’s usually worth listening. When Ted is
Top photo: Ted on the stern of the Sea Turtle
not on the boat I often find myself saying,
“I’m not sure; I’ll ask Ted”
Above left: Self portrait on his Lar V in deep!
Hey Dude, Thanks!
Left: U-853 torpedo
Above right: That was a long deco!
Torpedo & self portrait by Ted McCoy.
Upcoming Issue:
Contact Us:
Thank You
* Sidekick - After Work Dives
Sea Turtle Dive Charters LLC
To all who read.
* Summer Spear Fishing
76 Swamp Rd East Hampton NY 11937
Ted McCoy for his profile.
* Crew member Jeremy Somero
[email protected]
All our customers and crew members.
* Puszta Wreck
631-335-6323
Bill Gambrill and his inventions.
Sea turtle dive charters llc
www.seaturtlecharters.com