Message Board

Wetsuit- Drysuit Clearance for End of Dive Season

AtlanticDivers — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:48:06 GMT

Atlantic Divers is selling off all new, used, leftover and rental inventory from 2009. Save up to 50%.
Some suits have little or know wear but must be sold to make way for 2010 stock. Accessories including dry hoods wetsuit hoods, boots, gloves, tech boots, dry mitts, kevlar mitts -gloves, in all sizes will get a 20% discount with a purchase of new or used suits. Brands include: BARE, POSEIDON, VIKING, HENDERSON, NEOSPORT, AKONA, TUSA and more....ALL PRICED to SELL SALE is on until DECEMBER 10 or until 2009 stock remains. NO WHOLESALERs

UPGRADE that old suit and check out the latest pre season inventory.

RENTAL BCDS, REGS also on clearance... CAll shop for information.

CALL:
ATLANTIC DIVERS
Monday to Saturday 10-6 p.m. (609) 641-7722
2905 Fire Road, Egg Harbor Township, N.J. 08234

Forum: Sales

First Annual Tautogfest November !6.

AtlanticDivers — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:32:46 GMT

Dear Wrecksters,
We are doing a Tautog dive on Monday, November 16, 2009
Experienced Fish Shooters Wanted.

Dive leaves from South Jersey Marina at 8 a.m. Depths will be 50-70 foot depth range. Call Gene at shop to register, for directions, and details. $95.00 limited space.

Forum: The Wreck Room

Winter Scuba Classes Register Now.

AtlanticDivers — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:00:42 GMT

Atlantic Divers is now taking names for Winter Scuba Classes. If you or someone you know is interested in Scuba Certification get your name on the list for 2010 classes for early registration.

Don't miss out on these popular NAUI certification courses. Those whom register with a deposit before December 15, 2009 will get a $50.00 discount on the Course Fee and a Scuba Gift certificate for $5.00 when they pay the final course balance.

LOCK IN NOW!
SCUBA Classes make great gifts. Plan ahead classes are filling now!

The current Course fee is $280.00,
and includes text book kit, dive tables, registration, all instruction fees for class and pool sessions, and all the scuba equipment for pool sessions. Students will receive a discount on all purchases through Atlantic Divers.

Forum: Training/Courses

Wreck Diving Presentation and Intro to Wreck Diving Course.

AtlanticDivers — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:45:12 GMT

Register now for Atlantic Divers Winter Wreck Diving Classes and do your objectives in the Spring!

SPECIAL WRECK DIVING LECTURE
Thursday November 19, 6:30 p.m.
Shipwrecks of New Jersey Wreck Diving and Orientation.
Slide presentation and discussion NO CHARGE!
Pre-registration required.
________________________________________________
Advanced Course: Introduction to Wreck Diving.
January 28 1st Class session.

Whether you just completed your basic scuba class or you have logged dozens of dives this unique course will cover lifetime wreck diving skills that will make you a safer, and more proficient diver. Learn the proper techniques in wreck navigation, deeper wreck diving, decompression techniques, upline reel use, artifact recognition, recovery and restoration, lobster hunting and rescue. Few classes go into the depth of wreck diving this course entails.

This course is open to all certified divers. $500.00 includes two boat trips, one Quarry entrance fee, one pool session, textbook and lectures. Additional dives are to be scheduled with the shop for certification.

Those newly certified divers or experienced divers interested in improving their wreck diving proficiency techniques will benefit from this specialty course.

Good Wreck Diving!

Atlantic Diver

Instructor: http://home.att.net/~genepetersondiver/genes.html

Forum: Training/Courses

The Art of Lobster Hunting. Original Unedited Version

AtlanticDivers — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:02:15 GMT

The Art of Lobster Hunting.

The Atlantic Lobster, Homarus Americanus is the most sought after diver delicacy found on the shipwrecks of New Jersey. The wreck divers seafood shopping list can vary from a wide range of fish to scallops, mussels, crabs and clams, but the claws and tail of the Atlantic lobster remain the most desirable entree.

The New Jersey coastal waters are a natural flat sandy bottom free of relief, except for a few rare projections of rocks offshore. All other objects of relief are the result of man made error or purposefully placed in specific locations to create artificial habitats or reefs. These unnatural obstructions stimulate habitation of marine life.   Here is where crustaceans and fish seek shelter in these shipwrecks and infinite structures forming an oasis from predation by larger species. In the shadows of these structures, the lobster can molt and mate in a relatively protected environment seeking safety in innumerable crevices. In the first year of a lobsters life cycle only a tenth of their larvae survive floating among other plankton forms. When they finally sink to the sand, the features of these artificial reefs make a welcome habitat for these juvenile crustaceans.   There they feed on the small mollusks, fish, less formidable crustaceans and even other lobster.

The nickname bug has been given to the lobster by divers due to its resemblance to a steroid inflated roach-like cousin. Captured bugs are temporarily placed in mesh bug bags underwater where they are transported during the dive. The name affectionately reflects the respect of a true hunter- prey relationship. Bug hunters feel a real sense of primal warfare when facing this underwater foe.

Bugs can catch, crush and shred with their two claws known distinctively as the crusher and the shredder. These claws are self defining in their respective shape and function. It is interesting to note and to consider the power and potential peril of mishandling these tempered pincher's. I have witnessed the power of a large eight pound lobster crushing soda bottles and cans with an awesome crusher claw. Innumerable mishandling stories of lobster - diver encounters serve as a warning to future hunters. One unfortunate diver had a lobster crush his dive mask while he unwarily poked his head into a hole. Another equally misfortunate diver had a lobster reach through his mesh capture bag and hold onto the anchor line as he swam to the surface. He abandoned the bag and his dinner to make his safe ascent. More note worthy pinching stories involve painful digit crunching.
These incidents are rare and more inflated due to the curiosity of lobster themselves.

This awesome prehistoric armored animal inspires the imagination. Soft tissued humans wince at the mere thought of their bone crushing mandibles snapping and crimping down on a misplaced digit. A final taradiddle is legendary. The tale is of the boastful and loquacious grandstanding diver whose dockside yarn of his hunting prowess was painfully interrupted. As he stood in front of the dive boat holding up a ten pounder for the gathering crowd, he failed to respect its steadily encroaching crusher claw. As the crowd watched in horror, he dropped to his knees in silence with the pincer attached to his thumb. Fortunately the natural instinct of the crustacean is to escape. When the diver let go in wordless pain, so did the lobster. I restate these incidents are rare but notable.

It is important to have the proper tools prior to your first hunt. A good light is the most important tool. Lobsters hide in the darkened crevices and away from the sunlight.. Their bright reddish orange color contrasts with the rusting and deteriorating wreckage. The preference is the bright hot white HID or Eled hand held lantern lights. These provide a wider view and allow unrestricted movement. Red lens lights are rarely used and offer limited advantages. You only need to see the location of a potential home briefly and a bright wide beam will allow you to see a greater hunting area. Dont flash the light directly into the lobsters eyes. This will force them back into the wreck and out of reach.   Attach the light to your harness D-ring and you can let go to work with two hands underwater. A large mesh bag will allow you to bag your bug easily. Serious hunters choose the half nylon- half mesh bags to reduce drag and to ease the sliding of the bug into the bag. A current legal gauge should be attached to the bag for easy reference.   These can be made cutting out an length aluminum or plastic.

Dive clean. Eliminate wearing canister lights with a hand mount. Arm slates, compasses and computers also cramp your lobster draw reducing your ability to plunge your hand deep into a hole. Being nimble is important and your ability to react without resistance increases your potential. Finally, dive within your comfort level, have the proper safety gear and redundancy for your dive. Adequate gas is a must. You will breath a lot of gas during the heat of the hunt.

Over a short period of time new bug divers can develop lobster hunting techniques that will ensure dinner and a healthy matrimony. After your first success, you will be surprised how popular you are. Your neighbor may hand deliver your newspaper, return your ladder, wave as you drive by etc... In-laws will call or drop a card on your birthday. Your teenagers will acknowledge your existence and soon you will be sitting at the head of the table again. You will be remembered at those family re-unions even if you dont attend. Just send a cooler with a few lobster. You now have the ultimate excuse for any unwanted social outing.

Lobster habitat any low sandy or muddy area with a roof.   They dig in and mark their home with debris they bulldoze out of these homes.    An alert hunter will look for burrowing areas marked with darker mud, discarded mollusk shells and bones littering the hole. These crustaceans can migrate or may remain in that home year round if there is an abundance of food. A home in a paint can be compared to a summer home, whereas a shipwreck with thick mussel growth will be a more permanent fortress.   Their behavior is instinctual to make the march offshore in the fall where they can dig into the deeper shelf-waters and return in the late spring to re-find a summer habitat. It is there that they can feed, molt and mate in a protected environment.

One can understand that timing the hunt season is important when the diver plans to capture his dinner. If you hunt too early you will find lots of ling cod and ocean pouts occupying those holes. If you go too late, the lobster may have moved off or have already been bagged.

Lobsters are known to occupy holes with alternate escape routes. They continually scan with their sensitive antenna underwater movement and motion. They are wary of predators while tirelessly searching for food.   Waiting for the right moment they are surprisingly quick clutching at unsuspecting fish or scurrying back into their holes as an adversary approaches. Dive hunters should be aware of unnecessary movement and practice control of their underwater advances. This is where lobstering becomes an art. Successful lobster divers command a stealthy approach fully focused on their own movements, anticipating the prey and foraging continuously from hole to hole. Little time is wasted over examining suspected homes. Some divers reach in crevices without hesitation sometimes pulling out sleepy eel pouts or red hake lounging in previously occupied homes. The less warning, the more likely you are to pull out the bug without any challenges. Over analyzing can lead to escapes or a tug of war battle where the lobster pins its powerful tail unmovable into the hole. When this happens, the diver then may get grabbed himself or the lobster may give up a claw and escape.

Knowing the terrain is advantageous. Lobster habitually return to the same spot. After one lobster is caught during migration, another will soon take its place. Returning to the same area lobsters will replace themselves year after year and be of similar size. They tend to replenish the offshore side of the wreck, where they return on their march back from the depths. Divers that have caught lobster on a wreck will find by returning to the same spots they will enjoy equal fortune.

When you make the move to grab a lobster dont hesitate and move with full intent. Missing or making a false grab will result in a quick escape or a pinched finger. The lobster will likely retreat deep in a hole or long pipe, where it will remain the balance of your dive time. Move on. There are others to catch. Spending the balance of your dive trying to out fox a veteran foe is fruitless. At the end of your dive try that spot again but next time do not hesitate to reach far and quickly.   I have watch divers sit outside a deep pipe or boiler peering into the abyss of a black hole waiting for a monster to shuffle a few feet teasingly out of reach. Waving your light, banging on the wreck and tossing a smaller hostage lobster into the hole are vain endeavors. The big one will back further away, you will get a headache, or you will get the sick thrill of pulling wings off of flies watching a cannibalistic struggle. They dont get that big by rolling on their back begging uncle. You have to surprise them to catch them. Stealth and speed....Stealth and speed...

Reach in. Go ahead. Getting the courage to stick your hand into a dark hole with two snapping claws is a adrenalin pumping rush. Reach high above the claws and grab the carapace. Once you get your hand on your first lobster twist and pull. If there is any snag let go for a second, regain your grip and continue to pull. Its out and in your hand. Keep it away from vital parts and equipment like your mask and regulator hose. Know the difference between male and female. The female has a broader tail with soft appendages to hold eggs. If there are eggs (purple reddish berries) under the tail, carefully put her back in her home. If it is has no berries or a V notch cut out of the tail, measure the length of the carapace. Check with current laws to measure the minimum and maximum length allowed for your area. There are federal and state laws that affect your measurement. If the bug is legal, open your bag and slip the bug in tail first. Lobsters swim backward and will try to slip out if you open the bag too far. Keep hunting, when you reach your maximum limit you can always exchange the small ones for bigger ones. Be aware the bigger bugs will crush the little ones. Serious divers carry two bags to keep them separated. During the early summer months lobsters will be molting and are the most vulnerable. If you capture one of these softies you should put them back safely in their home where they will not become a fish meal.

When you get on the boat, check your measurements again. It is easy to make a mistake underwater and you will do little damage if you get the short lobster back in the water right away. Eggs may be damaged by the pressure change and that is irresponsible hunting.    Bug hunting is exciting and a long time diving pastime. Properly equip yourself, follow the current laws and successful bugging will provide you with many dinners. If all else fails dive at night. Lobsters are nocturnal feeders. They wander around in the dark hunting for prey and a new home. Your cooler could be that home too.

Bug Hunting Tips.
Know the laws, limits and have proper permits.
Only two claws are allowed per lobster body.
Measure and re-measure to be sure.
No gigs, spears, gaffs or mechanical devices are legal for capture.
Keep your lobster on ice or submerged at depth below the thermocline to keep them fresh.
Band your lobster to protect yourself, other lobsters and the cook.

Good Hunting!
Gene Peterson

Forum: Atlantic Divers

Vicaya Dive on the Dina Dee October 4, 2009

AtlanticDivers — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:43:22 GMT

Despite another irregular forecast prediction calling for 3-4 footers and gusts to 20 knots; We left 6th Street Marina in breathless seas with a light fog. The sea was as flat as can be and the burning sun lightened the fog as we left the beach. Two or three boats were working the wreck area trying to capture their limit on sea bass before the season closed. As we approached it looked like we may not get on either wreck. A generous fisherman on the boat North Star allowed Captain Roger to anchor less than a few dozen yards from his boat. Later he was also appreciative of diver extraordinaire Gary Smith releasing his tangled anchor from the wreck. So all is well in the end.

Matt Herrick Jr. experienced a painful tooth squeeze and had to abort his dives, but Matt senior joined Steve Seeberger and was able to return to the sand. For the rest of the descenders, it was the kind of dive you don't want to end. The water temperature was a comfortable 63 degrees to the bottom, as was visibility to the bottom. During our dives we could look up and see the Dina Dee's outline as you hovered above the wreck. We had to discipline ourselves to adhere to our regimented dive plan. It was just nice down there and I think that all of us wanted to absorb as much nitrogen as we could. As usual Chris bagged up on his limit of seabass, trigger fish and his monster tau tog.

We worked some new areas with scooters and the potential is worthy of more effort. John found some pants that were hastily left behind as the ship sank. No pockets were attached so John will have to dig deeper next time. If you have not gotten wet this fall it is time to join us and find out why this is the best time of the year to dive...

Brian Abbott, Roger Harris, Matt Sr.Chuck Cole, Ken Hendra, Pat Forchione, John Copeland, and Brian Paquette can attest to a grand dive. Matt Jr. will be back too after he visits the dentist. Ouch!!

Good Wreck Diving!
Gene

Forum: The Wreck Room

Arundo

jenn — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:50:12 GMT

The seas were like a lake as we steamed out for the Arundo Sunday morning. There was 30ft of visibility and no current on the bottom on the first dive. Scallops littered the floor of the wreck. The temperature was 66'. Fagan has done it once again. Not only does he have a great artifact to show to people, he has another awesome story to tell. As we set out for the second dive Fagan noticed that his doubles didn't have enough air in them. I offered my second set of double 100's to him and he gracefully accepted. Right before he splashed overboard I jokingly said," I get half of the take." Well in Fagan fashion he scored a great artifact, well, I should say two great artifacts. He said that he did not want to have to cut the one in half so he had to look for another one.

Forum: The Wreck Room

San Saba 9/20/09

DMSteve — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:45:04 GMT

After way WAY too long of a crappy weather induced dive hiatus, I finally made it back out. I do love my sleeping in on the weekend but enough is enough. Yesterday was a hell of a day to make my return. We had 5 knot winds and the seas were about 6 inches. Was a beautiful day on the water. When Chris splashed to tie us in.... we all ooh'ed and ahh'ed at the surface viz. Luckily this viz wasn't just at the surface. Due to the lack of current and the apparent jellyfish mating season, the water column had plenty of.... stuff.... in it, but the water itself was super clear. We had about 30' of viz and everybody got to spend some quality time checking out the wreck. Several lobster came up and as usual aboard the Dina Dee, fish were trembling in fear. We ended up taking home a tog, a nice sea bass and several triggers. Matt H Jr. even brought up some historic dinnerware.... pictures should be up in a day or so. As Gene would say, good times were had by most.

Steve

Forum: The Wreck Room

Take 6 after November 16 Spear fishing still good for the Fall

AtlanticDivers — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:05:34 GMT

2009 Tautog Season is about to begin!!!
Take 6 after November 16
4 fish Jan. 1 - Apr. 30
1 fish July 16 - Nov. 15
6 fish Nov. 16 - Dec. 31

Atlantic Divers has a full inventory of JBL, Cammaro, and AB Biller guns, poles, tips, slings and accessories in stock for your hunting needs. Drop in while supplies last and the Taugs are big!

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2009/maregsum09.pdf

Good Hunting!
Gene

Forum: Sales

$25 Dollar wreck/ Mason's Paddlewheeler

CaptainDave — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:54:34 GMT

I'm doing a little 2nd hand research about a wreck 11 miles off Atlantic City, known locally as the $25 wreck. The wreck is a late 1800's paddle wheeler that sits in @ 85' of water. There is no ship reported lost in this area that explains the wreck.
The wreck has been dove since the 1970's and no doubt artifacts have been recovered that could help identify it.
I'm looking for pictures and descriptions of items that have been brought up over the years that will hopefully put a name to the wreck.
Any and all help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Forum: The Wreck Room

Awesome dive

jenn — Thur, 17 Sep 2009 02:06:04 GMT

Too bad you missed out on this awesome day in the Atlantic! We headed out on the Submission on Monday 9/14/09 to the Almirante. It was a little lumpy & and breezy at first, but throughout the day it settled out like a lake.

There were whales sighted on both the way out and the way back in. We did not know what to expect after the big blow last week - sometimes it gets pretty stirred up - but sometimes is brings in really good water. Well this time it was really good water. There was 40+ ft of visibility and 69' on the bottom. Trigger fish were following divers around on the bottom. Chuck Cole came up with a few nice sized lobsters.

The flour is a great wreck for artifacts since mostly novices frequent the wreck. There were several brass artifact worked on during the dive. Jeff Wray scored a really nice brass floor drain and the Pattersons came up with three really nice wooden block & tackle sieves. The new diver even had a great trip for his first ocean dive and he seems like a natural for getting lobster!

Don't miss out next time, this is the best time of the year for diving!!! There is an Arundo dive on Sunday with a couple of spots open.

Forum: The Wreck Room

nitrox course addition

jenn — Thur, 17 Sep 2009 01:47:02 GMT

Do to popular demand a nitrox course has been added at the end of September. The class takes place Sept. 30 & Oct. 7 (both wed.)
Don't miss out! Call Instructor Jenn to save a spot (609)335-0179

Forum: Training/Courses

Destination Change for September 20 Dina Dee

AtlanticDivers — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:57:01 GMT

Wrecksters,

Those interested in digging on the Vizcaya, New Jersey's best kept secret will note a destination change for September 20 on the Dina Dee to this old Spanish Steamer. Great for lobster hunters too, the Vizcaya is a grand wreck to tour. Dina Dee will leave at the 7: a.m. Scooters are welcome so charge up for this exciting dive. Open for novice to experienced.

We will also be hitting the Arundo on the Sea Lion September 20. Those interested in seeing what Casey Jones left behind will enjoy poking around on this classic World War II freighter. Check our schedule for more exiting Fall trips at:

http://www.njwreckdivers.com/schedule.html#sept

Good Wreck Diving!
Atlantic Diver

Forum: The Wreck Room

North Atlantic Adventure Highlights August 22- 30

AtlanticDivers — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:04:27 GMT

Considered Atlantic Divers epic diving event, where once in a lifetime wreck diving memories flourish.

A great trip pitched in between Hurricane Bill and Dan. How lucky can you get? Well, It seems our schedule held up with only a few minor adjustments. Our adventure started early Sunday morn traveling north. Seven Atlantic Divers arrived in Eastport behind hurricane Bill. We entered the bottle infested waters late Sunday and were greeted by a gigantic 15 pound plus lobster meandering in the rocks. Guy Harrington said it was the biggest lobster he had ever seen. Numerous old bottles were saved from the steep tides. It marked a great start to our adventure.

Our ravenous appetites welcomed a steak dinner in Eastport. Satisfied we ventured on to our destination north, Halifax. The sun pushed through the clouds as we neared the outskirts of town. We set up camp and dashed on to Peggy's Cove for a traditional fish and chips dinner. The day prior waves were pounding the highway and the RCMP had to shut down the road.
After our delicious meal, we stopped by the Swiss Air 111 memorial and reflected on the horrific tragedy as well as the incredible history of this rocky jagged coast. Making our way back to camp in the moonlit sky we settled in for the first night of an expedition festooned with memorable events.

The week included six days of diving mixed with grand harbor views, camp fires, barbecues, memorable feasts, awesome history laden wrecks, more spectacular deep wrecks and grand wrecks mixed in the rockage, plus various sightings of seals, whales, oceanic sunfish, dolphins, along with aerial military fly over shows and ship processions, island explorations and lots of leisurely lounging and laughing. The best part of the trip was the group. All were a pleasure to dive, camp and travel with. Although our schedule was jam packed and tenuously sliced between two hurricane events, this was one of the best people trips I have had up to Nova Scotia. I laughed so hard at some points of the trip, tears blinded me. It was a blast sharing this time there. Many stories told here will evolve into diver legend.

The weather was inconsequential to our diving through out the week Bill vanished and left flat water behind. Hurricane Dan was now pounding at our door yet we managed to get in that last day in the breathless glassy waters. The ride home was un-hampered by the impending event. We navigated through the night and sought refuge in a hotel during the down pouring storm for a much needed rest.

Until our next expedition we will fondly look back on this time shared.
Many thanks to Captain Jim, Tim, Neal, Gloria, Art and crew for their generous hospitality. A good time was had by these few North Atlantic explorers including Mike Nugent, Steve Lagreca, Tom Fagan, Guy Harrington, Big John Copeland and Big Splash Edelon.

Great Wreck Adventures!
Gene

SS Atlantic lost near Peggy's Cove and Swiss Air 111

Forum: The Wreck Room

8/16/09 Great Isaac on the Dina Dee

Gary — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:09:45 GMT

Left the dock at 6:30am with Capts. George & Roger along with Divemasters Gary & Dave. Weather was hot & sunny with light wind and calm seas. Arrived at the Great Isaac around 8am and Chris jumped in and set the hook. Visibility was great and many "flaties" were taken along with 8 or 9 lobsters and lots & lots of mussels were picked from the sides of the wreck.

Second dive was on the Inshore Tug. Once again Chris set the hook and several more "flaties" were taken & Mike came up with a large tautog. A few more lobsters were taken also. All in all it was a good, safe diving day and everyone had a great time.

Forum: The Wreck Room