WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward

Scuttle · 21st December 2006, 10:28

Only a handful of divers have ever dived the Atlanta that I'm aware of.
Dave can you correct me, was Kevin Den lay another in the group?

Looks like plenty of CK spare parts for me to pinch, if heaven forbid, my old girl misbehaves

***Decodiver*** · 21st December 2006, 11:41

Quote: (Originally Posted by Scuttle)

Only a handful of divers have ever dived the Atlanta that I'm aware of.
Dave can you correct me, was Kevin Den lay another in the group?

Looks like plenty of CK spare parts for me to pinch, if heaven forbid, my old girl misbehaves

No Kevin Denlay had dived it previously infact if my memory serves right Kevin was the 1st to dive the wreck.

I was the 11th, and tied the shot in at 115 metres.

If I go back I will take my UV-26 with me, this wreck needs to be scootered for an overall impression.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

**Steve** · 21st December 2006, 12:55

Yep is was KD and Terrence Tysall in '95

wreckdiv · 24th December 2006, 19:50

I just got back a few weeks ago from diving the wrecks in the Solomon Islands for the month of November. The USS Aaron Ward was a phenomenal set of dives and the best wreck of the whole trip.

I took my Optima with me and things went great. Traveling with the Optima was pretty easy - even with bringing my steel tanks along and luggage weight being a concern into the islands.

Neil Yates and I weren't sure if he had tanks to fit since no one had taken an Optima into the Solomon Islands yet, which is why I brought the tanks. Once Neil saw the Optima set up, he did have smaller alum tanks he could have reconfigured to work. So I could have left the tanks at home, but better safe than sorry! It was nice to have the bigger tanks because it meant less fill and set up time. Even so, my boyfriend was beginning to feel like a "CCR widower" with me puttering around the shop with Neil each night, while he was on OC and had no maintenance chores.

I owe a BIG THANKS to the DR and CCR folks in Australia - Tony Davis and Jason Blackwell - who went out of their way to be sure there were Extend Air cartridges in Tulagi.

Neil has the best dive shop in the South Pacific and is definitely Rebreather friendly. One of my O2 sensors went up on day 2. I had not brought replacements for those (need to remember that in the future). But Neil had a replacement right there in his shop! How great is that!?! You could NOT walk into most dive shops in the US and say "Do you have a Teledyn R22 O2 sensor in stock" and actually find one. At best, you would order them and get them in about 3 days. Neil had three, right there in his shop!

Neil dove a modified Drager CCR with 2 VR3s - so it was nice to finally have another CCR diver on the boat with me. I also learned a bit of "jungle engineering" from Neil. We were looking at the head of my EA unit and commenting on how much moisture it seemed to be accumulating. Way more than I’ve seen during my East Coast wreck diving experience. So Neil suggested adding a few tampons. Well, being a girl, I did happen to have these supplies on hand! Two in the head near the solenoid did help a great bit given the tropic climate and very warm water. So, there’s something to think about for you guys as an addition to your travel kit in the future!

Brad Sheard is scheduled to do an article on the trip for Wreck Diving Magazine (http://www.wreckdivingmag.com/) so I'll keep you posted on when that is coming out after the New Year. In addition Thorsten Repp was on the trip and his photos are available on his web site (www.wreckdiving.de)

Have a safe and happy holiday season - Karen

Scuttle · 25th December 2006, 05:58

Nice write up wreckdiv & like the girl said you couldn't get a better breather friendly operation in the South Pacific. I loved to hear from someone to prove me wrong.

Now I wonder where he got those spare sensors, the tampon idea & Jekyll & Hyde breather from

I must confess, it was this wonderful site full of information that gave me the idea to use tampons in the CK & show Neil where I use them.
I never forget the surprised look on the check out girl & older smiling lady in Honiara supermarket who must have thought I was so sweet, out shopping for my partner.

& No i didn't tell them it was for.
My old CCR Dolpin was totally rearranged by Neil not long after I brought it over & he continues to do so, with more request can, you get me this & that.
A real fiddler, stripping & rebuilding most things he lays his hands on with all the tools in the shop.
Good to hear your trip was a beauty.

Jeff

wreckdiv · 27th December 2006, 00:05

Jeff,

Okay, so I can't help but sit here and giggle at the vision of you trying to explain first what a CO2 scrubber canister is to a check out girl and elderly lady in a Honiara drug store.

And had you gotten to the part of trying to explain how you were going to use the items you were purchasing, well I can only image ....

Neil definitely had nice things to say about you, also! And having been diving in Bikini Atoll, Majuro, Truk, Guam, Palua, Fiji, Santo, PNG, Gizo, Munda, Uepi, and Tulagi - I can CERTIFY my rating of Neil's shop as the BEST IN THE SP!! NO other shop even comes close!

Hope you had a Merry Christmas -
K

mattmexico · 28th December 2006, 16:40

Quote: (Originally Posted by silent running)

Hi Matt, what are the depths of the other wrecks you mentioned? The Atlanta is quite deep, right? What dive op did you use? Thanks, -Andy

yo

I had a look into my old log book, I went diving there April 19th 1998 to May 14th 1998. Besides wreck diving we did some dry and underwater cave exploration too and mapped water Point cave in the process. Here is some of the depth and what I remember. The trip was a Cambrian Foundation Exploration Expedition with Terrence Tysall and Kevin Denlay being the organizers. A lot of the dives where video documented including Aaron Ward and Atlanta for the USN museum in Washington I believe. We did as well damage documentation and assesment, especially on torpedo hits on USS Atlanta.

USS John Penn - 190 feet - 1 dive - bow section, lies on starboard side, 190 feet to the sand

USS John Penn - 160 feet - 1 dive - stern section, lots of portholes

IJN Azumasan - 210 feet - 1 dive - Japanese motorbike with sidecar in cargo hold at 210 feet

USS Aaron Ward - 238 feet - 7 dives - all torpedos in mounts, two warheads brocken off, lying right there, one torpedo partially out of tube with warhead intact, turret # 3 took a lot of hits, lots of dents and ripped open, hull intact, bow and stern bent upward from landing on ocean floor, aft stack standing, partial remains of radar intact as well as gun directory on top of superstructure, port side bomb or torpedo hole below water line, deep penetration in bow and stern

IJN Kawananishi Flying Boat - 143 feet - 1 dive - 4 engine flying boat, sunk August 7th 1942 while on mooring, twisted up wreckage

New Zealand Navy vessel Moa - 138 feet - 1 dive - Submarine chaser half burried in mud and sand, lots of depth charges in place and intact, midship destruction around engine compartment

USS Kanawha - 185 feet - 6 dives - USN Oiler, on top of aft cabin 3 inch gun, shells, 2 helmets lying there, big blast hole in port side from salvaging condensers, amount of artifacts incredible !!, dep penetration in whole ship

IJN Susako Maru - 300 feet - 1 dive - lies on port side, huge debries field

USS Atlanta - 414 feet - 4 dives - lies on port side about 60 degree angle, wreck has a large hole in stern section, diving # 3 turret, bridge, galley with limited penetration, steel very cruimbly due to heavy fire, unreal the amount of holes in the turrets and bridge due to shells hitting these areas, placed a plaque on the wreck close to the bridge in memory of the sailors fallen, was with Miria Denlay on her deep wreck dive to 374 feet

IJN I-1 - 98 feet - 1 dive - Submarine, salvaged and blown up after the war, its an almost empty hull broken up in 3 parts

Total dives on this trip 33
Wreck dives 24
Support dives 5
Cave dives 4

greetings
Matt

silent running · 29th December 2006, 02:16

Quote: (Originally Posted by Scuttle)

Nice write up wreckdiv & like the girl said you couldn't get a better breather friendly operation in the South Pacific. I loved to hear from someone to prove me wrong.

Jeff

The only other CCR friendly establishment in that part of the world is Capt. Craig's MV Golden Dawn in PNG, excellent 80ft liveaboard, O2, He, sorb. And he smiles if you ask about diving CCR on his boat, can you imagine?

Hopefully I will get to Tulagi next fall, very much looking forward to it.

silent running · 29th December 2006, 02:34

Quote: (Originally Posted by mattmexico)

yo

I had a look into my old log book, I went diving there April 19th 1998 to May 14th 1998. Besides wreck diving we did some dry and underwater cave exploration too and mapped water Point cave in the process. Here is some of the depth and what I remember. The trip was a Cambrian Foundation Exploration Expedition with Terrence Tysall and Kevin Denlay being the organizers. A lot of the dives where video documented including Aaron Ward and Atlanta for the USN museum in Washington I believe. We did as well damage documentation and assesment, especially on torpedo hits on USS Atlanta.

USS John Penn - 190 feet - 1 dive - bow section, lies on starboard side, 190 feet to the sand

USS John Penn - 160 feet - 1 dive - stern section, lots of portholes

IJN Azumasan - 210 feet - 1 dive - Japanese motorbike with sidecar in cargo hold at 210 feet

USS Aaron Ward - 238 feet - 7 dives - all torpedos in mounts, two warheads brocken off, lying right there, one torpedo partially out of tube with warhead intact, turret # 3 took a lot of hits, lots of dents and ripped open, hull intact, bow and stern bent upward from landing on ocean floor, aft stack standing, partial remains of radar intact as well as gun directory on top of superstructure, port side bomb or torpedo hole below water line, deep penetration in bow and stern

IJN Kawananishi Flying Boat - 143 feet - 1 dive - 4 engine flying boat, sunk August 7th 1942 while on mooring, twisted up wreckage

New Zealand Navy vessel Moa - 138 feet - 1 dive - Submarine chaser half burried in mud and sand, lots of depth charges in place and intact, midship destruction around engine compartment

USS Kanawha - 185 feet - 6 dives - USN Oiler, on top of aft cabin 3 inch gun, shells, 2 helmets lying there, big blast hole in port side from salvaging condensers, amount of artifacts incredible !!, dep penetration in whole ship

IJN Susako Maru - 300 feet - 1 dive - lies on port side, huge debries field

USS Atlanta - 414 feet - 4 dives - lies on port side about 60 degree angle, wreck has a large hole in stern section, diving # 3 turret, bridge, galley with limited penetration, steel very cruimbly due to heavy fire, unreal the amount of holes in the turrets and bridge due to shells hitting these areas, placed a plaque on the wreck close to the bridge in memory of the sailors fallen, was with Miria Denlay on her deep wreck dive to 374 feet

IJN I-1 - 98 feet - 1 dive - Submarine, salvaged and blown up after the war, its an almost empty hull broken up in 3 parts

Total dives on this trip 33
Wreck dives 24
Support dives 5
Cave dives 4

greetings
Matt

Matt, thanks very much for the detailed info, all the more motivation to get over there next year, sounds pretty hard to beat. Going to save the info. Very glad Neil is CCR friendly.

How were the caves compared to the Yucatan? -Andy

koputai · 29th December 2006, 04:26

Quote: (Originally Posted by mattmexico)

USS John Penn
IJN Azumasan - 210 feet
USS Aaron Ward - 238 feet
IJN Kawananishi Flying Boat - 143 feet
New Zealand Navy vessel Moa - 138 feet
USS Kanawha - 185 feet
IJN Susako Maru - 300 feet
USS Atlanta
IJN I-1

I don't think the Sasako gets dived much, we did it in '95 and I got 305 ft, on air!
The Azzumassan gets to 290 ft around the debris of the stern, an amazing dive when conditions are good.
There are a few Kawanishi's in the area of Ghavutu, along with lots of Catalina PBY wreckage, and nearby are the LST342 and Japanese destroyer and it's tender. We encountered crocodiles in that area.
The Moa is a real lovely dirty little wreck, lots of squeezing and crawling.
The Ward is a classic, a true shipwreck look about her. I shot the first video of her in 95.
And don't forget the Tama Maru, a cute little IJN supply ship in 250 ft, west of Tulaghi.
There are a bunch of others, but I don't have my old logs here.

Cheers,
Jason.

21st December 2006, 10:28	#21 (permalink)
Scuttle 1 Grumpy ole skipper Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jan Juc, Vic, Australia Posts: 237	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Only a handful of divers have ever dived the Atlanta that I'm aware of. Dave can you correct me, was Kevin Den lay another in the group? Looks like plenty of CK spare parts for me to pinch, if heaven forbid, my old girl misbehaves
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21st December 2006, 11:41	#22 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,182	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Quote: (Originally Posted by Scuttle) Only a handful of divers have ever dived the Atlanta that I'm aware of. Dave can you correct me, was Kevin Den lay another in the group? Looks like plenty of CK spare parts for me to pinch, if heaven forbid, my old girl misbehaves No Kevin Denlay had dived it previously infact if my memory serves right Kevin was the 1st to dive the wreck. I was the 11th, and tied the shot in at 115 metres. If I go back I will take my UV-26 with me, this wreck needs to be scootered for an overall impression. Cheers, Dave Cooper. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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21st December 2006, 12:55	#23 (permalink)
Steve Ladies bring a plate Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Classic Kiss MK 15.X Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Perth - Australia Posts: 1,117	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Yep is was KD and Terrence Tysall in '95 __________________ WARNING: I contain occasional coarse language, extreme sexual references, nudity, and adult themes, which may offend some people - Usually churchy types.
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24th December 2006, 19:50	#24 (permalink)
wreckdiv New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Annapolis MD USA Posts: 30	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward I just got back a few weeks ago from diving the wrecks in the Solomon Islands for the month of November. The USS Aaron Ward was a phenomenal set of dives and the best wreck of the whole trip. I took my Optima with me and things went great. Traveling with the Optima was pretty easy - even with bringing my steel tanks along and luggage weight being a concern into the islands. Neil Yates and I weren't sure if he had tanks to fit since no one had taken an Optima into the Solomon Islands yet, which is why I brought the tanks. Once Neil saw the Optima set up, he did have smaller alum tanks he could have reconfigured to work. So I could have left the tanks at home, but better safe than sorry! It was nice to have the bigger tanks because it meant less fill and set up time. Even so, my boyfriend was beginning to feel like a "CCR widower" with me puttering around the shop with Neil each night, while he was on OC and had no maintenance chores. I owe a BIG THANKS to the DR and CCR folks in Australia - Tony Davis and Jason Blackwell - who went out of their way to be sure there were Extend Air cartridges in Tulagi. Neil has the best dive shop in the South Pacific and is definitely Rebreather friendly. One of my O2 sensors went up on day 2. I had not brought replacements for those (need to remember that in the future). But Neil had a replacement right there in his shop! How great is that!?! You could NOT walk into most dive shops in the US and say "Do you have a Teledyn R22 O2 sensor in stock" and actually find one. At best, you would order them and get them in about 3 days. Neil had three, right there in his shop! Neil dove a modified Drager CCR with 2 VR3s - so it was nice to finally have another CCR diver on the boat with me. I also learned a bit of "jungle engineering" from Neil. We were looking at the head of my EA unit and commenting on how much moisture it seemed to be accumulating. Way more than I’ve seen during my East Coast wreck diving experience. So Neil suggested adding a few tampons. Well, being a girl, I did happen to have these supplies on hand! Two in the head near the solenoid did help a great bit given the tropic climate and very warm water. So, there’s something to think about for you guys as an addition to your travel kit in the future! Brad Sheard is scheduled to do an article on the trip for Wreck Diving Magazine (http://www.wreckdivingmag.com/) so I'll keep you posted on when that is coming out after the New Year. In addition Thorsten Repp was on the trip and his photos are available on his web site (www.wreckdiving.de) Have a safe and happy holiday season - Karen
(Offline)

25th December 2006, 05:58	#25 (permalink)
Scuttle 1 Grumpy ole skipper Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jan Juc, Vic, Australia Posts: 237	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Nice write up wreckdiv & like the girl said you couldn't get a better breather friendly operation in the South Pacific. I loved to hear from someone to prove me wrong. Now I wonder where he got those spare sensors, the tampon idea & Jekyll & Hyde breather from I must confess, it was this wonderful site full of information that gave me the idea to use tampons in the CK & show Neil where I use them. I never forget the surprised look on the check out girl & older smiling lady in Honiara supermarket who must have thought I was so sweet, out shopping for my partner. & No i didn't tell them it was for. My old CCR Dolpin was totally rearranged by Neil not long after I brought it over & he continues to do so, with more request can, you get me this & that. A real fiddler, stripping & rebuilding most things he lays his hands on with all the tools in the shop. Good to hear your trip was a beauty. Jeff
(Offline)

27th December 2006, 00:05	#26 (permalink)
wreckdiv New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Annapolis MD USA Posts: 30	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Jeff, Okay, so I can't help but sit here and giggle at the vision of you trying to explain first what a CO2 scrubber canister is to a check out girl and elderly lady in a Honiara drug store. And had you gotten to the part of trying to explain how you were going to use the items you were purchasing, well I can only image .... Neil definitely had nice things to say about you, also! And having been diving in Bikini Atoll, Majuro, Truk, Guam, Palua, Fiji, Santo, PNG, Gizo, Munda, Uepi, and Tulagi - I can CERTIFY my rating of Neil's shop as the BEST IN THE SP!! NO other shop even comes close! Hope you had a Merry Christmas - K
(Offline)

28th December 2006, 16:40	#27 (permalink)
mattmexico Rebreather World Writer Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Classic Kiss Optima RB80 / Clone Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Evolution Prism Topaz Sport Kiss RB80 / Clone Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mexico, Q.Roo, Playa del Carmen Posts: 764	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Quote: (Originally Posted by silent running) Hi Matt, what are the depths of the other wrecks you mentioned? The Atlanta is quite deep, right? What dive op did you use? Thanks, -Andy yo I had a look into my old log book, I went diving there April 19th 1998 to May 14th 1998. Besides wreck diving we did some dry and underwater cave exploration too and mapped water Point cave in the process. Here is some of the depth and what I remember. The trip was a Cambrian Foundation Exploration Expedition with Terrence Tysall and Kevin Denlay being the organizers. A lot of the dives where video documented including Aaron Ward and Atlanta for the USN museum in Washington I believe. We did as well damage documentation and assesment, especially on torpedo hits on USS Atlanta. USS John Penn - 190 feet - 1 dive - bow section, lies on starboard side, 190 feet to the sand USS John Penn - 160 feet - 1 dive - stern section, lots of portholes IJN Azumasan - 210 feet - 1 dive - Japanese motorbike with sidecar in cargo hold at 210 feet USS Aaron Ward - 238 feet - 7 dives - all torpedos in mounts, two warheads brocken off, lying right there, one torpedo partially out of tube with warhead intact, turret # 3 took a lot of hits, lots of dents and ripped open, hull intact, bow and stern bent upward from landing on ocean floor, aft stack standing, partial remains of radar intact as well as gun directory on top of superstructure, port side bomb or torpedo hole below water line, deep penetration in bow and stern IJN Kawananishi Flying Boat - 143 feet - 1 dive - 4 engine flying boat, sunk August 7th 1942 while on mooring, twisted up wreckage New Zealand Navy vessel Moa - 138 feet - 1 dive - Submarine chaser half burried in mud and sand, lots of depth charges in place and intact, midship destruction around engine compartment USS Kanawha - 185 feet - 6 dives - USN Oiler, on top of aft cabin 3 inch gun, shells, 2 helmets lying there, big blast hole in port side from salvaging condensers, amount of artifacts incredible !!, dep penetration in whole ship IJN Susako Maru - 300 feet - 1 dive - lies on port side, huge debries field USS Atlanta - 414 feet - 4 dives - lies on port side about 60 degree angle, wreck has a large hole in stern section, diving # 3 turret, bridge, galley with limited penetration, steel very cruimbly due to heavy fire, unreal the amount of holes in the turrets and bridge due to shells hitting these areas, placed a plaque on the wreck close to the bridge in memory of the sailors fallen, was with Miria Denlay on her deep wreck dive to 374 feet IJN I-1 - 98 feet - 1 dive - Submarine, salvaged and blown up after the war, its an almost empty hull broken up in 3 parts Total dives on this trip 33 Wreck dives 24 Support dives 5 Cave dives 4 greetings Matt __________________ N 20' 37.617' W 87' 04.693' www.andreaswmatthes.com
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29th December 2006, 02:16	#28 (permalink)
silent running Mature mouth breather Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: U.S.A. Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,833	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Quote: (Originally Posted by Scuttle) Nice write up wreckdiv & like the girl said you couldn't get a better breather friendly operation in the South Pacific. I loved to hear from someone to prove me wrong. Jeff The only other CCR friendly establishment in that part of the world is Capt. Craig's MV Golden Dawn in PNG, excellent 80ft liveaboard, O2, He, sorb. And he smiles if you ask about diving CCR on his boat, can you imagine? Hopefully I will get to Tulagi next fall, very much looking forward to it.
(Offline)

29th December 2006, 02:34	#29 (permalink)
silent running Mature mouth breather Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: U.S.A. Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,833	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Quote: (Originally Posted by mattmexico) yo I had a look into my old log book, I went diving there April 19th 1998 to May 14th 1998. Besides wreck diving we did some dry and underwater cave exploration too and mapped water Point cave in the process. Here is some of the depth and what I remember. The trip was a Cambrian Foundation Exploration Expedition with Terrence Tysall and Kevin Denlay being the organizers. A lot of the dives where video documented including Aaron Ward and Atlanta for the USN museum in Washington I believe. We did as well damage documentation and assesment, especially on torpedo hits on USS Atlanta. USS John Penn - 190 feet - 1 dive - bow section, lies on starboard side, 190 feet to the sand USS John Penn - 160 feet - 1 dive - stern section, lots of portholes IJN Azumasan - 210 feet - 1 dive - Japanese motorbike with sidecar in cargo hold at 210 feet USS Aaron Ward - 238 feet - 7 dives - all torpedos in mounts, two warheads brocken off, lying right there, one torpedo partially out of tube with warhead intact, turret # 3 took a lot of hits, lots of dents and ripped open, hull intact, bow and stern bent upward from landing on ocean floor, aft stack standing, partial remains of radar intact as well as gun directory on top of superstructure, port side bomb or torpedo hole below water line, deep penetration in bow and stern IJN Kawananishi Flying Boat - 143 feet - 1 dive - 4 engine flying boat, sunk August 7th 1942 while on mooring, twisted up wreckage New Zealand Navy vessel Moa - 138 feet - 1 dive - Submarine chaser half burried in mud and sand, lots of depth charges in place and intact, midship destruction around engine compartment USS Kanawha - 185 feet - 6 dives - USN Oiler, on top of aft cabin 3 inch gun, shells, 2 helmets lying there, big blast hole in port side from salvaging condensers, amount of artifacts incredible !!, dep penetration in whole ship IJN Susako Maru - 300 feet - 1 dive - lies on port side, huge debries field USS Atlanta - 414 feet - 4 dives - lies on port side about 60 degree angle, wreck has a large hole in stern section, diving # 3 turret, bridge, galley with limited penetration, steel very cruimbly due to heavy fire, unreal the amount of holes in the turrets and bridge due to shells hitting these areas, placed a plaque on the wreck close to the bridge in memory of the sailors fallen, was with Miria Denlay on her deep wreck dive to 374 feet IJN I-1 - 98 feet - 1 dive - Submarine, salvaged and blown up after the war, its an almost empty hull broken up in 3 parts Total dives on this trip 33 Wreck dives 24 Support dives 5 Cave dives 4 greetings Matt Matt, thanks very much for the detailed info, all the more motivation to get over there next year, sounds pretty hard to beat. Going to save the info. Very glad Neil is CCR friendly. How were the caves compared to the Yucatan? -Andy
(Offline)

29th December 2006, 04:26	#30 (permalink)
koputai Subsea Systems Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other CCR Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Other SCR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 342	Re: WW2 Destroyer Aarron Ward Quote: (Originally Posted by mattmexico) USS John Penn IJN Azumasan - 210 feet USS Aaron Ward - 238 feet IJN Kawananishi Flying Boat - 143 feet New Zealand Navy vessel Moa - 138 feet USS Kanawha - 185 feet IJN Susako Maru - 300 feet USS Atlanta IJN I-1 I don't think the Sasako gets dived much, we did it in '95 and I got 305 ft, on air! The Azzumassan gets to 290 ft around the debris of the stern, an amazing dive when conditions are good. There are a few Kawanishi's in the area of Ghavutu, along with lots of Catalina PBY wreckage, and nearby are the LST342 and Japanese destroyer and it's tender. We encountered crocodiles in that area. The Moa is a real lovely dirty little wreck, lots of squeezing and crawling. The Ward is a classic, a true shipwreck look about her. I shot the first video of her in 95. And don't forget the Tama Maru, a cute little IJN supply ship in 250 ft, west of Tulaghi. There are a bunch of others, but I don't have my old logs here. Cheers, Jason.
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