Sea Turtle Charters

December 22, 2008
S EA TURTLE
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Shark Cage Diving
Winter Wreck Diving
Rebreather Training
Featured Wreck
Information on gift certificates
This winter will be the first
Information on purchasing and
This page is devoted to not so well
and exciting trip options coming
season we will offer winter dives.
training on Megalodon
known wrecks we dive. In this
during the 2009 season.
Check out some of the dives
rebreathers.
issue it’s the Lobcod: a wreck
planned.
Page 2
Page 3
nicknamed for its inhabitants.
Page 3
Page 4
WELCOME TO THE FIRST ISSUE
This is the first quarterly issue and we’d like to start by saying...thank you for
reading it. The newsletter will be emailed in December, March, June and
September. Each issue will have updates and articles that relate to diving activities
from both of our vessels, the Sea Turtle in Montauk and the Sidekick in
Shinnecock. The newsletters are intended to keep
divers interested in local diving and hopefully will
inspire readers to get out and go diving whether it’s
with us or another dive operator. We are open to
any ideas that you may have, so please don’t
hesitate to email us your ideas or write a story for
an upcoming issue. Also, please forward this to
anyone you think might be interested. Lastly, have
a safe and happy holiday season,
Capt. Chuck Wade
Sea turtle dive charters llc
Andy Koppinger
Andy is the featured crew
member on page 5.
Read about some of his
experiences and recent
adventures .
www.seaturtlecharters.com
December 22, 2008
S H A RK C A G E D IV ING
Gift Certificates
Give a very different gift to that
adventurous person on your list. Certificates
are available through
email in PDF form or
Sea Turtle Dive Charters
Gift Certificate
sent to your street address.
Certificates are valid
through the 2009 season.
To order call or email us.
Immediate payment
available with Paypal.
To:
From:
*** Shark Cage Dive ***
This certificate is good for one shark cage dive
during the 2009 season. Check the schedule for
availability and more information.
www.seaturtlecharters.com
To make your reservation call:
631-335-6323
2009 Shark Trips
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Regular day trips (same as always)
Combo trips (deep wreck combos too)
Block Island expeditions
Private canyon trips
Video and still photography available
Shark awareness and research trips
Basking shark trips
What to expect in 2009
Top left photo: Blue sharks surround
the cage on an early June 2008 trip.
Bottom left: Mako shark cruises
through the Sea Turtle slick in August
2008. Above: Dusky shark July of last
year. Photos by Capt .Chuck
2008 was a very good shark diving
season with a lot of variety in
marine life. Along with our typical
blue shark guests, we frequently
had a mako or two stop by for a
visit and had a couple trips with a
dusky in the slick. In ’09 we will
offer more regular and combo
shark trips as well as Block Island
expeditions. Combo trips add a
morning open water dive to the
day. Block Island expeditions are
two day trips that include an
overnight stay, at the dock, in
Block.
Sea turtle dive charters llc
www.seaturtlecharters.com
December 22, 2008
WINTER WREC K D IV ING
The Sidekick stays in for winter!
Montauk for the winter and will be running when the
Some wrecks on the list:
Volund - The Volund is located in an area at the entrance to
weather permits. The Sidekick cruises at 17-19 knots and
Long Island Sound known as The Race. The Volund sank after a
has a heated cabin. Speed and heat, a great combination
collision in 1908 but was not located until 2003 when NOAA
did a bottom survey of the area. Mostly intact, this steel freighter
Our Shinnecock boat, the Sidekick, has relocated to
for cold winter diving. Winter usually means one dive for
the day, which works perfectly with tide contingent areas
sits upright in 105’ of water with 25’ of relief. The sound clears
such as L.I. Sound and Montauk Point, where there are
up nicely in the winter, making this an excellent location and
many wrecks we tend to avoid in summer when boat
traffic is at a high and plankton blooms reduce visibility.
thirty-five minutes from the dock!
Larchmont - Sunk in 1908, this steam powered paddle
Most of the planned sights are under an hour from the
wheeler was struck by another vessel and sank in 130’ of water
dock, making the the whole excursion under four hours in
twelve miles from Montauk. Today the wreckage covers a huge area
most cases and under three for wrecks close to Montauk.
with the paddle wheels still partially intact and rising 20’ of the
We will run the boat any day of the week as long as the
bottom. Artifacts, lobster hunting and photography are Larchmont
weather is decent and we have at least tow divers. And will
favorites.
keep scheduled weekend dives on the website. Winter
Snug Harbor - Another steel freighter sunk by collision, the
diving is obviously cold water diving and divers should be
Snug Harbor sits in 60’ of water close to Montauk.
prepared with necessary gear including a dry suit and dry
The “Snug” was a 280’ vessel that is now
gloves. Being out on the water in winter can be a beautiful
experience (on a calm day) and something you’re likely to
broken up and spread over a large area on a
remember, so dive local!
right, visibility here can be exceptional.
white sandy bottom. When conditions are
Megalodon Rebreathers
As of August 2008, Sea Turtle Dive Charters LLC has become a Megalodon
rebreather dealer/trainer. Most of our crew have been diving rebreathers for
some time and new members are currently making the transition. We have always
supported rebreather divers on both boats and figured it was time to take the next
step, especially after Innerspace Systems Corp. (the manufacturer of the
Megalodon) asked us to be a dealer. We offer complete sales and a variety of
training options. Crew member Ted Mccoy has been diving CCR’s since the 90’s
and is our Meg instructor. In 2009 we will be offering training vacations on Block
Island that will include four days of diving and academic sessions on the Sea
Diver Joe Zimmerman on Lightburne
wreck off Block Island with
Megalodon Rebreather. Photo by
Bill Graham 2007
Turtle. Being with an instructor and crew members for consecutive days who
already dive rigs is a great way to gain experience and knowledge. Block has the
area’s best diving and great shallow water wrecks for training with low current
and average visibility 20’-40’.
Sea turtle dive charters llc
www.seaturtlecharters.com
December 22, 2008
F EA TURED WREC K
“Mary Ann”
aka Lobcod
Wouldn’t it be cool if
we could drain the
ocean just for a bit to
see what’s lying down
there? Well, we can’t, so
we have to use other
methods to find this out
and at STDC we use
what ever method it takes. This is one of
those wrecks that not many people know
about and we doubt anyone else dives.
When we started diving this wreck, we had
no idea what it was. After a few trips we
came to the conclusion that it was some
sort of diesel powered, wood fishing vessel
in the 80’-100’ range. However, our main
interest in the wreck became its
inhabitants, like huge lobsters and monster
cod fish (yeah, like the ones you say “I’ve
never seen one that big”) so we decided to
call it the “Lobcod”. Five years later when
talking to (ie. drinking with) a long time
commercial fisherman in Montauk, we
were told it was a local fishing vessel that
had come to the end of its service, taken
out back, shot and
coincidentally sunk. It was
named the “ Mary Ann”.
So, now it has become the
crews mission to find
the “Ginger”. And
then we can ask,
what would you
rather dive?
Mary Ann?
Or Ginger?
Top right: Capt. Chuck 7lb’er.
Top left: Diver checks out the prop at
145’. Bottom left: Ron Hamski with
two jumbo cod taken in mid-summer.
Wreck Facts:
The wreck is mostly broken up
on a white sandy bottom in 145’
of water. Visibility on the site is
usually very good and we’ve
had over 100’ on the surface
with mahi-mahi and other blue
water fish swimming around
(see Montauk Video on the
website Report Page). The area
sees very little current and is
less then an hour from
Montauk. The wreckage is
scattered but fairly easy to
navigate. Due to the depth, we
consider this an advanced dive. If you like bringing home dinner,
the Lobcod should be high on your list of N.E. must dives.
Sea turtle dive charters llc
www.seaturtlecharters.com
December 22, 2008
C REW P A G E
Favorite Dives:
Coimbra, Grecian, Pinnacle
Andy Koppinger
Andy (aka AK) enjoys crewing on both
Best dive 2008:
the Sea Turtle and Sidekick. He has
Early August U-853 dive with 40’ of vis,
no current and two moorings...sweet!
experience with all of our diving
Worst dive 2008:
trips. He’s currently diving a closed circuit
Tie-in on Suffolk at 175’ of water.
Hammerhead rebreather and also owns
Grapnel was snagged in lobster pot line
an Inspiration CCR, that he first trained
operations but prefers deep exploration
at 150’ of water. How he did, will always on in the 1000 Islands with Andrew
Driver. Andy has been diving for 20yrs.
remain a mystery, but as always, he got
her done!
Favorite U/W Activity:
Identifying and finding new wrecks.
Wreck penetration.
and truly enjoys being underwater (except
when the hook is in the sand!)
Andy’s most recent adventures abroad
have been to Catalina Island. Ca. in
October and to Key Largo last winter.(see
photos) This winter he’s thinking about
cave training in Fla.
Andy’s a gear guy. He loves to spend
time reading about new innovations on
Andy’s Gear
• Hammerhead Rebreather
• Inspiration Rebreather (w/HH)
• DUI CF 200 dry suit
• Dive Rite 10 HID light
• Oxycheq 3 watt backup light
• OMS Slip Stream fins
• Oxycheq Mach V 40lb wing
• Dive Rite side mount bailout
• Low volume tech mask
the market and is very meticulous about
Top photo: AK kelp forest Catalina Is.
his own rig. He’s happy to share his
knowledge and toolbox when
Above: AK with Hammerhead CCR.
needed...Thanks, Andy!
wreck in Key Largo with Inspiration CCR.
Left: Doing what he loves on the Duanne
Upcoming Issue:
Contact Us:
Thank You
*The photography of crew member Ted
Sea Turtle Dive Charters LLC
To all who read.
McCoy.
76 Swamp Rd East Hampton NY 11937
Andy Koppinger for his profile.
*Beneath the Sea preview
seaturtlecharters@yahoo.com
All our customers.
* Gurney’s Barge Wreck
631-335-6323
All our crew members.
Sea turtle dive charters llc
www.seaturtlecharters.com