Search & Recovery dive report 2/28/09

[Blotto]

So I get a call yesterday morning from a buddy of mine that I haven't talked to in quite some time. He tells me that him and another buddy of his were out sailing the other day and managed to capsize the boat. He asked me if I still dive and if I could help them find the mast, boom and rigging. I told them I'd be happy to help however I could.

So I meet them at Ocean Springs harbor an hour later. It started pouring! We waited it out for a short 30 minutes.

Loaded all my gear, launched the ski boat, and we headed to the wreck site. It was only about 10 fsw, very muddy, and viz was well, better than I actually thought it would be. I attempted to do a grid search pattern, but to no avail. I found nothing.

Either they miscalculated where they sank the sail boat, or it moved. They did tell me that they tried dragging the anchor of their ski boat to see if they could "hook" the mast or boom. But I told them they probably dumped it off into the channel. I then admitted that I was not prepared to go deeper without a buddy. So I called off my dive.

They would really like to recover at least some of their rigging. So if anyone on the board is interested, let me know and we'll go out there and try again.

[Shrek]

Hey Robert,

What was the water temp like?  Anyways, first question, what is the mast made of?  Metal or wood?  How tall is it?  If it's large enough, someone probably already ran it over, wrapped the rope in their prop, cussed like crazy and they now have a new pole for a street light, LOL!!!  Where they able to mark coordinates of the capsized boat or did they just go back to a presumed spot?  It is way to easy to say, well I think it was here and be off alot. 

Furthermore, I wouldn't go off looking for something that you know is an entanglement hazard(rigging) without backup either in the boat or a buddy even in 10 feet of water.  Even when we make a dive with Public Safety Dive, we have a primary diver, a back up diver and a 90 percent diver.  That's two back ups for just one diver, LOL!!!  Also, if it's near the X on the pic you posted, there a few live bait boats that trawl through there.  They could have very easily drug it off by now.  I'd run a slow grid with a depth finder on the boat first and see what you can find.  If it's still in one piece, you should see something on there if it's got any size.

Shrek

[Blotto]

Hey Shrek, Thanks for the reply!

First off, the temp wasn't that bad, it was around 63 degs.

If I remember correctly I think he said it is a metal mast, not wood. It's not very tall, maybe 20-30 ft? And I think you're right about someone already dragging it off somewhere else. And both fellows were in disagreement about exactly where they capsized. He did mention also that they drifted a little farther from where the boat originally started sinking. The red X marks roughly channel marker #29. He said the wreckage and rigging is within 200' of that marker. I searched at least 100' sq ft. of that marker. But with vis at 1.5' and no help, yes it was quite dangerous and foolish of me to try to pull off. That is why I called it off after 30 mins or so of searching.

I really hate it for these guys, but I think they're just gonna have to consider it a loss.

[Shrek]

So the boat is still there too?  I tell you what, I might get a chance to put my boat in water on Friday and if I do, I'll run over that area and see if I can locate anything.  Let me know........Shrek

[Blotto]

I do believe the boat is still there.

I'll find out sometime later today if it is for sure.