Interesting stuff Jared..... appreciate your insight and sharing with us !
Feel free to do so anytime as I and I'm sure everyone else enjoys your posts !
Jared -- Cedarville
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Custom500
Re: Jared -- Cedarville
Wow! Diving on those wrecks sounds like an interesting thing to do. I'd be scared silly that I'd get lost in there or get my air hose caught on some sharp steel and be screwed! Especially when you talk about "squeezing into" someplace! Even if i made it out alive mom would have killed me!
Re: Jared -- Cedarville
Yes, the pilothouse is easily accessible. There's not much in there. The radar platform, steering station, and gyro compass I assume are the only things that are still bolted to the floor. There's some debris that's on the roof of the interior pilothouse as the Texas above but it's unremarkable debris. Things like the log books and chart table were recovered in the 60s and the wheel and bits during the 70s when there were no protections (though the wreck is still owned).
I don't know how the bow of the wreck came to rest nearly upside-down while the stern landed squarely on her side. The impact from the Topdalsfjord significantly altered the strength of the hull so it's possible that the Cedarville was about to turtle when her bow struck the bottom first and stopped the roll. But in doing so, the collision site allowed the stern to partially break away while the bow almost landed upside-down.
The stern's deepest point is about 115' at the mud. You don't need to add helium at this point unless you as a diver know that you are very suseptible to nitrogen narcosis. In fact, most divers would prefer a simple blended nitrox to stave off decompression as most of the wreck can be visited at 70-80'.
As for my favorite wreck. Probably the Hydrus followed by the Jane Miller in Georgian Bay. The Hydrus is a prime example of a 400' turret designed wreck and it's pristine condition offered up the last hours of her sinking despite the loss of the entire crew. The Jane Miller is a very rare example of early pioneers on the Canadian side of the lake, and the abundance of cargo and it's different type of it tell a very unique tragedy about the early 1880s in the region.
There's another wreck we identified last year after 30 years from it's initial discovery called the C.R. Truax. It was just a small scow schooner built in the late 1870s. She sank with 2 people people aboard in the 1890s and they were never found. She was carry apples and farm goods on Halloween which is a very dangerous time of year for such a small ship. Despite not being historically significant, there's a depth of local tragedy that has been lost over the past century. Two people trying to make ends meet took a very big chance and paid for it.
I don't know how the bow of the wreck came to rest nearly upside-down while the stern landed squarely on her side. The impact from the Topdalsfjord significantly altered the strength of the hull so it's possible that the Cedarville was about to turtle when her bow struck the bottom first and stopped the roll. But in doing so, the collision site allowed the stern to partially break away while the bow almost landed upside-down.
The stern's deepest point is about 115' at the mud. You don't need to add helium at this point unless you as a diver know that you are very suseptible to nitrogen narcosis. In fact, most divers would prefer a simple blended nitrox to stave off decompression as most of the wreck can be visited at 70-80'.
As for my favorite wreck. Probably the Hydrus followed by the Jane Miller in Georgian Bay. The Hydrus is a prime example of a 400' turret designed wreck and it's pristine condition offered up the last hours of her sinking despite the loss of the entire crew. The Jane Miller is a very rare example of early pioneers on the Canadian side of the lake, and the abundance of cargo and it's different type of it tell a very unique tragedy about the early 1880s in the region.
There's another wreck we identified last year after 30 years from it's initial discovery called the C.R. Truax. It was just a small scow schooner built in the late 1870s. She sank with 2 people people aboard in the 1890s and they were never found. She was carry apples and farm goods on Halloween which is a very dangerous time of year for such a small ship. Despite not being historically significant, there's a depth of local tragedy that has been lost over the past century. Two people trying to make ends meet took a very big chance and paid for it.
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E J B
Re: Jared -- Cedarville
Appreciate that.
Can you get into the pilot house... curious as to what is left there. Did she settle straight down completely vertical or is she on a list ??
To get to the 100' or so near the stern-- do you need special gear or mixed gasses ??
I appreciate you taking us down to " see" her.......... and I always appreciate you experience and insight you have shared over the years and continue to do so. Thank you
And if you don't mind me asking -- what is your favorite wreck to dive and why ??
Can you get into the pilot house... curious as to what is left there. Did she settle straight down completely vertical or is she on a list ??
To get to the 100' or so near the stern-- do you need special gear or mixed gasses ??
I appreciate you taking us down to " see" her.......... and I always appreciate you experience and insight you have shared over the years and continue to do so. Thank you
And if you don't mind me asking -- what is your favorite wreck to dive and why ??
Re: Jared -- Cedarville
Well her condition continues to deteriorate. Inside the forward superstructure under the pilothouse, a bunch of wood has come down along with sides of the metal walls blocking access to the windlass room and compass room. Getting underneath (or on top) the Texas is now a tight squeeze, but once you get under the stairwell you find yourself in a massive black space pierced by few holes of light. You can get out through the forward bulkhead with another right squeeze and into the cargo hold.
Inside the cargo hold nothing has really changed much. You can get to the break and see the self unloading belts still connected through the tunnel walls. Every hatch is open so it's daylight throughout most of the hold.
Stern still has some oils and grease that float around making a mess on the dive gear. The cabins are in disarray and the galley is almost inaccessible now. Engine room is still good looking, but pipe are coming loose along with the catwalk so the big open room is starting to become cluttered.
Inside the cargo hold nothing has really changed much. You can get to the break and see the self unloading belts still connected through the tunnel walls. Every hatch is open so it's daylight throughout most of the hold.
Stern still has some oils and grease that float around making a mess on the dive gear. The cabins are in disarray and the galley is almost inaccessible now. Engine room is still good looking, but pipe are coming loose along with the catwalk so the big open room is starting to become cluttered.
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E J B
Re: Jared -- Cedarville
The usual nosiness..... what is her condition , what you've seen, what the experience is like....... you know me just being me and curious is all. LOL
Re: Jared -- Cedarville
What would you like to know? I have about 20 dives on her?
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E J B
Jared -- Cedarville
Jared, you ever dive the Cedarville........... what can you tell us ??