Algol

The day dawned grey with the threat of rain, but the winds were light. The dock was a bustle of activity as the customers loaded and the crew set about readying the boat like busy worker bees. The smell of hot coffee wafted out of the warm cabin . Captain Rich spooled up the cats at the appointed time and took the boat out of the slip, towards the inlet.

Once we cleared the inlet, we were greeted by 2-3 foot waves, that were to be with us all day. The radar earned it’s keep, till the fog lifted a little. In less than an hour, we arrived at the Algol, our destination for the day. Mates Shawn & John jumped into set the hook. Once the “bag was up” the deck crew made short work of securing the boat.

The Algol is a large intact wreck, that stretched from the bottom at 140 ft. , up to almost 70 ft. it is completely intact, and over 450 ft. long. To say she is impressive, is an understatement. Here is a sketch done by Dan Berg from Wreck Valley.

With a wreck like this below us, the sky is the limit. This wreck is well known for fish and lobsters. It is like diving in a fish market. As the divers entered the turquoise water, they were greeted by over 40 ft. of vis and 48 degree water temps. One of the nice things about this wreck is that, the varying depths,  allow for long bottom times. We were tied in at about 80ft. As the divers dropped down, the main deck cam into view at about 100ft. With the good vis, divers could travel the wreck with ease. A few bugs, and lots of mussels came up with the divers. I had them for my “Home from the hospital dinner”  Monday night. Thanks Tex. The cold water kept the dives on the shorter side, but 40 minuets makes a good dive. All too soon it was time for the divers to return to their deco stops, on the way back onto the boat.

The crew served a simple sandwich lunch, with hot soup as the divers relaxed after the dive. Once they were warmed up, and had enough surface interval, most did a second, if shorter plunge. The good vis from the morning was still working it’s magic allowing divers to feed the fish and explore the wreck. But return to the surface they must.  Everyone got a chance to get in a good dive or two.

Happy, sleepy divers snoozed in the warm cabin, as the Captains fired up the cats, and headed home. The big diesels purred as the boat returned to the dock. They were backed in, and unloading by 3 PM. Another great day of diving New Jersey wrecks on the John Jack.