The U 869 and the Wreck of the Resor

The U-869 and the Wreck of the Resor

Early Friday morning, the John Jack departed Point Pleasant for a long weekend of shipwreck exploration. The plan to spend 3 days diving the U 869 (Hitler's Lost Sub / aka U-Who) was changed when the Friday’s off-shore forecast soured. Instead, we spent Friday on the wreck of the Resor and then sailed to the sub on Saturday.

On Friday, conditions were spectacular on the Resor.  The Resor is one of New Jersey’s great scallop and lobster wrecks, and it didn’t disappoint.  Captain Tex collected bags of scallops and – presto – we were ready for a fresh-cooked scallop dinner.  We sautéed plenty of garlic in olive oil, browned the scallops, and then served them over a bed of angel hair pasta.

Saturday morning, we made a quick move to the U-869 where the surface conditions were near perfect: 1 to 2 footers with the occasional 6 incher that snuck past. Crew member Andy geared up, splashed, and showed us how the “8 minute tie-in” is done.  After the Carolina rig and our in-water O₂ line were positioned, the pool was open for diving.  Andy’s tie-in near the conning tower gave our divers an ideal central point for their exploration of the battered sub.

Lunch conversations centered on the morning dive and dive plans for the afternoon dive.  Dive plans are important for all dives, but diving to 225 feet takes it to a new level. At these depths, “plan your dive and dive your plan” takes on additional importance.  For dinner, we prepared a freshly cooked roast with potatoes and vegetables, with sides of fresh scallops and garlic bread. After dinner and the day’s “war stories” were done, it was Movie Night – and what better movie to watch while you’re tied into a German WWII U-boat than Das Boot, in German with English subtitles. You have to believe the divers were hatching plans for the next day as they settled into their bunks for the night.  The crew, still at work, divvied up watches for the night on the ocean.

Sunday morning gave everyone a chance to revisit the wreck.  Once all divers were safely aboard, we retrieved our lines, and steamed back to Point Pleasant while the crew and customers ate lunch and reminisced about the great dives they had on German history.

The John Jack's ability to comfortably house its customers makes it an ideal boat for your next dive adventure. We can host everything from multi-day adventures to a simple day trip.  To make your dive trip more enjoyable, we offer our out of town customers the option of sleeping aboard the night before a dive. The John Jack should be YOUR boat for diving adventures.

Check us out and discover our amazing boat. Capt. Rich