The Resor on a Perfect Day

The Resor on a Perfect Day (July 2, 2011)

Imagine waking up to a great dive site, flat seas, sunny skies, the smell of breakfast cooking, and hot coffee brewing. On Saturday, the divers on the John Jack had a chance to enjoy such a magical day.

When the John Jack plans to sail to off-shore wrecks like the Resor, (35 miles from the inlet), I like to sail early. The customers sleep on board the night before and usually wake up just as we arrive at the dive site . As a dive boat captain, I enjoy the early morning at sea. There is a certain feeling of refreshment when you leave the dock in the dark while the rest of the world sleeps and then watch from the helm as the sun slowly rises. You can do it a thousand times - each time feels new. Dive conditions on the Resor were just about as pretty as it gets. The drop was so well placed that the crew had us tied into stern gun mount within minutes. The lines were set quickly and the divers began entering the water shortly after 8 AM. With 25 foot of visibility on a majestic shipwreck, scallops in the sand, nice size lobster in the crooks, there was something for everyone. With a second captain on board, I decided to break out my dive gear and dive. Yes, I still dive and I love the chance to get in the water. The early start enabled everyone to enjoy a long and leisurely surface interval on deck, the galley, or down in the bunk room. The lunch menu was subs, fruit, drinks, and laughter. After the second dive, we called the roll, pulled the hook, and headed home. By the time we reached Pt. Pleasant, the lobsters were iced, the scallops were "scalped," and the customers were well-napped. It was a great day at sea with Randi Eisen and her group.

The John Jack returns to the Resor this Sunday, July 10 with noted author, explorer, and instructor Bernie Chowdhury. Join us. Don't just talk the talk, come walk the walk with Captain Rich and the crew of the John Jack. Your memories will last a lifetime.

Captain Rich

Scubaventure Trip to the Pinta (June 25).

On Saturday, June 25th, the John Jack hosted a fun group of divers from Scubaventure (Reading, PA).

Saturday was one of those days when it was great just to be on the ocean; diving was a bonus! The wreck de jour was the Pinta, a small freighter nigh 3 years old when it was cut into two by a larger freighter, the City of Perth. Today, the Pinta lies on its port side in 90 fsw, but with relief to 55 fsw, it is a good wreck for divers of all skill levels. With 30 ft of viz and decent light, the Pinta was a gracious host, although a brisk current chased most divers off the top of the hull. We spent our dives exploring its open rooms and exposed cargo of pine planks, once rumored to be valuable African cocobolo. A few lobsters were chased, but only one made it into a cooler.

With two dives in our log books and a warm lasagna lunch in our tummies, we headed back to port. The John Jack will be diving the R.P. Resor on Saturday, July 2nd. The Resor (130 fsw) is a huge wreck, semi-intact in places, an erector set in others, and one of the best lobster and scallop producers off the NJ coast.

Spots are available on the Resor trip. If interested, contact Tom Pritchard (tcp1@psu.edu) or Captain Rich Benevento (CaptainRichB@aol.com or 201-321-6924).

Capt. Rich Benevento

John Jack's Lobster Dinner Cruise...A Night to Remember

Saturday, June 18th, eleven “bug lovers” boarded the John Jack for our first Lobster Dinner Cruise. The plan was to send 3 crew down to a wreck to grab lobsters for dinner, cook them (the lobsters - not the crew), and serve them to the guests.

We departed Pt. Pleasant under sunny skies and calm seas, but after finding a fishing boat parked on our Plan A dive site, we fired up Plan B. Plan B: dive the lobster-poor Delaware and start cooking up the lobsters we bought before leaving port. Our guests, some of whom had never been on a boat in the ocean, enjoyed the spectacle of the divers gearing up with too much gear and jumping off a perfectly good boat into water too deep to stand.

After the divers reboarded, we headed back to shore - but not home. We set the John Jack’s engines on idle and for 3 hrs we cruised the local harbors, rivers, and canals. As the sun slowly set, our guests dined on crab dip and crackers, and mini-hot dogs wrapped with bacon. The headliner, fresh-cooked lobsters, was joined by a green salad, baked potato, and rolls. The dinner finale was fruit trifle and chocolate brownies. After dinner, our guests relaxed on the rear deck and upper deck and watched the luxury houses and moored boats slid by – slowly.

It was a great trip to nowhere on a beautiful summer evening with a fun group of guests. Stay tuned to the John Jack website. We'll have another Lobster Dinner Cruise after the John Jack returns from Montauk and Block Island in August.

Captain Rich

June 11th Trip to the Pinta

The early AM weather report on Saturday, June 11^th  heralded worsening weather, so Captain Rich made the call to stay close to home and dive the Pinta instead of the Stolt.  The Pinta, like the Stolt, was cut in half by another ship, but the wreck is much smaller and offers less relief. Nevertheless, the Pinta is a great dive wreck because it is shallow (90 fsw) enough to allow long bottom times, and intact and small enough to navigate without running a reel.  It was a little lumpy on the surface, but 20-25 ft viz on the wreck with a light current made for a great dive. Sadly, with the ocean turning sour, it was “one and done” and back to the dock where the crew and customers from NY Sea Gypsies scarfed down hot dogs grilled on the dock.  This Saturday, June 18^th, the John Jack has an open boat to the Delaware and then in the evening, we’ll be taking 12 guests on the first Lobster Dinner Cruise. This cruise, designed for non-divers, will be a lobster feast, compliments of the  crew who will splash, grab some lobsters, and then cook them on board for the guests.  This trip is sold out, but plans are already afoot for a second lobster dinner cruise. Date night will never be the same!  You missed this trip; make sure you’re on the next trip. 



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

May 20 to May 22...Texas Tower and the Murphy

What an exciting weekend on the John Jack. Topside encounters with marine life and spectacular diving conditions. The customers and the crew were exposed to some of the best the NE had to offer.

The Texas Tower continues to entertain divers with places to explore and great early season visibility. Dive conditions produced near flat seas starting Friday afternoon and good viz between 25 and 30 feet.

A move on Saturday put us on the Murphy and the sea gods continued to bless us with good conditions. A low lying fog kept the deck from heating up with the sun but the divers were feeling hot as they surfaced with stories of their dive. Good viz, warm sea temps and the chance to explore this seldom visited wreck brought big smiles. The buzz at the dinner table was constant with descriptions of what was viewed and attempts to identify sections of the ship that were explored.

Top side over the weekend also gave everyone some fantastic sightings. A very large sea creature between 20 and 25 feet long, possibly an Orca (not positive on the ID) wanted to cuddle with the boat and kept swimming around it. It's jet black top, white underbody and white tipped pectoral fins held everyone captive as we watched over the side. A school of tuna showed us what they look like when they are in a frenzy. They jumped and dove next to the boat and then while inbound on Sunday a chance to watch some whales playfully romp as they did some tail twisting and tail shaking gave us a picture few ever have a chance to enjoy.

With a following sea and a smooth ride inbound, the 70 plus mile run back to the dock passed quickly and while the customers and crew had dinner and napped, the talk in the wheel house turned to dreams. Capt. Tex and I talked about upcoming adventures for this season and our plans for the future years as we continue to provide our customers with the very best in diving experiences.

Don't just talk the talk, come and walk the walk.

Capt Rich

New York Harbor Photo Cruise

OK Photo enthusiast. Join Capt. Rich on the John Jack for a very special photo trip on the NY Harbor. The Big Red Boat will be offering a private Harbor cruise offering photo opportunities to shoot some of your favorite scenes. This trip will give the photographers ample chance to set up and snap away. Request for special shots will be honored when possible. It's an all day trip that includes breakfast, lunch, soft drinks and coffee. Plans are to leave from Jersey City Liberty Harbor with an early morning departure. Tickets are $100.00 for this one of a kind trip. We will limit the trip to 20 customers so be sure to reserve you space ahead of time. Call or email Capt. Rich for your spot.

Wreck Dive on the GA Venturo and Harry's Bell

The John Jack had a great weekend at sea, but nothing compared to Harry Maisch’s.  Harry, a student of mine, recovered the stern bell from the wreck of the Delaware.  It just goes to show that even the shallow in-shore wrecks like the Delaware, which gets hit hard during the dive season, have goodies to give to the observant and conscientious diver.  Congrats to Harry – and keep up the good work!  Let’s hope that Harry left something on the Delaware for us; the John Jack will be diving the Delaware this Friday.

On Saturday, the John Jack introduced some new customers to the thrill of NE wreck diving.  Dive conditions were ideal for late October: comfortable seas and water temps, and great visibility. For lunch, our chef de jour Big Larry prepared hot soup, mini bagel pizzas, and mini hot dogs.  When Larry wasn’t manning the galley, he set the hook and at the end of the day he pulled the hook.  Waytogo Big Larry, one of the John Jack’s multi-talented and valued crew.

The Big Red Boat is still running, so Come Out and Dive!  Don't forget to let me know if your joining us for our Halloween Boat Ride and Party.

Enjoy the week everyone. I'm taking advantage of the fine weather and the fabulous views from my home office window that looks out on the lake. The vibrant colors of the trees on the mountainside across the lake are one of the sights that I enjoy every Fall.

Capt. Rich Benevento     John Jack Seagoing Adventures

CaptainRichB@AOL.COM

201-321-6924

www.john-jack.com