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Diving into “Ghost Ships of the Baltic Sea”

36 points by admp 5y ago

adolph 5y ago
Here's a larger interior picture of the Aachen from the book: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtefactPorn/comments/ncghvl/a_cabin_on_board_the_aachen_a_19thcentury/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtefactPorn/comments/ncghvl/a_cabi...
diskzero 5y ago
I have heard that exploring wrecks while diving is very dangerous. Of course, this is just the thing I would want to learn how to dive so I can do! Any divers here want to explain ways to stay safe or is it just too bad of an idea?
- nradov 5y ago
  Swimming around outside of wrecks is generally very safe, or at least no more dangerous than any other type of open water diving. Just watch out for loose lines to avoid entanglement. It's a lot of fun and I would encourage everyone interested in diving to give it a try. The real risk comes with wreck penetration. Inside a wreck it's easy to get stuck on something, or lost, or trapped under a collapsed structure, or stir up silt so that you can't see. It's not for beginners, and should only be attempted after significant experience and advanced training. In order to maximize safety there are a few general recommendations: always dive with a competent buddy, run a continuous guideline back to the exit point, carry a redundant breathing gas supply with adequate reserve for emergencies, don't exceed 100 ft / 30 m equivalent narcotic depth, carry spare lights, carry a cutting tool. Perfect buoyancy control is essential so that you're not flailing around and crashing into things. In some popular dive areas there are wrecks that have been cleared out and intentionally sunk for divers. For example the HMCS Yukon off San Diego. Those are pretty safe and a good gentle introduction for new wreck divers.
nradov 5y ago
The Baltic Sea is cold and dark but the wreck diving is amazing. The low-oxygen water keeps wood and metal well preserved. I spent several days diving there in 2018 and highly recommend it. https://divealand.com/en/start/ https://divealand.com/en/start/
durnygbur 5y ago
Meh, an ad of diving services. The most fascinating (and dark) aritifacts of the Baltic seabed are: the only German aircraft carrier, Gustloff, Goya, Steuben, deposits of chemical weapons. The last one is a ticking time bomb.

36 points by admp 5y ago

Here's a larger interior picture of the Aachen from the book: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtefactPorn/comments/ncghvl/a_cabin_on_board_the_aachen_a_19thcentury/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtefactPorn/comments/ncghvl/a_cabi...

diskzero 5y ago

I have heard that exploring wrecks while diving is very dangerous. Of course, this is just the thing I would want to learn how to dive so I can do! Any divers here want to explain ways to stay safe or is it just too bad of an idea?

nradov 5y ago
Swimming around outside of wrecks is generally very safe, or at least no more dangerous than any other type of open water diving. Just watch out for loose lines to avoid entanglement. It's a lot of fun and I would encourage everyone interested in diving to give it a try. The real risk comes with wreck penetration. Inside a wreck it's easy to get stuck on something, or lost, or trapped under a collapsed structure, or stir up silt so that you can't see. It's not for beginners, and should only be attempted after significant experience and advanced training. In order to maximize safety there are a few general recommendations: always dive with a competent buddy, run a continuous guideline back to the exit point, carry a redundant breathing gas supply with adequate reserve for emergencies, don't exceed 100 ft / 30 m equivalent narcotic depth, carry spare lights, carry a cutting tool. Perfect buoyancy control is essential so that you're not flailing around and crashing into things. In some popular dive areas there are wrecks that have been cleared out and intentionally sunk for divers. For example the HMCS Yukon off San Diego. Those are pretty safe and a good gentle introduction for new wreck divers.

nradov 5y ago

The Baltic Sea is cold and dark but the wreck diving is amazing. The low-oxygen water keeps wood and metal well preserved. I spent several days diving there in 2018 and highly recommend it. https://divealand.com/en/start/ https://divealand.com/en/start/

durnygbur 5y ago

Meh, an ad of diving services. The most fascinating (and dark) aritifacts of the Baltic seabed are: the only German aircraft carrier, Gustloff, Goya, Steuben, deposits of chemical weapons. The last one is a ticking time bomb.