What Makes a Great Wreck Diver?

I have often thought over the years about What Makes a Great North Atlantic Wreck Diver?  Is it passion?  Is it skill and athletic ability? Is it a thirst for the history of shipwrecks? Or is it something more...  We all know that Wreck Diving in the North Atlantic is not for everyone, just look at the thousands  of divers certified to dive in the local area and how few of them continue on to wreck dive in the North Atlantic for decades.  Why would you chose to dive wrecks in cold water over warm water with pristine visibility in wildly exotic locations???  I can only speak for myself and provide some possible analogies based on what I have seen over my 29 years as a North Atlantic Wreck Diver...

From a very young age I was always drawn to the ocean...my younger years growing up were spent along the Gulf of Mexico with a fascination in the abundance of sharks lurking under the water as I swam.  During my teen years, I spent every minute possible in the Atlantic Ocean off of Fire Island, NY.  If the ocean was unusually rough and most swimmers did not dare enter, I would be out there for hours riding in the waves while my friends simply sat on the beach and sunbathed.  The ocean always soothed me and I was always at peace when I was in and around it.  Was this the precursor to becoming such an avid Wreck Diver?  I do think that those whom wreck dive for a long time do have a relationship with the ocean and as a result, they feel at ease and comfortable diving in it.  Wreck Divers like others whom are in and around the Ocean a lot, also have a enormous respect for the power of the sea.   Is this something that you are simply born with? The natural tendency to be drawn to the water and the sea?

Perseverance is another trait that I see over and over in Wreck Divers of the North Atlantic.  Lets face it, diving in the cold and dark waters of this area is not always a walk in the park.  I look back at becoming a certified diver on the eastern end of Long Island in water with extreme currents and such bad visibility that I could not even see my instructor.  I vividly remember wanting to quit and not finish my course but, I persevered.  It was not until several years later, that I dove on my first Wreck out of Barnegat Inlet, NJ and realized how wonderful Wreck Diving can be.  That perseverance however continues every year in different ways such as on the days with arduously rough seas where you wonder if you will ever be able to climb back on the boat, and get safely back to shore.  Its being told you are not ready to dive that deeper wreck so you dive as much as possible to gain the respect and skills needed to achieve the goal of diving that really dark, dangerous and, deep wreck safely. Its being faced with medical issues as you age and trying to stay in the best health and fitness so that you can continue to dive safely. Its working so hard to get out to dive a particular wreck and then having equipment problems that keeps you topside till another day.   I see these things and more in lots of divers but, we all come back another day and try again.  For me this perseverance has resulted in me diving wrecks I never dreamed possible like the Oil Wreck, Durley Chine, and Virginia.  It has also resulted after all these years in respect among fellow wreck divers which is only something that can be achieved over time.

Down Deep on the way home from the Moonstone Wreck.
Wreck diving can bring grown men to exhaustion..Perseverance

Training and skills are monumental in making a Great Wreck Diver in the North Atlantic.  We all know that wreck diving is not as easy as simply taking a wreck diver course and going out there and diving a wreck.  It involves taking all the required courses with the instructor that is gifted in teaching the skills above and beyond the course curriculum and insuring that you are well versed in those skills.   You will never quite realize how important your instructor or skills are until, you are faced with an underwater emergency and automatically recall the lessons taught that end up saving your life or another divers life.  I also firmly believe that Great Wreck Divers never stop learning or perfecting their equipment or skills.  Wreck divers need to keep up with the modern times and technology, learn from more experienced divers, and learn to accept constructive criticism.  The more often you dive wrecks and utilize your training and skills, the better diver you will become which, will lead to decades of  wreck diving.  Wreck Diving in the North Atlantic has a lot of adversity and you need to be prepared to handle a myriad of conditions that can change in an instant. I also believe that some wreck divers have a natural talent or athleticism at becoming a proficient and graceful wreck diver.

Fun and Excitement is part of being a Great Wreck Diver.  Diving is not a job, it is a leisure activity that is supposed to be FUN and ENJOYABLE for all!  The minute that wreck diving doesn't bring you joy, you should move on to another hobby that will bring you joy.  If you are not having fun you most likely will be stressed and uncomfortable that could lead to a dive accident.  Know when to you are out of your comfort zone and don't be afraid to pass on a dive if you are not comfortable.  The camaraderie on dive boats and the laughter that is ever present is one of the things that has drawn me to come back year after year and dive.  A great relief from your stressful work week is going out and having some good ole fun on a dive boat.  It is at times better than going to a stand up comedy show!!  I also love when a diver finds an artifact or gets a great lobster and everyone supports each other with congratulatory compliments.  What is life and wreck diving without laughter...

Sean the happy diver after diving the Oil Wreck

History...we are fortunate enough to be able to dive on local wrecks that have so much history and mystique about them.  I believe there are as many as 4,000 wrecks off of NJ in which each wreck has its own historical story.  Many Great Wreck Divers are drawn to find new wrecks, artifacts or identify an unknown wreck.  This is where a diver either has a natural attribution to locating wrecks and artifacts and/or they spend lots of their free time researching wrecks.  It takes a passionate and intelligent diver to conduct the research needed to locate a wreck or a specific artifact and then to accurately identify a wreck.  It is often like a huge puzzle or maze in which you have little pieces of history and you keep trying to find that one item or piece of knowledge to put it all together and result in identifying a wreck.  I have been on many trips in which we have searched for wrecks and came up empty.  Its those trips where you do find a new wreck and you are fortunate enough to be one of he first divers down on a wreck that was lost for many years, do you realize how special it is to be a Wreck Diver in the North Atlantic.  There is no feeling greater that being in place that no other person has been before.  To be able to see and touch a wreck that was lost is a privilege that definitely draws me back year after year.  I especially enjoy taking photographs a of wrecks and sharing them with friends and interested parties whom would never have the opportunity to see what I have seen unless I photographed it for them to see.

Varanger- One of my favorite wrecks to dive!

As you see there are so many characteristics that contribute to making Great Wreck Divers of the North Atlantic,, I am so fortunate that I still have such passion to dive wrecks and have not tired of it. I hope that this blog and the inspiration of other wreck divers will inspire more divers to continue to dive wrecks for decades... For me, I will continue to wreck dive as long as my health allows...My Wreck Diving goals may change from year to year which makes it interesting but, most of all I am at peace down there on the bottom the ocean.. Looking forward to lots of wreck diving this year!!

Looking for some wreck related social events to attend this winter...come out to the NJ Maritime Museum on Feb. 27th to hear Bart Malone present " Marine Life found while diving shipwrecks off of New Jersey".  Bart has a few of my marine life photos in his presentation.  See the link to the museum on the side bar of my blog for more information.