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Dive
logs for Vance Stevens, P.A.D.I. Open Water SCUBA Instructor #64181
Abu Dhabi, April 7, 2000
Dives 337 and 338 previous page | next page
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Diving with: ADSAC Dive buddies: Pete Hardy and his son John Others at site: |
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Sea condition: mild swell, some spray on way out |
Water temp: 21 |
Visibility: excellent, 10 meters |
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Wetsuit combo: farmer john and 3 mm longsleeve top |
Weight: needed 12 kg |
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Data from dive computer:
Dive 337 – 26.5 meters for 42 min
Dive time includes 3 min. safety stop
Surface interval – 1 hr 31 min
Dive 338 – 26.8 meters for 38 min
The Ludwig is a wreck 40 nautical miles about
15 degrees off due north from Abu Dhabi.
It is marked with a large buoy and on weekends surrounded by dive boats.
We were first there. It’s a N/S lying wreck, so we found it on
the sounder and dragged a grapple anchor over it on an easterly heading. Thus attached to the wreck, we ascended on
the line.
It’s a fascinating wreck. You descend through patrolling tuna into
schools of barracuda hanging about amid the shoals of silver fish at the top of
the wreck. The wreck is on its side
with gaping holes where the dud missiles went through. Descending along what used to be the deck
gets you out of the current.
Pete had penetrated the wreck on previous
occasions so he led his son and I into various parts of it on our two
dives. Because he seemed so sure of
where he was going, I didn’t hook in my line on entry to the wreck and so I got
slightly disoriented each time I went inside.
Fortunately I was able to see at least the blur of a fin kick to give me
something to follow out of the tight spaces, and the rusty metal wasn’t prone
to silting up. At one point however, we
entered the wreck through a gap in the bottom and swam up into the bridge area
where there were companionways with portholes all around, too small to swim
through, so that the sea outside and the way up was visible but not exactly
accessible. I got lost in there when I
tried to swim out through the logical exits, but ended up swimming vertical
circles in the companionway. The way
out was to continue down into the wreckage and out the gap. It was confusing for a few unpleasant
seconds, but we all kept our heads and survived.
The best part of the wreck was the top, where
you could cling with the barnacles and urchins to the rusty rails (bring gloves)
and relax like a flag in the current while the barracuda lazed about and the
tuna darted in from above, wriggling awkwardly to propel their bulky forms
through the resisting water, to try to grab some little food morsel that might
be a bit far off center of the Darwinian bell curve to elude the attack.
The best of the Abu Dhabi dives!
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Last updated: May 26, 2000 in Word 2000