Trip Report 8-4-06
The traffic is piling up as we head East to Montauk. We are setting sail for our 5th and final Doria trip of the season. So far the wreck and the weather, have been cooperating nicely. All the trips have run, and conditions on the wreck have been good. We have had some strong currents, but we always had a diveable window.

The crew for this trip, are Capt. Theresa, Gerhart, Rick, Capt. Rich, and myself. RJ. from Treasure cove is already here and loaded to leave. We hurry to do all the usual last minute chores so we can get under way. We clear Montauk head buoy by 10 PM. I am at the wheel taking first watch. We travel at a leisurely pace, the big cats meowing under the hood. The ride out is uneventful and calm, just the way I like it. At 6 AM Capt Theresa is at the helm, as I step out to see the day. Running a dive boat gives me a reason to see a lot of sunrises, this one is a beauty !!! The ocean is so flat it acts as a mirror. It's going to be a great day

Our boat is full of first timers, nine in all. The Doria was breaking out it's finest for them today. Breakfast was forgotten as we cruised over the wreck site at 9:30. Luckily the mooring we had set a month ago, was still on the surface. We picked it up, and hauled in the slack. In ten minuets we were ready to go. We put Rick in first to check the mooring. If anything was amiss. he would immediately come back to the surface. 20 Min. went by with no sign of rick. The ocean was now open !!!

The divers suited up in groups of two's and three's. In about an hour and a half, the boat was empty except for crew. It was some time latter that Rick came up, a sure sign that conditions were good. Eventually Rick surfaced grinning ear to ear. He loudly reported no current from top to bottom, The mooring looked good and the visibility was 60 ft!!! This meant that the warm, clear Gulf stream was in over the wreck. The surface vis was over 100FT. With such great conditions, every one had a great dive. Gerhart went in and completed a job started by Terry on the last trip. He sent up a large intact window mechanism that required two 250 pound lift bags to bring it to the surface. We left it tied off to the boat, until we were ready to leave.

The current stayed light most of the time, allowing for two dives a day. We quickly fell into the ship board routine of dive, eat, sleep, and fill tanks. The boats compressor got a work out keeping every one filled.

On the second day more artifacts started to come up. Lift bags were popping up all day. The great weather and vis just kept on holding up. By the end of the trip, we had a large hand wheel, several windows, and even a sink up on deck, along with a few other smaller items

By the end of day two, the divers were starting to wear down. Rougher weather was forecasted to come thru on the third day We decided to stay the night, do one dive in the AM & run. Men make plans, the gods laugh !! Come morning it was a little lumpy, and e had to wait for the current to slacken. Everyone had a chance to make one more dive. Then we had to haul everything back into the boat. It took the combined effort of at least 6 guys over an hour to haul Terry's window on board. We then sent Rick and G to retrieve the mooring. It was after 4 PM by the time we got under way. We paid for our tardiness with a lumpy ride in. Capt Rich brought us into the harbor just as before sunrise There were smiles all around as we took photos at the dock. Every one agreed that it had been a great trip. What a way to finish off the 50th anniversary Andrea Doria season.

There was little time to celebrate, after a quick Breakfast at Salivars, we had to clean the boat, & get ready for our next adventure, three days on the Norness !!!