I would like to know the condition of the Windjammer wreck since sinking in 1912. I can find little information here or elsewhere on this wreck. The reason for this is obvious..... I know I am new to this forum but let me assure you that I have the qualifications and experience to make this dive otherwise I wouldn't be asking. I already have exact directions to this wreck however I would be quite interested in a local's perspective on an acceptable dive profile using two 80cuft tanks. Also, is there any operation on the island that could (or would) be willing to sell me a mix I could use for a deco gas? I can provide proof of qualifications to make this dive?
If you feel more comfortable communicating via e-mail rather than an open forum please do so at chad.brown@ksmcco.ang.af.mil

Chad.. email on way

I am not a local person, but I did dive the Mairi Bhan in May of this year. I would characterize the general condition of the wreck as "very good". She lies on her starboard side in a north-south orientation in about 200fsw with her keel facing shore and her bowspit facing south.You first encounter the hull at about 160'. You can see the wreck very well and do light penetration without exceeding 180fsw.I would leave your dive plan to you, but I can tell you we dove the Windjammer on air(2X80's one back one side mount) and used EAN36 (one 80cft side mounted) as a deco gas.We planned for a MOD of 200fsw and a TOD of 180fsw. I didn't exceed 175fsw. Narcosis symptoms for me on the two dives we did on this wreck were very mild.We followed the directions that use the fence as a guide the first time but found the mast on the shallow reef a better pointer and used that on our second dive (much shorter surface swim). We dove from shore both times, entry/exit was the boat ramp at the fisherman's station. The Windjammer is one of the prettiest wrecks I'v ever seen. I'm glad I made a video of the second dive, I love reliving the experience.

Bruce,

Out of curiosity, what were your bottom times?

Barry

I do The Jammer about once a week. 30 min. bottom time depth 200 ft. on Tri-Mix 20/24 in twin 80s. Travel/Deco 36% Deco gas 80% both in 80s. Hour and a half to two hours round trip. Its a great wreck if you dive it correctly. Air past about 165 ft. is not the greatest idea. Want more info e-mail me at, info@rectekscuba.com}

Walter? You were always too busy to dive with me. I only have about 42 Windjammer dives - all on air, average 175, deco to 205 (navy tables, with buffer for old age ), 15 minute bottom time, one 80, with one 80 backup at the cross, total time about 47 minutes - yeah, one tank.

Barry, I don't have anywhere the number of dives you and Walt have on the jammer but I have a couple and a number more at depths beyond... I do strongly agree with Walt's statement on the air versus tri-mix. Yeah I have done my dives on air..including the jammer... (where I have averaged around 15 at 175 or so and staged out for around an hour or so).. but most people who know me find me dazed and confused on a good day at 1 ATM... so what another 5 or 6 (there are again a large number of people who would say that I improve with depth ) Reaction to high pp of N2 or 02 really differs greatly from person to person... (P.S Speaking of buffers for old age try using the DCIEM tables instead...)

Jason, thanks for the advice on the DCIEM tables, but I think my deep diving is done for this lifetime. I don't get much diving in.

As far as N2, I fully agree with you on the variance from person to person. I've guided a lot of people and I have seen it first hand. As far as me, the only time I was really narced was my very first dive on the Jammer. After that, I really never felt it. Must have been all those years of dental visits with N2O2 and those lost years in the 60s.

Barry... remember the saying.. if you remember the 60's .. you weren't there... but I know exactly what you mean...

Yea I have done 200+ so many times on air I can't count them, but I try not to do it any more. What years are you two talking?

Hmmm, is this Sunset dive Walter Stark? If not, I don't know you. I lived in Bonaire from 1993 to 2000. Maybe you aren't the Walt I thought you were, but if you did that many dives on the Jammer, I must have bumped into you at least once.

S0, Walt III, who are you? Do I know you? Did you ever go to The Sandwich Factory?

Barry.. I THINK this is the same Walt who used to give me allllll sorts of grief about me being deep....(diving that is... ) speaking of sandwhich factory .. are all my partial cards worth anything someplace else maybe????

Barry & Jason

Yes It's Sunset Walt. Jason as I recall I was right there with you on many occasions
finding out where the reef ended and the sand began. I can tell you that depth at most of
the dive sites. And all those dives were done on single 80s. Not the smartest dives I have
done. I did leave DEEP for a while but I'M BACK!

HI Walt...glad it's you. Speaking of deep. I keep my divelog in a database and being a former systems analyst for a few years, I can tell you that in about 805 dives, I have averaged 59 minutes per dive and 84 feet per dive - all but 5 on air (80s). I also know total minutes, hours, days and months underwater, but I don't like to tell people how anal I really am

Besides the Jammer, deep dives at Spelunk and down south to find the Sargasam Trigger fish (140) - yeah, down where the sand and the coral meet. I also have a hundred, plus a lot, Tridedendum (TriD) research dives that all started at 135 ft at the deep end of the transect line.

Deep diving most times was necessary in what I was doing and I always always always took a 5 minute 15 foot safety stop.

Yes, I did a lot of reverse profile dives and I agee with what Walt has said. I firmly believe training, experience and safety stops are the key factors that I never had a dive accident.

I did lie about seeing the Jammer anchor cuz I was too embarrassed to say I was so narced I had no idea where it was. I didn't discover it until about my 3rd dive and that was on the video I took

And like you Walt, I lived deep for a long time and now at 54, I can say - maybe I was lucky, maybe those safety stops did help. I'm BACK, too.

At least until I get to Bali.....

Jason, I have found that those partial cards are great for picking teeth. Sorry you can't use them at TSF. Who knows - maybe in my next life I'll reopen TSF and you can use them then - NOT!! Or maybe the other former owner will reopen TSF on Bonaire - fat chance, but don't throw them away. You never know.

Walt.. ME go to the SAND off a SUNSET BOAT???? NEVER!!!!!!!!... welllllllll..

Jason

The only times I recall you not going deep were when you had students or new divers following you! Or when you were on your 5th or 6th dive of the day.

Walt.. remember kevin, bob, linda and company when we went to Klein right after Linda certified....ooopppss

I cannot believe I am reading this blatant approval of deep diving...and Jay is the only person I have ever dove with when my computer said I we had two minute no-deco times left at 27 feet.

This is all good to read for those of us who read Jason's caveats about 'violating training agency rules'. 'Do as I say not as I do'.

Kelly

Quite often my computer tells me I have 45 min of Deco Stops left to do when I hit 27 ft. As I recall you were right next to me at the Jammer a couple of months ago! Oh well no deep dives today off to do 3 Rebreather dives none deeper than 120ft.

Glen

I think the "do as I say not as I do" holds true for a LOT of instructors because the training agencys have turned 180 degrees since the late 70's early 80's. They now try to dictate what we do in our free time diving. Many Instructor when traveling on holiday will not show thier instructor card to resorts when checking in. I still have my original dive tables from my open water class that have a full set of Navy Deco tables on the backside. Yes we were taught Deco procedure in our open water class. Things have changed!! Not always for the better.

Jeeez Walt, you weren't supposed to say that !!!! As to your having to do three shallow dives on your rebreather, please see my note under "night dive" re: total lack of sympathy as I am in the pool today. Okay, okay, so I will sell myself for a free dive trip anywhere, like Jay I may be easy but I ain't cheep !!!

No doubt about it, the Windjammer is a super dive when you have the right equipment, experience and a great partner. Thanks again.

I just want to tell everyone involved "thanks" for all the great information on this wreck. Everyone has been most helpful. The information you have provided here and via e-mail will help my friends and I safely do this dive.

I have also enjoyed reading the posts not directly related to the subject as well. Thanks again.

Glen, not sure where you slam is aimed... nor am I sure what training agency standards you are referring to.... I strongly encourage all the divers I train to dive EXACTLY how I dive.. after they have gathered the appropriate training and experience.... my reverse profiles before the revisions of material in the area would be the one exception in the rule.. and they were a matter of professional necessity..