Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Big O is on the sand!!!!

FYI. For any divers out there, the Oriskany is on the sand. This morning.

Mike

Any word on how she settled and how deep?

The board I was checking out said that she went down much faster than expected. Stern first I believe. Navy divers will be going down tonight or tomorrow to get a visual and to check for unexploded ordinance.

The sand was supposed to be about 212, deck at 110, and bridge at 65.

Okay, so me not being a diver, I just gottan know, what is the Oriskany and why is she on the sand? I take it she is not wearing a bikini or any suntan lotion.

Artificial reefs... decommisioned Naval vessels sometimes get cleaned up and sank(sunk?) to form articial reefs. Divers paradise... Though I didn't know about it I figure that's what they are talking about. Haven't been diving in quite some time. Very cool experience though.

The Oriskany was formerly a US Navy aircraft carrier, and is now beginning a new productive life in retirement as home to zillions of fish and other ocenlife. Kinda like retiring to the Florida Keys to open a bar...

Here's a link:

http://www.ussoriskany.com/id15.html

Fitting end for a warship. A lot of history on an old ship like that. May it rest in peace.

Yeah, wreck divers love wrecks of all kinds - but a carrier. Wow. With it being intentionally sunk it looses a little of the mystique, but none of the history.

I don't remember the exact ones, but there are only 2-3, maybe 4 divable carriers in the world. The Saratoga and Hermes come to mind, but this is here and new and close. Pretty exciting.

Mallard, the chatter on the dive boards is predicting it went down on its starboard side. Guess that means the bridge may not be accessible to recreational divers, although they will still be able to reach the side. Sounds like the Navy guys will not splash until tomorrow.

She fought in three wars, including carrying John McCain to his date with the North Vietnamese. Rumsfeld should be ashamed of himself for not keeping her afloat-but this honorable burial at sea was better than having her melted down for scrap.

I get down that way every spring during the kids school break. What a thrill it would be to dive a carrier.

If she's on her side, maybe we'll get lucky again and the next big hurricane will right her.

She was a great ship. My tin cans served as life guard for her pilots and submarine screen many times. I had the honor of being transferred at sea via highline from my ship to her and was on her for about five days. This was on our way home from Viet Nam. This was on my second of three trips over there. I guess if she had to go this is the best way.
Dave