Independence 2001 Carolina I

The SS Carolina was a 380 foot long passenger liner sunk in WWI by the U-151 on "Black Sunday", June 2, 1918, along with five other ships, including the freighter Texel and collier Winneconne. The wreck was discovered and dived in 1995 after extensive research by John Chatterton and John Yurga. The Carolina lies in 250 feet of water approximately 65 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The private dive boat Independence is a 33-foot BHM that cruises up to 25 knots. This boat is especially outfitted for deep wreck diving expeditions far offshore.

The following pictures are from voyage of the Independence to the SS Carolina, Wednesday, August 22, 2001.

I'm taking the day off from work today to go out on the Independence to the SS Carolina - fall is rapidly approaching, and soon there won't be too many more offshore days like this one!
	Paul Whittaker is also glad to be here... he is a New Jersey State Trooper in his day job.
And so is Dan Bartone. He usually dives a couple days during the week, as well as on Sundays.
	Richie Kohler is zonked, while his son, Richie Kohler, watches Enrique take his picture. We told the son Richie that he had to set the hook. ;-)
Enrique Alvarez prepares a buoy to drop once we get there. We are planning on finding a nice spot and setting a mooring buoy on the wreck.
	Enrique searches for a nice spot to set the mooring. We are on the starboard (high) side of the wreck, in the stern. Behind Enrique is a penetrable opening that goes down into a hallway. Enrique is diving his Buddy Inspiration, and you can see his titanium bailout rack he sells for rebreathers. He is working on a new modification of the Inspiration called the Enriquespiration, which will replace the stock on-board bottles (19 cubic feet of gas or so) with OMS 45's, allowing more on-board bailout gas.
A closer look into the hallway. This is an area that we will explore further in the future.
	Swimming along the stern deck.
An open deck hatch, too small to enter.
	I'm still trying to figure out what this steel, wheel-like thing is. It was attached to the wreck.
A large piece of machinery.
	Broken china and pieces of ornate porcelain sinks are all over the place. You have to dig for intact pieces.
Enrique poses by a porthole. Beautiful portholes are all over the place. Most need a lot of work before they will come out, although there are still a few loose ones around if you can find them.
	Another porthole.
Enrique on his hang.