more finds from the Zodiac Divers

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Just 4 of us got out today, the temperature was coming up from a chilly -16*C but with it so was the winds but that didn't stop us and I am glad it didn't.

John scored the find of the day with an almost intact dinner plate from the HMS Blake. The ship was stationed in Halifax between 1892 and 1895. There have been other HMS Blake`s since then but since 1907 they have not used individual mess numbers.



John also got a free blown snuff bottle and Bob scored a very nicely made free blown bottle, most were pretty crude but who ever made this one took extra care to make an even bottle. It must have had a fancy wine or something to rate such a fine bottle. If you look at the small snuff bottle you can see the uneven sides on this one.

The wine bottle is laying beside the crockery spa water bottle from Holland. (I found that nice little crock)

and we found a bunch of clay pipe bowls and other goodies as well.

It was a good day despite the weather.
Happy hunting
ZDD

 

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[Southern_Digger]

Fantastic pieces of history...congratulations.
Two questions...
1) Do you use heated suits?
2) What is depth of these finds?

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Fantastic pieces of history...congratulations.
Two questions...
1) Do you use heated suits?
2) What is depth of these finds?

Hi there Southern_Digger, we love pulling up those pieces that can be tied to a particular time and in this case the exact ship.
We don't use heated suits, just 1/4" neoprean dry suits, we find the shell type suits just don't protect us from the cold. Our dives are usually an hour long and at 80+ ft so we have to use Nitrox 32% and 120 or 132CF bottles. By then we are maxed out on bottom time.
All or dives are done solo because of lack of vis. You just wouldn't see your buddy if you had one. We also take turns tendering the guys on the bottom. we use a surface marker buoy this way the diver can just swim where he wants to go and the boat will be there to pick him up. There are so many artifacts and pieces of history in the harbours it is just a little tricky to dive in some of them, but where there is a will there is a way.
ZDD