The Battleship Oriskany ---Down deep in May....

The 32,000 ton Oriskany is going to be sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Pensacola (on May 17, 2006), in about 210 feet of water. The sinking is going to be documented by National Geographic. Now let's do the math. Most dive spots in the local area are less than 100 feet. The practical limit for most dives is 130 feet or less. So, divers going that deep will probably be able to only reach the flight deck. Any deeper, for any amount of time, significantly increases the risk of nitrogen narcosis, commonly known as the bends. Even at the 130 foot level, the entire dive can only safely last about 8 minutes. That is about enough time to reach the flight deck, take a quick look, and get back to the surface. So, a word of caution --- this dive will be for advanced divers. Knowing the risks and wanting to be prepared, Baptist Hospital in Pensacola has begun additional training to use their hyperbaric (decompression) chambers to deal with diving injuries such as the bends. The ship's superstructure will be at the shallower depths (around 60 feet) and will offer much to see, so play it safe and don't ruin your day.... And, if you're just visiting, might as well move here so you can see the ship whenever you want. We welcome your comments --- post them here, or email them to joe@stukey.com.