New Jersey Scuba Diving

Wolcott

Type:
shipwreck, schooner
Depth:
85 ft

The Wolcott is an unknown wooden schooner. This wreck was found and named by charter boat captain, Jay Porter on the day that Jersey Joe Wolcott beat Joe Louis in boxing's title match.

The Wolcott lies very close to the Patchogue fishing grounds, four miles northeast of the San Diego wreck in 83 feet of water. She is a big wreck, very broken up and scattered over a large area. According to Steve Bielenda a huge fluted anchor still can be seen amongst the wreckage. This area is excellent for cod, sea bass, and especially lobster. In 1996 I explored this wreck for the first time. Her huge wooden ribs are almost completely buried. I located one large double-posted bollard cleat and did see her anchor. The anchor's flutes are completely buried with only her stock sticking out of the sand. I had heard many rumors that divers had spotted a cannon on the site. I found only a steel pipe and nothing that even resembled a cannon.

-- Capt. Dan Berg

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Air Fills

The proper way to fill a scuba cylinder is very slowly so that the heat generated by the filling process can be bled away as it happens, and the tank does not become overheated. That's a great theory, but in real life, nobody does it that way. Most tanks are "hot-filled", that is to say, that they are filled too fast to prevent them from heating up during the process. If they are filled directly off a compressor, then they will receive a very hot fill. You would be surprised how warm the surface of a tank can get. This is not much of a safety issue, though, as it is well within the thermal limits of the material, either aluminum or steel.

The real issue here is that eventually ( after a few hours ) the tank will cool down, and as it does, the air inside will contract, and the pressure will drop. This typically results in about a 10% loss of pressure. At this point, you could top it off to the rated pressure again and have a truly full tank. Most of the time that's not an option. Therefore, if the shop hot-fills your tank to 3000, you will end up with 2700. To get 3000, you need to fill the tank to about 3300. While this is verboten, it is well within the 5/3 overpressure of the hydro test, and realistically there is no danger. The slight overpressure may wear out your o-rings a little faster, but o-rings are cheap - get a dozen of them at the hardware store for a buck.

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Disclaimer:

I make no claim as to the accuracy, validity, or appropriateness of any information found in this website. I will not be responsible for the consequences of any action that is based upon information found here. Scuba diving is an adventure sport, and as always, you alone are responsible for your own safety and well being.

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