diverebreather / Holgis.info

After last year the conditions for the dive the U455 were not good, I had planned a new expedition. This was then scheduled from 05 to 9 May 2013.

As a new team quickly found themselves Sabine, Severine, Frank Christoph and Matthias together, then unfortunately had to cancel Matthias beginning of the year and we still took Oliver to the team on who could predict the short term.

Sabine, Severine, Frank and Oliver have already traveled on a Saturday and were able to ever run a small dive on the nature reserve Portofino. Christopher and I arrived on Sunday then do so.

Monday 06 May

To check the equipment and also to assemble the team, we decided to first have a smaller dive on the sciatic make. The dive to 90 meters deep wreck was routine, unfortunately the visibility was not so good and we have entertained the apprehension this would happen to us also on U455. The dive on the sciatic was after 120 min runtime a good start in the next few days.

Then in the evening we prepared everything for the U455 dive. Connect we met for lunch in a typical Italian pizza pizzeria

Tuesday 07 May

The day started with rain but fortunately moderate wind. The exit was therefore a little rougher. At the wreck position then the permanent shotline was luckily found fairly quickly (it was the first dive on the wreck in 2013, not clear whether the shot line was still there)

Christoph and I first started, we dived on a leash and quickly realized that this was the wrong one, this line piece ended in 25m. After a little show up we reached the correct connection to the shot line and let us slide into the abyss. On 75m we saw the bow of the U455 in the dark up. It was immediately clear, very good view Smiley Visibility on U455 were about 30m so we we could see down to the tower from the bow.

The first dive went down only once to the tower at 115m and then slowly back to the bow on the U455 back to 90m.

Meanwhile, Severine and Frank and Sabine and Oliver arrived at the U455, the many torches illuminated the wreck.

After the end of the bottom time of 150 minutes Dekoaufstieg began.

Back, we compared our dive again with found images on the Internet. We noticed that not all agree this. A cannon as drawn had seen none of us, even the tail is rather scattered in many parts across the floor.

Wednesday 08 May

For the second dive we wanted to see again after the gun and the rear parts. The exit to the U455 was much calmer today in beautiful sunshine and calm seas.

Christoph and I started again as the first team and since this time not so many lines were in the water, we also found the same shotline Smiley

Severine, Frank and Christopher had this scooter and drove to the rear of the U455, Sabine, Oliver and I searched for the gun. Although we found a point where the gun was but maybe it was nothing to see, only two machine gun shots could be seen. Even the scooter team could be found at the rear neither the screw even more stern parts.

Also on this dive we had superior visibility again.

Since Sabine, Severine and Frank drove on Thursday for wreck diving in Sardinia and Christoph had the opportunity to dive another wreck, the Ravenna, in the evening we made a good seafood restaurant in our financial statements.

Thursday of 09 May

We took a short stop in Genoa on to “San Stefano al mare” where I was registered on Friday with the Freighter Tirpitz for diving. Christopher had already started very early to Ravenna to dive. Christoph late afternoon we met at the hotel.

Friday 10 May

Exit to the wreck of the cargo ship Tirpitz. Christoph and I joined a group of German Tectaucher. In calm weather and sunshine, it was cozy with a converted as submersible boats to the wreck. Again, there were a permanent shot line, so that the descent was easy to 80m. The Tirpitz is on the side and has two large holes in the hull, which originate from torpedo hits. The central hole is located above the boiler space below the bridge. Since everyone but me had a scooter, I looked at the boiler room and the bridge alone, the holds are also open and also can be good dive. A beautiful wreck at 80m

Saturday 11 May

Return to Weinheim, unfortunately we had at the Gotthard Tunnel 2 hour wait, so the return trip took 11 hours.

Holger and TR300c eCCR the desalted
Holger with TR300c above the tower U455
Holger with TR300c on U455
Holger with TR300c on U455 tower
Part of the team’s from left to right: Frank, Christoph, Sabine and Holger