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Dive Review of Ocean Quest in
Canada/Newfoundland

Ocean Quest: "Newfoundland Wreck DIving with Ocean Quest", Jun, 2014,

by Neil Burgess, NF, CA (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 9 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 7956.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations N/A Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Had a great weekend of diving with Ocean Quest on the 4 Bell Island WWII shipwrecks (each 400ft + in length). The new dive boat (MV Mermaid) provided a large warm cabin for changing and setting up camera gear. The open back deck provided ample room for 8 divers and the power lift made getting back in the boat very easy (especially good for tech divers with doubles). The 4 shipwrecks were iron ore carriers sunk by German U-boats in 1942. We dove the Lord Strathcona and the Saganaga on Saturday. Visibility was excellent (50 feet +) while the water was cold (10C at surface, 5C at depth). These 2 wrecks were intact and upright with the main decks at around 80 feet deep. Lots of superstructure to investigate. Iron ore, hatch covers, and spare parts in the holds. The Saganaga has one of the huge bow anchor lying on its stern deck, thrown there by the torpedo blast. Both had stern guns intact and covered by anemones. Lots of flounder, sculpin, crabs, urchins and anemones all over the wrecks. Several excellent swim-throughs (companionways, torpedo holes). Sunday we dove on the deeper Rose Castle wreck. Main deck at 120 feet. Being deeper, it was more intact with masts and cargo derricks. Marconi room on top of superstructure contained all the radio gear with glass dials and tubes intact. School of cod fish swimming over the holds. Last dive was on the PLM-27, which was the shallowest wreck (main deck at 55 feet). This wreck was not as intact as others. Superstructure was starting to collapse. We descended to a lifeboat laying on the bottom (100ft) on port side. Then to the bow to explore the anchors. Encountered a large lumpfish by the bow deck. Visibility was even better than the first day (60ft). Back on the boat, skipper Bill served up a fabulous moose soup for lunch. What a treat! Fantastic wreck diving but we were glad to be diving in our drysuits!
Websites Ocean Quest   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, UK, Mediterranean, Ontario, Nova Scotia
Closest Airport St. John's, NL Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, no currents
Water Temp 5-10°C / 41-50°F Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Dive within your training and experience level
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals N/A Tropical Fish N/A
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments Freshwater tank on boat for cameras, large cabin with tables for cameras
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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