Dive the wreck of the Gulf Trade with Instructor Rich on Sunday, August 1st, aboard the Ol' Salty II. Departure is 7:00 AM.
Prerequisites:Must be AOW Certified
Must have a dive timer or dive computer w/SPG (and know how to use them)
Must have at least 1 cutting device (2 recommended)
Must have 1 dive light (2 recommended)
Must have proper exposure protection (no less than a 7mm wetsuitm Hood and Gloves)
Must have 1 audible and 1 visual surface signalling device (Whistle and Safety Sausage)
Redundant Air Supply is highly recommended (rentals available)
Please plan to arrive no LATER than 6:30am. Earlier is better. We cannot hold the boat for anyone as 1 minute late may mean we don't make the bridge opening. Plan on bringing lunch and drinks - large coolers are discouraged, although you can use any of the boats coolers/ice. Assemble your rig at home before arriving at the dock.....spare tanks will be stowed during load-up.
Please view the
PRIMMER FOR NJ BOAT DIVING before your first Jersey Dive.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE VERSION
Wrecksite Information (taken from http://njscuba.net)
Copyright 1996-2008 - Rich Galiano
Type: Tanker, USA ( Gulf Oil )
Name: One of a series of ships owned by Gulf Oil company, all named "Gulf ____"
Built: 1920, Chester PA USA
Specs: ( 430 x 59 ft ) 6776 gross tons, 34 crew
Sunk: Tuesday March 10, 1942 torpedoed by U-588 - 18 casualties
Depth: Bow - 60 ft ; Stern - 90 ft
The Gulf Trade broke in half behind the bridge after being torpedoed, not uncommon for an oil tanker. Many of the crew died in the ensuing inferno, and the escorting Coast Guard cutter was almost torpedoed while attempting their rescue. The bow grounded on the spot, and has since been reduced to rubble, but the stern drifted almost ten miles to deeper water, and is more intact.
An old photo shows this vessel's correct name to be " Gulf Trade " - two words rather than one. However, it is more commonly known as the "Gulftrade" ( or sometimes as the "Gulftrader". ) It's not very clear here, but it is quite legible in the original photo.The stern is a very big wreck that rises 20 ft off the bottom in places, although most of the wreckage is lower and jumbled. Cavernous spaces in the big part of the wreck are easily penetrated. The wreck is easily navigated since it is contiguous with well-defined edges. It is festooned with monofilament and old wire lobster pots, so many that I think someday when the wreck is gone, you will still be able to dive the pile of traps.
One point of reference is the triple-expansion steam engine. However, you can easily miss it, as it is very broken-down, with only one of the three cylinders intact. What made me take a closer look was a crank arm leaning against the wreckage, looking like a six-foot box-end wrench. The boiler is nearby, but so large that you might not at first realize what it is. Broken fire tubes are exposed at the far end. There is also a great deal of piping, which you would expect on an oil tanker.
The Gulf Trade is for the Barnegat boats what the Mohawk is for the Manasquan / Belmar boats, and it gets hit just as often. The result is that, like the Mohawk, it is often pretty fished out. For the northern boats, it can be a rather long ride to catch nothing.
For what it's worth, a closer view of the section that is down there.
The bow was demolished.
