Diving Chuuk and Palau:
Tyler, It's hard to know where to start when so much was packed
into so little time. There are many memorable moments within these
17 days away. The Odyssey is the most luxurious live aboard I've ever
experienced. Where else can we wake up in an air conditioned cabin
and be spoiled with a full hot breakfast followed by the most detailed
dive briefings where you can then immerse yourself in 85 degree water?
After seeing the local land based operations and experiencing The
Odyssey there's no other way to go diving in Chuuk for me. Their crew
did everything they could to accommodate us and we welcomed their
sense of humour and phenomenal knowledge of the local wrecks. They
were all extremely professional with a keen focus on safety when in
the water. They allowed us to plan our own dives and dive within our
comfort and training levels. Guides were readily available if you
wanted to explore specific areas of the wrecks. Once in the water
we saw many WWII artifacts; deck guns, ammunition of all sizes, live
warheads, 20ft long live torpedoes, shoes, bones, kitchenware, lamps,
plane propellers, tanks, cars, gas masks, machine guns and depth charge
launchers still loaded to name a few.
The marine life in Chuuk was rich with monstrous sized soft corals
and carpet anemones and there was at least one wreck that was being
reclaimed by a reef that had started to grow over it. The sharks here
were unpredictable and some were a bit aggressive. I will never forget
the reef shark that attempted to bite my leg off while I tried to
go up the ladder. After a long day of diving it was nice to unwind
and get to know our fellow passengers and crew over a cool Corona
or glass of wine before heading below for the night. At the end of
our week of diving some local carvers brought some of their work out
to The Odyssey and we were able to purchase them. They are extremely
affordable and I would recommend purchasing them here.
Once in Palau we stayed at a local hotel just a stone throw away
from Sam's Tours. They provided a pick up and drop off service every
day and allowed us to store our dive gear in a locker for the duration
of our stay. Dexter, our dive guide, allowed us flexibility when planning
our dives and based on his recommendations we were able to select
our sites. The diving in Palau was extremely different from that of
Chuuk. Both locations were exceptional but Palau really excelled in
marine life. There were fish, sharks, sea turtles and hard corals
everywhere. We used reef hooks to latch on in swift currents and got
to play with a particularly friendly 4ft long Napoleon Wrasse. The
aqua blue waters seemed endless and were complimented by the rock
islands with their dense jungles.
During the week we had two locals as captains, Jimmy and Charleton.
They amazed us with their sense of direction and visual navigation
since the boat wasn't equipped with GPS. One of my fondest memories
is of our final surface interval on the last day of diving. Dexter,
Charleton and J5 (a guide in training) asked us if we would allow
them to fish during our surface interval. We happily agreed and learned
the local ways. The experience was beyond description. The 7ft silky
sharks that tracked our catches and the half eaten tuna that we recovered
were unbelievable. This was a phenomenal experience that will have
to be repeated when we return. We ate like kings in Palau. We found
two great restaurants for dinner within walking distance of our hotel,
the Carp and Kramers. Mai Tai's and Asahi flowed well at Kramers and
the Carp boasted great short ribs.
We were spoiled with fresh fish every day and I will be hard pressed
to find a yellow finned tuna steak of that quality again. Visiting
the local jail was quite an experience. You got to barter with the
jail mates to determine how much you would pay for their intricate
carvings. They had some beautiful pieces ranging from $50 to $1000.
Their jail is very different from our culture and their police had
Harley Davidson Sportsters for transportation. Visiting the museum
is a must for all that travel here. You get a great understanding
of the island's history and the turmoil it has experienced. The lack
of technology and modernization were refreshing and hopefully it won't
change much when we return. The roads are not named and you can walk
the island easily. There is little to no shopping to be done with
the exception of the Museum. The people here were all extremely kind
and it was safe to travel alone on the island. Although we had heard
of the Beetle Nut and red streets we were disappointed when we didn't
see it ourselves.
You have to visit the local Karaoke bars and witness the local talent.
This was the trip of a lifetime that I consider myself fortunate to
experience. I really enjoyed travelling with you and Dennis and I'm
looking forward to returning in 2010! Thanks again Tyler for putting
together another great trip!
Lisa B.
Truk Lagoon (Chuuk) / Palau Diving
Tyler I want to thank you very much for putting together such an
awesome trip to Truk Lagoon and Palau from 6 - 21 October, 2007. Considering
that the expedition was planned so far ahead and that Truk Lagoon
and Palau are so far away, everything came together perfectly and
without a hitch.
The
Truk Odyssey definitely deserves all of the accolades that it has
received. The ship, the cabins, the food and the crew were all first
rate. It was also appreciated that the Odyssey treats all of their
passengers as adults who can decide their own limits on depth, time
and the number of dives they are capable of. This is a plus when you
consider the restrictions that some liveaboards place on their adult
paying passengers.
The shipwrecks in Truk Lagoon are truly amazing! Even though the
ships were sunk over 60 years ago they are still in great shape. Depending
on one's training penetrations into engine rooms, cargo holds, etc.
are possible. If you are happy with just cruising the outside of the
wrecks there are so many things to see and photograph that you will
not be disappointed. If marine life is your reason for diving you
will be blown away by the many different species of fish and soft
corals. Palau and Sam's Tours also deserve rave reviews. It was great
having our own dive boat and guide for 3 dives a day. Sam's Tours
is another professional organization that exceeded my expectations.
Again we were treated as adults.
While Truk Lagoon is noted for it's shipwrecks, Palau is noted for
it's current, walls and marine life. Of course there is the Blue Corner.
When the current is really running and you are hooked in you will
be amazed by the number and different species of shark, the barracudas
and so many of the larger species of fish that will surround you.
On every dive we saw sharks. On most dives we saw turtles. Even the
one shipwreck (the Helmet wreck) that we dove on in Palau was excellent.
It was on this wreck that I saw my first lionfish.
A trip to Palau would not be complete without a snorkel in Jellyfish
Lake - a once in a lifetime experience. The trip is not cheap and
it takes a lot of flights to get to / from Truk Lagoon and Palau but
it definitely is worth it. Anyone who wants to do this trip should
contact Tyler Bradford to find out when he is next running a trip
to Truk Lagoon and Palau, and put down a deposit immediately. A trip
of this complexity is best handled by someone who has been there,
done the diving and has already ran a very successful trip.
Thanks again Tyler Dennis Catena
Empress of Ireland Aug / 07
I'd
like to thank Tyler Bradford for conducting an amazing and well organized
adventure such as I've never experienced before. I can't express my
graditude for how well my time was spent during the days of this trip
and I have already acknowledged I'll be returning next season to renew
the adventure. I was not only provided with the most amazing wreck
dive in the world ... but also introduced to a unique history and
culture (in Quebec) I never would have thought possible. People, food
and drink in Rimouski all complimented my experience which can only
be expressed with this one phrase ..... "La Fin Du Monde" (I'll leave
it up to Tyler to explain.) I've often heard others refer to Tyler
Bradford as a "no glitch" dive trip organizer. Now I know why.
Harry Dunbar
Empress of Ireland Diving
I was lucky enough to have been invited on a dive trip to the Empress
of Ireland. The trip was led by Tyler Bradford of Advanced Diving
& Expeditions. It began August 6th with a 7 hour drive to Rimouski,
Quebec. After hearing from people that there was nothing to do in
Rimouski if the weather was bad, I packed a lot of DVDs and reading
material. The drive was very nice along I-91 in Vermont up through
a lot of beautiful farm country in Quebec. As the farm country began
to fade out, the breath-taking views of the St. Lawrence River began
to come into view. At first the water was a dark brown. That is not
a good sign when you are planning on a week of diving. I was later
relieved when I learned the water color was due to the fresh and saltwater
mixing.
After
following the Saint Lawrence river and noticing the small communities
I was traveling through were getting smaller and smaller, I was worried
Rimouski would not consist of much. It had now been a couple of hours
since I had any cell phone service. It was a good feeling when the
City of Rimouski came into view and the cell phone service jumped
up to full. Following the directions Tyler had given us, I quickly
located the rest of the group. It was a great welcome, when I stepped
out of the truck I was handed a nice cold beverage and enjoyed it
overlooking the beautiful St. Lawrence.
The first night, Tyler took us to the house of the famous, Dany
St. Cyr, "The King of the Empress." After filling our tanks for the
next day, we stopped at the Nipigon for dinner. The Nipigon, is a
retried Canadian Navy Minesweeper that was sunk as an artificial reef.
After a great dinner of Surf & Turf, we walked around the church and
cemetary overlooking the Saint Lawrence River. The adjacent rectory
is where one of the survivors of the Empress of Ireland disaster knocked
on the door after swimming all the way in. We toured the inside of
the church, admiring the unique stain glass windows. After our tour,
we were introduced to another legend, Jean-Pierre Boullion. The evening
had given us a chance to get better aquainted with Tyler. Tyler said
he would call us at 5:00am to let us know if we would be diving or
not.
The morning phone call came very soon, and Tyler said we would not
be diving due to the wind. Instead, he would be meeting us around
9:00am. We spent Monday running errands and touring the Musee de la
Mer (the museum commemorating the Empress of Ireland disaster). The
tour was quite an experience. We quickly began to feel the Empress
and saw the devastation for the 1012 people who did not survive the
collision with the Storstad. Tyler got the anticipation in high gear
for diving, as he said he could show us a lot of things inside the
wreck, we were seeing inside the museum. Just seeing pictures of the
building of the Empress, were impressive to see her immense size.
We also toured the gift store and the adjacent lighthouse.
Monday night, we enjoyed dinner in town. The dinner was filling and
wonderful. We finished the evening with a couple of drinks and games
of pool. We made plan B for Tuesday because the weather forcast was
not looking good and the wind had been picking up all day on Monday.
Our plan was to take the ferry across to the north coast and dive
a shore site. Tyler called early at 5:00 am again. This time, he said
to meet at the Marina at 6:00, because we were going to try to get
out to the Empress. We were up quickly, making last minute adjustments
to our gear and printing out decompression schedules. The boat ride
out was about 25 minutes to the site. Our captain, was Al from Saint
Lucia, what a character.
When we arrived on the site, we took a couple of photos of the mooring
attached next to the wreck. The first day, I dove a light trimix and
100% oxygen for decompression. The first dive had been briefed by
Tyler. We followed him and descended down the amidship mooring, swam
along the promenade deck, then dropped down to see the #3 cargo hatch.
We paused to view the plaques commemorating those that died during
the disaster and the divers who have died on the wreck. We continued
forward to the tip of the bow. After rounding the bow, we saw the
port side anchor, then swam toward the railing and viewed the name
of the ship. We swam back to the amidship mooring line, picked up
our strobes and made our ascent. We had a maximum depth of 117 feet
for a 48 minute run time. After a little over an hour surface interval,
Tyler, John, and myself jumped back in for a second dive.
On the second dive, we had a maximum depth of 121ft and a run time
of 52 minutes. We descended down the amidship mooring again, swam
over the promenade deck, saw a bath tub, shoes, a fireplace, and a
lot of the black & white floor tiles. We enjoyed a nice boat ride
back to the dock in flat calm seas. We enjoyed a relaxing dinner,
talked about the great dives we had for the day and Tyler laid out
a busy Wednesday for us to prepare for. We readied our gear for the
next day's diving and got some much needed sleep.
The next morning we were able to sleep in a little later until the
7:00am wake-up call. Tyler said we would be a "go" for the Empress
again. After a bumpy ride out, we hooked the stern mooring and it
wasn't looking too good, the current was going at a good clip. I was
again diving a trimix with 100% for decompression. Sam and John opted
out of the dive due to the current and surface chop. Tyler and I splashed
in and saw a chamber pot and a full bottle of beer. A scallop helped
itself into my pocket for a little snack back on the boat. Once we
surfaced, there was a strong surface current and the surface chop
had picked up considerably. Tyler said it was time to go, as the weather
looked like it was getting worse. When we got in, Tyler told us to
follow him to where we were going to have lunch. We all filled up
on cheeseburgers at a small street-side restaurant. Tyler then took
us next door to a small chocolate store that sold ice cream. We all
got soft serve ice cream covered in about 18" of fresh dark chocolate.
The ice cream was a meal in and of itself. We went back to the cabin
to wash our gear, while Tyler filled our tanks. We started the evening
off with more fresh bread, cheese, & wine. We were treated to dinner.
A great chicken and artichoke alfredo with cran-raisins.
Thursday morning started with the Tyler phone call at about 9:00am
this time. We were starting to enjoy sleeping in a little more. After
a smooth ride out, the 4 of us jumped in. We tied off on the stern
mooring again, and dove down to see the starboard propeller. The port
propeller had been salvaged years ago. We saw a large shrimp, that
fit into the palm of my hand, several rubber tiles, and a nice glass
lamp cover. We had a runtime of 1 hour and 2 minutes and a maximum
depth of 137ft. After a little more than an hour surface interval,
Tyler, John and I splashed back in for a second dive. On the second
dive, we explored the stern deck. We had a run time of 52 minutes
and a maximum depth of 129 ft. When we got in, we went to a restaurant
that specializes in crepes. I didn't know what to expect, but was
pleasantly surprised as I finished my lunch. When we got back, we
washed our gear, and I collected all of the tanks to go to Dany's
for fills. While filling tanks, Tyler and I enjoyed a couple of beers
and some bourgets. Dany and Sarah invited us for dinner. When Sam
showed up, we invited her to try a bourget. It did not last long in
her mouth before it went out into the brush.
The next morning started with with a 9:00 wake-up call from Tyler.
We cruised out the Empress for more dives. Today I was diving a nitrox
mix with 100% for deco. The 4 of us splashed in at the bow mooring
and dove down to see the crow's nest, the over-turned lifeboat, stairs
going from the promenade deck to the main deck on the stairboard side.
We also saw the largest crab I have ever seen. I thought he would
taste really good, but left him to guard the Empress. The lack of
helium was felt in the narcosis I was feeling on this dive. Once we
were headed back to the line, Tyler headed back into the wreck to
lay a line for our next dive inside the wreck. After a 46 minute run
time with a maximum depth of 139 ft, we surfaced to cloudy skies.
After an hour & half surface interval, Tyler and I splashed back in
for a second dive. During the second dive, we entered through the
#3 cargo hatch, to what remains of the grand staircase and looked
into the open stack, and then came out the main gangway. We then swam
around the deck area. We surfaced on the amidship mooring at the end
of the dive. We had a runtime of 55 minutes and a maximum depth of
117ft.
When Tyler and I surfaced, those on the boat, were pretty cold. Sam
said it had snowed while we were underwater. I could certainly feel
the sleet on the boat ride home. We warmed up with some lunch at the
marina. The warm bowl of seafood soup, hit the spot. We washed our
gear again, and took much needed naps. John and I went out to Dany's
to fill tanks with Tyler. We later had dinner and retired for an early
night.
On Saturday, Tyler did not call until 10am and it was great to sleep
in. We headed out in choppy seas for our last days of diving. Today,
Simon decided to join us. I was diving a 29% nitrox mix with 100%
for decompression. I noticed a small leak through the check valve
on my pee-valve Friday evening, so I was stuck holding it and wearing
some Depends (just in case). We tied into the stern mooring because
the other moorings were being used. We had a 45 minute runtime with
a maximum depth of 131ft. We saw Tyler's secret stash of the chamber
pot and bottle of beer again. We saw a nicely intact porthole on the
deck and Sam found a nice small bottle. At the end of the dive, Tyler
went back in and laid line for the next dive. After a cold and rainy
1 hour and 39 minute surface intervale, Tyler and I splashed back
in. We penetrated through the #4 cargo hatch, swam around inside checking
out sinks and other artifacts. We were careful because there were
other lines run inside and a lot of steel beams beginning to collapse.
After we were outside the wreck, we saw a forearm bone, quite damaged
from the chaos on May 29th, 1914. Tyler and I each began took our
time examining artifacts on the stern on the wreck. Finally after
about a 30 minute bottom time, I was getting pretty cold. I knew this
was the last dive on the Empress and I could always warm up later.
After a runtime of 54 minutes and a maximum depth of 131 ft, we surfaced
to more cloudy skies.
I was pretty cold and left my skull cap on for the boat ride home,
laying back at the bow. We got back to the cabin with just enough
time for each of us to take quick showers before Tyler arrived. We
toasted with some large beers Tyler brought and headed out to Dany's.
We picked up the rest of the crew and headed out to a great seafood
restaurant. Tyler said to order just an appetizer, and he would take
care of the rest. I ordered a bowl of Lobster Bisque. After finishing
our appetizers, platters and platters of steamed mussels, scallops,
salmon filets, crevettes (small shrimp), and coconut shrimp were brought
out to the table. The bottles of wine kept coming as well. After filling
ourselves on this food, platters of lobsters and crab legs were put
on the table. After we finished, we all ordered dessert. It was quite
a feast and a great way to end our Empress trip. On the way back,
we stopped at Dany's. Dany was gracious enough to show us the stern
letters he recovered and restored with his friend Pierre Lepage.
Sunday morning came around and it was time to pack up and head home.
The week was such a great trip and I can't wait to go back again next
year. In the meantime, I hope to be taking an Advanced Wreck class
with Tyler in October.
Jeff D.
Tyler,
I wanted to write and thank you again for the great trip we had diving
the Empress of Ireland. Your efforts to ensure we had a great time
everyday went well above what I have experienced on many other trips
and were really appreciated. I also appreciated your emphasis on safety
and all the help you provided on our dives to ensure we not only had
enjoyable dives but they were as safe as possible. 
Attention to all the small details are what takes a trip from good
to great, and you certainly have all the bases covered. Your knowledge
of the area, the history, and the condition of the wreck were very
informative and extremely helpful. It truly was a tremendous experience
meeting many of the people written about in Kevin Mc Murray's book.
And the food. What can I say -- other than it is worth a trip up there
just to experience the food alone. The celebration dinner ranks as
one of the best meals I have ever had. My mouth still waters when
I think about it, even though I didn't have to eat for a day and a
half afterward.
Thanks again for everything, and I really hope to see you again
next year.
Best wishes,
Doug B.
Advanced Expeditions Gunilda / Judge Hart Trip September 26 to October
1, 2006
When
I attended the Beneath the Sea show in New Jersey last year, Tyler
Bradford of Advanced Diving & Expeditions told me of a trip he was
planning to Rossport, Ontario, on Lake Superior. Knowing Tyler as
I do, and having heard of the fabulous diving available in the area,
I signed up immediately. I had to wait impatiently for September to
roll around. When it finally did, I made the 18 hour drive from my
Western MA home, up to Rossport. The drive though lengthy, was very
pretty. Especially the last 4-hour stretch from Sault St. Marie to
Rossport. Arriving at the Rossport dock, I was extremely pleased to
see the impressive dive boat"Dawnlight" tied up there. She is a converted
tug and one of the most comfortable platforms from which I have dived.
Professional piloted by Captain Ray Davis and crew, the Dawnlight
was a pleasure to be aboard.
We departed Rossport on the morning of September 27 for the 3 hour
run to the Judge Hart. Upon arriving on station, Captain Ray deployed
his (excellent) deco bar system, complete with 8 second stages for
delivering ship supplied O2, and we splashed in. I have little experience
in diving the Great Lakes. Being more used to the conditions in the
North Atlantic, I was totally unprepared for the fantastic treat of
diving the Judge Hart. Although cold, 39 degrees, the water was very
clear. I would estimate 80 feet of visibility and some ambient light
available at the wreck. As we arrived at the tie in on the portside
stern, (180 ffw) I was greeted with the sight of a Walker Cherub III
taffrail log, in seemingly perfect condition, bolted in it's spot
on the taffrail! It got better from there.
The Judge Hart is a wonderful dive. Every thing is there! The wheelhouse
is complete with wheel, binnacle, and radio equipment. Even the ship's
papers were still hanging in a frame on the wall. The engine room
was particularly fascinating to me. Spare parts in their bins, tools
on racks, and even a clock with its rewind key still hanging in place.
Tyler's video will do far more descriptive justice to this dive than
I can here. Suffice it to say it was incredible. The maximum depth
I recorded in 4 dives on the Hart was 202 feet. There was little in
the way of thermo cline until we reached about 20 feet. At the warmest,
the water temp was about 52 degrees. We spent the first night on station,
moored to the wreck.We made 2 dives both days in a very comfortable
atmosphere, and warmed by delicious food, prepared by Susan.
Departing after the diving operations on September 28, we headed
back to Rossport, in preparation for diving the Gunilda. What can
you say about the Gunilda? An incredibly beautiful yacht, She sunk
after striking a shoal and a botched salvage operation. Depth here
is 250 ffw to the ships deck. She is very well preserved in this clear,
cold water. There is no marine growth. Gold paint is still evident
on her. It looks like she sank a few weeks ago. Again, I will not
try and describe the wreck. Photo's will do it far more justice. Tyler
and the crew of Dawnlight treated us to some incredible shipwreck
diving in a beautiful setting, on a wonderful dive boat. I have already
signed up for next year and have begun crossing the days off my calendar!
Report submitted by Peter Piemonte
Gunilda / Judge Hart
Saturday 23 September was the official start of my vacation. The
women I work with all thought I was nuts to drive 14 hours to dive
in 37 degree water in Lake Superior at the end of September. Not their
idea of a relaxing vacation, but for me it was the trip of a lifetime.
When I had the chance to join a trip organized by Advanced Diving
& Expeditions I wasn't about to let it slip by. It was my chance to
dive two of the premier deep wrecks in the Great Lakes, the Gunilda
and the Judge Hart.
I first learned of these wrecks as a young child growing up in Terrace
Bay on the north shore of Lake Superior. In fact, in grade two, I
wrote a composition about diving the Gunilda after watching a BBC
special on Jacques Cousteau. Big aspirations for a little kid from
Terrace Bay, but I hung in there, and in 1980 I got my open water
certification. At the start of the class the instructor inquired what
our motivation was. We took turns sharing why we wanted to learn to
dive and there were the usual responses; dive on vacation in Aruba,
because my husband dives, to go spear fishing in Florida… then it
came to me - I boldly stated that I wanted to learn so I could dive
the Gunilda. It's taken me a few years to reach my goal but when Peter
told me about the trip I jumped at the opportunity.
We arrived in Rossport in the pouring rain, loaded the boat and settled
in for supper and introductions at one of the local restaurants. We
were a varied group ranging in age from early 30's to late 50's diving
both open and closed circuit units. Needless to say this led to some
fun banter and unique teaching opportunities about the pro's and con's
of both systems across a broad base of knowledge and different levels
of skill.
We had a perfect week of weather and over the course of the trip.
I managed to get in 6 dives out of a total of 7 opportunities. Originally
we planned to dive the Gunilda 1st and the Judge Hart 2nd but Lake
Superior made other plans for us. With the winds gusting strong from
the North, Captain Ray made the prudent decision that we should have
an early night and head out for Fitzsimmons Rock the next morning.
The three hour cruise up the coast of Lake Superior amid beautiful
fall foliage had everyone excited about our 1st jump in the big pond.
For me it was a quick 20 minute bottom time. My partner for the week
was diving a KISS rebreather, we had planned for the 1st dive that
we would stay together until my bottom time was complete and I was
headed back up the line. Even though we had all seen video of the
wreck, no one was quite prepared for the pristine conditions that
we encountered at depth. The stern mooring puts you at the back rail
of the vessel right next to a perfectly intact Taft rail log. Dropping
off the back rail gives you a clear view of the ships name painted
in large white block letters and a short swim around the area had
me looking at the galley and it's contents, a brass tea kettle on
the stove, preserves in the cupboards, two auxiliary anchors on deck
and the entrance to the engine room. In seconds it seemed my 20 minutes
had vapourized. I came back to the up line jealously envious of Peter's
option to remain for a more extensive look at this magnificent ship.
Nevertheless, I did get two more opportunities to come back for further
exploration.
Subsequent dives were spent swimming to the bow to explore the wheelhouse
and its contents and a thrilling dive into the engine room. At the
bow we admired museum quality nautical instruments, the ships wheel,
charts and chart table, a set of binoculars and a radio. There were
framed certificates on the walls, the binnacle and compass and of
course the ships bell, sitting up pretty and proud. It was a long
swim back to the bow from the stern mooring so at 11 minutes I had
to turn and head back to the up line. On the way back we also looked
at numerous brass portholes, running lights, completely intact with
green and red lenses, an ax mounted in the stairwell to the crew's
quarters and a spare set of propellers blades mounted on the deck.
The wreck is 250' long in 210' feet of water. The temperature on the
bottom was 39 degrees and 52 on deco at 20 feet.
With each dive on the wreck I felt more at home in the water, and
after a few minor adjustments to my weighting I experienced a substantial
improvement in my trim and buoyancy. All good work because the 3rd
dive had us in the engine room. This dive was beyond amazing, all
the tools were on the work bench; saw a clock with the key attached
by a leather tie, a lathe and a vice. It looked like the craftsman
could walk back into the room at any moment and pick up a project.
Before long though my precious few minutes of time had disappeared
and once again I was on my way up the line, deep slow stops and plenty
of deco to reflect on the privilege of diving these magnificent wrecks.
Late that afternoon we motored back to Rossport for the next round
of dives on the Gunilda. There is no similarity between the two wrecks.
One had a minimum of 40 feet of viz with significant ambient light
the other was darker, deeper and no viz beyond the end of your torch.
The Gunilda is a graceful feminine yacht. She is adorned with scrollwork,
gold and stained glass and she rests in the protective embrace of
a black rock wall on her port side. The experience moved me in a way
I didn't expect. It was such a privilege to dive on these boats and
such a trip to see and hear the responses of the other divers when
they came up.
Everything about the trip was first class;
· Captain Ray and his beautiful tug boat that traveled 56 hours from
Tobermory to shuttle us safely around the waterways of the north shore
of Lake Superior.
· The crew, Susan and Jack who helped us with gear,
keeping track of our dive profiles and stat's in the water and between
dives, not to mention homemade soup, steaks to die for and blueberry
pie.
· Tyler for organizing the trip.
· Tyler and Jim for mixing!
· Dave for playing cribbage
· Dennis for our "recovery dive"
· Peter
for being a great "silent" dive buddy!
Although I've just returned
from the trip, I've already booked my place for next year.
Deborah K.
Tyler Bradford..
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the incredible
experience that I have had training and diving with you over the past
year. It has been, without exception, the most valuable and irreplaceable
learning environment that I have ever had. Having been a diver for
over 20 years in a "non tech" environment I had developed (if not
nurtured) many diving habits that could be described at the very least
as "suboptimal"; those are now a thing of the past. You have shown
me the correct way to dive….enjoyably, safely and properly, at all
levels; without exception.
For those of you who are considering taking your diving to a new and
more challenging level, updating your skills or planning an expedition
to any site, regardless of the level of training that you have, I
cannot state strongly enough how beneficial it would be for you to
either complete a course(s) with Tyler and Advanced Diving and Expeditions
or simply come along on one of them to update your skills. Without
a doubt you will learn exponentially and come away from your time
spent with a fresher outlook and renewed/polished abilities.
As an educator in Emergency Medicine I am constantly training, evaluating
and supervising physicians in one of the most task-loaded and critical
care areas of the healthcare environment…advanced diving at all levels…deco,
wreck, trimix/advanced trimix…is no different and leaves little room
for error, complacency or poor skills. I can say without hesitation
that Tyler Bradford teaches and trains candidates for these certifications
to a level that is without equal and does not grant them because you
"paid for the course". I have an appreciation for just how fast things
can turn from good to bad in a critical care environment…and diving
is no different at this level. In this light Tyler's courses run so
smoothly as a result of his extensive background in diving and diving
education. What impressed me to no end was his ability to choose the
dive sites to teach and reinforce the skills at hand in a perfectly
suited and controlled environment for the skill itself AND for the
level of the student being trained while at the same time being in
a controlled and safe environment. One bad experience/event can turn
a course like trimix into a real and serious disaster…the sites and
locales chosen by Tyler are perfectly suited to the task and the students
while at the same time making it an incredibly enjoyable experience.
Again, thanks Tyler for what you have shown me and trained me in.
And for anyone who is considering taking diving to a higher and more
exciting level…Tyler Bradford and Advanced Diving and Expeditions
is the way to go. The friendships/buddies made on the courses that
you will do are for a lifetime of enjoyable and safe diving. Thanks
again Mike H. Aka "Doctor SiltStorm"
Last week I had the great pleasure of diving the Empress of Ireland.
This trip was organized and led by Tyler Bradford of Advanced Diving
& Expeditions from Mississauga, Ontario. The boat Captain was Jean-Pierre
Bouillon of St. Luce, Quebec.
The Empress is mostly intact and laying on her starboard side,
except that most of her superstructure has fallen off due to the effects
of salt water and gravity. She is a grand old dame none the less!
The wreck begins at about 80' and the maximum depth is 150'.
Diving this section of the St. Lawrence is nothing like the Thousand
Islands. The river here is tidal and greatly influenced by Mother
Nature. Dives must be timed to coincide with slack tide and acceptable
weather conditions. Weather here is subject to very rapid changes
and defies long range forecasting. A day, which starts acceptable
for diving, may change in a short time or vice versa. The water temperature
ranged from a balmy 38 to a chilly 33 due to a little thing called
the Labrador Current. Currents, visibility, and temperature can all
change quickly due to tides. All this being said, I got in 11 dives
for the week.
Tyler
conducted an excellent orientation before any diving started. This
included plans of the Empress as well as a briefing on the appropriate
practices for this location. There were also briefings before every
dive. The first dive was led by Tyler. The group toured the bow and
forward half of the wreck. We saw the ship's name on the port bow,
the port chain locker, first and third class entrances, and the 10
ton anchor. The second dive, also led by Tyler, was a short penetration
to the first class staircase and the entrance to the first class dining
hall. Other notable dives led by Tyler included a starboard lifeboat,
and the first class galley. The group also divided into various teams
and conducted independent dives. Dives were relatively short so as
to limit decompression in the cold water. Dry gloves are a must have.
Visibility was good to excellent for the entire trip, although this
may be a fluke.
The Empress is so large that I only just scratched the surface
this week. It seems possible to dive her for a year and see something
different every dive, with extensive penetration possible. Most of
my time was spent on the outside just getting to know the general
layout and it was enjoyable time well spent! In conclusion, I must
say this was an excellent trip. I'd love to go back. Everything was
exactly as promised. I had the opportunity to observe other operators
while up there. I think I've scored a home run the first time out.
Jean-Pierre's boat handling and knowledge of the river were flawless.
Tyler's trip was well organized and came off without a hitch.
The food in this part of Quebec is outstanding. Many restaurants dot
the area, which has an abundance of fresh local seafood. The only
disappointment was a cheeseburger I ate on the New York State Throughway
on my return trip. It was from a Roy Rogers and truly embodied the
spirit of Trigger, it not part of Trigger himself.
Greg K.
This is an unsolicited Letter of Recommendation
I took my first course with Tyler earlier this year, right away
I was impressed with the way he conducted the class. He started off
by asking what my goals and objective where and then set up the course
so there was a natural progression from one course to the next course.
The
thing that is the most commendable about Tyler is that when you have
a card with his name on it, it means something this guy does not give
out cards because you show up. At the end of our Advanced Nitrox and
Deco Tech course, Tyler invited me on one of his Empress of Ireland
trips… I was hesitant. I heard all the stories; bad visibility, ripping
currents unpredictable weather and Eastern Quebec could be challenging
for non-French speaking Ontarians. All of which is true, if you go
out there with someone who doesn't have any experience with the Empress
or the area.
Our dives where conducted in the safest possible manner. Our
boat captain knew the area and the conditions better than anybody
else and made every effort to insure our safety. I was also able to
draw on Tyler's knowledge of the Empress when making dive plans. I
would highly recommend take some of his guided dives, you won't be
disappointed, there is so much to see, some of the key points could
be easily missed.
Back on land we had great accommodations, we got museum tours,
shown around town and where introduced to many of the people in the
local diving community. I was so blown away, that by Wednesday I signed
up for another week.
In closing, I now have logged 20 dives (in 2 one week trips)
on the Empress and I'm just beginning to understand her, it is amazing
place and I could spend a life time diving on her. Through Tyler I
have gained and new understanding of wreck diving and have made many
new friends and colleges.
Thanks Tyler and I look forward to more great diving in the
future.
Safe Diving Jim P.
Tyler,
I don't think I can put together a string of words that can
thank you enough for the past week of diving on the Empress, and just
all around good times but I'm going to try. You along with Dany helped
make this the trip of a lifetime. All of us have some really nice
photos that I hope we pass around. But in reality, I need no photos.
I'm going to remember every detail of this trip for the rest of my
life. Well, there are a few I'd like to forget, but then again, the
trip wouldn't be the same without those moments. I think its safe
to say, the Empress has gotten a hold of me.
On
the way back in after our last 2 dives of the trip, I was already
anticipating next year's excursion(s). I've been at home this morning,
staring at pictures of the Empress when it was in its glory, sailing
down the St Lawrence and thinking I touched those bow letters. I touched
that anchor. I looked at a picture of the grand staircase, and thought,
I touched that step. For a true history lover like myself, it doesn't
get any better than this. Diving the Empress has definitely changed
me. Anybody that only has had a brief look at her and thinks they
have seen it all, are diving her for the wrong reason. Just to say
they have "done it". To me that does an injustice to the Empress and
all those souls that made their final resting place.
In the short time I have been diving, I have met quite a few
people and they are mostly just acquaintances. I truly feel that I
have made 2 new friends in yourself and Dany, and look forward to
many more dives on the Empress of Ireland with you guys. You're a
world-class diver, and a world-class individual. And have became my
number 1 choice when its time to start expanding my technical diving
training.
Thanks again Tyler (Capt. Grinder)
Sincerely, Jason R. R.
I met Tyler several times in my recreational diving adventures
and had heard many good things about him. Knowing that he was into
rebreathers and advanced tech diving, I though he was out of my league
until listening to him at several seminars. Tyler was able to bring
simplicity into the progression from Rec to tech.
Since
then I’ve been able to put together the right gear and get familiar
with it so that I had enough experience to take the first of 2 courses
that I have completed with Tyler. The first course in May 2004 was
advanced nitrox and decompression procedures. From the first night
in class to the last dive Tyler was clear in his approach to the written
material and the dive plans for the in water skills. The courses are
well organized and complete, which make for a less stressed learning
environment. In Dec 04 I started a cave intro course in Florida with
Mike O’Leary who as well is an excellent instructor. I returned
in March and completed full cave. Before finishing cave I signed up
for Tyler’s technical wreck penetration course. I’ am
sure the skills that I learned and honed in these first 2 courses
helped in my most recent course with Tyler.
What I was not prepared for was the difference between cave
and wreck penetration. Gear selection and configuration being the
only obvious similarity, and the environment you are diving the most
dissimilar. Some differences being a more unstable surrounding, sharp
objects that can cut your reel line or a hose coming off your first
stage. Tyler’s wreck course was defiantly demanding in getting
your skills down but, also one of the most fun and fulfilling.
Having to hear about all the excitement from many of my diving buddies
about their experiences on the Empress I look forward to going on
Tyler’s charter in Sept.
Tyler’s dedication to the dive industry is commendable,
and I hold Tyler in the highest respect.
Dave S.
Tyler Bradford is a professional through and through, regardless
if he is diving, climbing or working as a financial consultant. The
first time I considered diving the Empress, I automatically thought
of Tyler due to his experience on the wreck and his professionalism.
In 2004, I dove the Empress for the first time; it was awesome. Tyler
had arranged for everything, from charters, to accommodations and
even sharing his "beer bottom" bbq chicken at Dany's house.
When diving the wreck, Tyler can provide detailed information to best
prepare you and will even take you on guided tours. Tyler is well
known in Rimouski and will share his Quebec social gatherings with
all. My 2nd trip will be in the fall of 2005; I can't wait!
In regards to courses, I am very serious about choosing my technical
instructors, being an instructor myself. Tyler's tech diving experience
and ability to convey his knowledge are tremendous. He takes his teaching
seriously but is always smiling. I highly recommend Tyler.
Paul D.
PADI MI #205359
NAUI Deco Procedures / Wreck Penetration / Advanced Nitrox
www.diveforacure.ca
I have now been on five trips to the Empress with Tyler and all
of them have been well planned and executed. All of the details, both
large and small, were taken care of. Safety of the divers has always
been the main concern, from an orientation dive to the Empress on
the first day to guided tours being offered to those who want to explore
the wreck more deeply. The desire that the diver will have a safe
and memorable experience also extends to the insistence that the divers
have the appropriate training prior to diving the Empress, and that
they confirm their gas mixes and pressures before they board the boat.
After the boat ties off to one of the 3 mooring buoys Tyler will go
over safety issues, how to enter and exit the water and what to expect
in current and visibility. Before the divers enter the water Tyler
wants to know (and therefore all of the other divers and boat crew)
each diver's dive plan. Tyler treats all of his guests and colleagues
with respect and professionalism.
As you will not be in the water all of the time, Tyler does arrange
social events with your fellow divers, boat captains,
boat crew and citizens of Rimouski. These can range from simply going
to a pub to going out to a fine restaurant. There is of course the
final meal / party after the last day of diving. Not to be missed!
There will also be opportunities to visit the local museum that has
a fabulous Empress of Ireland display and a visit to a monument /
grave for some of the victims of the sinking. Your accommodations
have been selected so that you are only a short drive to the marina,
there is a kitchen so that you can save money by preparing some or
all of your meals and that there are facilities and space available
to rinse and dry your equipment.
Whether it’s decompression, technical wreck penetration or trimix
training, Tyler's courses are not bird courses, as you are expected
to know and perform the skills to a high level before you are allowed
to pass. The courses (and Tyler) are demanding, but since your life
depends on what and when to do certain skills, it is worth the effort.
I have personally found all of the three courses I have taken through
Tyler to be great learning (and in some cases humbling) experiences.
Dennis C.
I have been out on The Empress of Ireland now 3 times with 14
dives on her. I had gone on my own on the first two trips and the
last trip was through Tyler. I must say the trip being set up by Tyler
Bradford was excellent!
There were no more headaches once I arrived in Rimouski. Planning
a trip like this for yourself,
with only your own gear to get ready is a major chore, never mind
organizing all of the accommodations, breathing gas fills, charters
and all the little things that are part of an expedition. The professionalism
of everyone involved was always top notch. It was finally nice to
relax and not have to worry about any of the organizing.
I did a penetration dive that was guided by Tyler. I was ready
and trained because in the summer of 2004 Tyler taught me the NAUI
Technical Wreck Penetration Course. Tyler and I discussed what I wanted
to see and he said he knew just the right place. We penetrated the
wreck near the starboard side at a depth of about 137'. The water
was 38 degrees and visibility was about 20'.
We saw several portholes, all kinds of artifacts, and the grand staircase.
We were right inside of this massive wreck that went down more than
90 years ago. We made our penetration right through to the port side
and exited out of the cargo hatch, making our way to the accent line
for our
decompression stops. This by far was the best dive I have ever had
on the Empress of Ireland!
Every diver would like to dive the Empress everyday, but there
are times that due to rough sea conditions you can't safely do so.
Weather is always a major factor when planning to dive this location.
I must say that Tyler and Dany were always watching the weather and
tide schedules to make sure we were on site when it was safe to do
so and in the best possible conditions. From the time you got onto
the boat until the time you were safely back on shore, safety is always
number one with these guys.
The time that we weren't diving we were taking in the local culture.
The people were always
willing to help due to the language barrier between us. We spent some
time in the museum on the Empress of Ireland which is a must see for
anyone that is diving there, or if you are just visiting the area
even as a non-diver. The accommodations were fantastic. I felt at
home there, as there was laundry facilities right in the house, a
full kitchen and entertainment centre to use, with separate bedrooms
to avoid the other tired snoring divers in our group. We made some
of our own meals, but we also enjoyed great dinners at some of the
hot spots.
If you plan on seeing the Empress of Ireland in her full beauty
and also get the inside track on the local culture and events, I strongly
recommend these guys!
Mitch W.
Owner/SCUBA Instructor
I first met Tyler while he was speaking at a technical diving
show in 2003. His presentation was professionally delivered, informative
and very motivating. The other thing I noticed is that he was down
to earth and approachable. It was at that time that I decided to take
up technical diving.
The courses that I have taken through Tyler have always been
meticulously planned and detailed. There is a logical progression
that takes a diver from where they are to where they want to get to.
The focus on all of the courses I have taken, has been preparing you
for real life dives as opposed to hypothetical ones. He wants to know
what you want to do in your diving future and then tweaks the courses
to address those goals. One of my goals was to dive the Empress of
Ireland.
In
2004 my goal of diving the Empress was to become reality. I was able
to arrive a couple days early before the expedition was scheduled
to begin and had no idea of the experience that was in store for me!
My first dives on the Empress were with Tyler and when the first dive
was finished I simply couldn’t believe how fabulous and breathtaking
this wreck was. Although we had only seen a small part of this magnificent
ship, it was the most exhilarating diving I had ever done. The marine
life was fantastic! Seals, whales, fish and a whole bunch of plant
life now made this location their home.
Every aspect of the expedition was planned and executed perfectly.
The accommodations, dives and charters all exceeded my expectations.
The dive briefings and Tyler’s knowledge of the wreck helped
all of us plan our dives in the safest possible way and see things
that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Several of my dives were
guided one on one by Tyler and what a heart pounding experience that
can be! I would highly recommend taking guided tours. You’ll
see more in a single dive and visit places that you just wouldn’t
find on your own.
If a dive was blown out because of weather, the adventure continued
above the water. The events out of the water were as well planned
as those in the water. The people and culture of Rimouski were very
inviting and helpful and definitely added to the overall experience.
If you are a serious diver looking for a lot more than just another
dive trip, I strongly recommend a trip to the Empress with Tyler.
It’s a world class wreck and Tyler puts together a first class
dive expedition. I’ll be back four times in 2005, I guess that
says it all.
Dan S.
Tyler's guided tours were outstanding! I was somewhat nervous
before the dive but his focus on my safety quickly alleviated these
concerns. He constantly checked on me to make sure I was comfortable
with the dive and maintained a pace that made it easy for me to follow
and have time to enjoy the areas of interest he was pointing out.
Above all, he was extremely approachable and willing to answer all
of my questions.
I would highly recommend Tyler to anyone who is interested in
expanding their knowledge about diving or who wants to get the most
from their dive."
Kelley R.
Hello Tyler,
I wanted to share some thoughts with you on my recent “Technical
Wreck Penetration” course and also the Empress of Ireland expedition
that I was able to participate in.
The course was hands down the best course I’ve ever taken.
It dealt with realist dive scenarios that kept us focused on learning
critical skills as opposed to achieving a passing grade. It was also
reassuring to know that our dive plans where carefully reviewed and
additional safety margins were routinely built in. As a scuba instructor
myself, I know how difficult it can be to cover all the “what
ifs” and they were certainly all covered in this course!
The Empress of Ireland expedition was one that I’ll never
forget! Enjoying a world-class dive was all that was expected by me,
or promised by you, but this went so far beyond that. The information
you provided even prior to the expedition beginning answered all of
the questions that could have come up. Your knowledge of the wreck
site was invaluable and maximized what we could see in the time we
were there. The planning of the dives and the safety measures that
were taken to minimize the risk, were truly appreciated. I also thoroughly
enjoyed the time when we couldn’t dive. Your local knowledge
and the side trips we went on rounded out an exceptional expedition.
There were so many “extras” included and that made this
a great trip. You set a price and that was it, no additional costs,
and no need to keep reaching for my wallet. Your approach is not only
professional but your attention to detail makes for an incredible
diving experience.
Thanks,
Dan C.,
TDI & PADI Instructor
Hey Tyler.
Our trip to the Empress was the trip of a lifetime. The diving exceeded
our expectations and was complimented by the utmost in professionalism
and concern for safety. The restaurants, accommodations, new friends
and great diving will make this a hard experience to duplicate.
Although I loved diving on the Empress, I would have to say that the
most valued part of the trip for me was getting to know and spend
time with Dany. I knew the two of you were friends but I never thought
we'd be bbq'ing Cornish hens in his back yard and having a few beverages
at a bonfire across the road. It was a pleasure to be included in
this trip and get to know both Dany and you Tyler. It's a rarity in
the diving industry to meet people who are so modest about their accomplishments.
After seeing how you run your trips to the Empress I wouldn't want
to go through anyone else. You're not just offering great diving,
you're offering the full experience of the Empress.
Lisa B.
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