Mid-Autumn Update 2023

Activities

USS Oriskany (CV-34) Dive Trip, 23 & 24 September

BAREG made a second trip to the Oriskany this year. Two divers made the trip to Florida’s Gulf Coast to explore the world’s largest artificial reef and one of the few sunken aircraft carriers that can be reached on SCUBA. Conditions topside and on the wreck were good and the divers explored the ship’s island and took photos of the two remaining propellors.

U-1105 Dives, Lower Potomac River, 30 September & 1 October

Five BAREG divers dove our backyard U-boat in good conditions topside and poor on the bottom (viz<one foot) to fair (viz >/= one foot). The diver floats were missing and so we dove the site using a shot line. This is the second time this year our floats have gone missing. In July, our float line was cut by a propellor based on the mangled remaining line. However, this latest cut was deliberate as there was a clean cut on the bowline where the floats were attached to the line. We do not plan to place another diver float line on the U-boat this year. Our dive boat, M/V My Purpose Holds, has a new chart plotter with side and down scan sonar and this makes placing the shot line close to the U-boat much easier. We had great UAV support from Ross B. and acquired video of the boat transiting too and from the dive site. It was a learning experience for the boat captain and crew to operate while launching and recovering the UAV.

NAS Training, Lower Potomac River & Tributary, 14 & 15 October

For the second time in 2023, BAREG offered NAS training to its members. Two members took the training and received NAS Underwater Recorder and Surveyor certifications. The course was taught by Troy Nowak, professional archaeologist, BAREG member, and NAS instructor. The weather was marginal, but the training was successfully executed. BAREG will offer NAS training in the fall of 2024.

Looking Ahead for the remainder of 2023 and early 2024

28 October 2023, U-1105 Dive (showtime 1200)
Tall Timbers Marina
Tall Timbers, MD 20690

4 November 2023, BAREG Business Meeting (also via Zoom, showtime 0930, agenda below)
Mantua Swim & Tennis Club, 9330 Pentland Pl, Fairfax, VA, 22031

Agenda:

1. Summary of BAREG’s 2023 events and activities
2. Report on membership status
3. Special election: Deputy Operations Coordinator
4. Report on BAREG finances & resources
5. BAREG plan for 2024 activities
6. Q&A/Discussion
7. FINEX

2&3 December 2023, U-1105 Buoy Ops (showtimes TBD, working technical dives, divers selected by Ops Coordinator and Deputy Ops Coordinator)
Tall Timbers Marina, Tall Timbers, MD 20690

27 January 2024, BAREG 2024 Symposium (also via Zoom, time TBD)
Mantua Swim & Tennis Club, 9330 Pentland Pl, Fairfax, VA, 22031

BAREG Reading and Film List

In 2019, the BAREG board put out a list of recommended books related to the Battles of the Atlantic history and archaeology (see attached pdf). We’d like to post a similar list on our web site, but before doing that we looking for updates from the membership. Additionally, we’d like to include a list of Battle of the Atlantic related films and so we’re looking for membership input on this too. Please email your input to me at your earliest convenience.