Adam Kulczycki’s 10th Anniversary Dive

October 29, 2011 Scubachristian 2 comments

Who could this be? Wetsuit, single aluminum 80, wrist watch, pink octo hose, rental gear bag….

I don’t think I know him, but he kinda looks familiar….

….

Adam Kulczycki!

It was ten years to the day on October 17 2011 that Adam started diving.

Scuba diving has always interested him. Before moving to Canada in 1989 he had observed scuba in Poland, but the cost at the time was prohibiting. In 2001 at the age of 34 he had friends that were pushing him to try freediving. Holding his breath wasn’t his slice of pie, so instead he thought it was time to try out scuba diving.

Ten years later, and 300+ dives, Adam has come a long way.

Certification: Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, Nitrox, Padi Dive Master, TDI Decompression, TDI Advanced Nitrox, ACUC Cavern

Owner & Administrator of Ottawadivers.com

Organized numerous charters, assisted Freedom At Depth, aided in replaced damaged line to Gaskin, and has helped Kanata Diving Supply with training courses.

Hey look he had hair!

Adam had to take a 2-3 year break from diving after being hit in the leg by a car turning at an intersection. He made a recovery and eased back into the sport. During the last couple of years Adam has ramped up his diving . He’s usually out one or more times a week spring to fall, and time to time under the ice.

He has found time to travel, and I think there is much more to come.

(Photo by Adam Kulczycki)

The anniversary dive

For this special occasion Michael Dalrymple and I joined Adam for a celebratory dive. The anniversary worked out to be on a monday. With our working schedules and the time of year we were bound for a night dive. What would be fun, challenging, and familiar? Well a swim out to the Gaskin of course! Meeting at the Bankfield park and ride we all jumped into Mike’s truck. I guess not to surprisingly Centeen park was empty save a few folks out for a stroll.

(Photo by Adam Kulczycki)

We geared up. Then took some posed shots.

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

(Photo taken by Michael Dalrymple)

Into the water we went. We began following the line, and the fight against the current began.

(Photo by Adam Kulczycki)

Around 18 minutes into the dive the work load was taking a toll. Shortly there after the ghost of the outboard motor from the bowrider appeared. We ran our own line from the anchor block to the wreck.

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

We made two passes through and around the wreck before it was time to start back.

(Photo by Adam Kulczycki)

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

The trip back to shore is always best part. You let the current do the work.

Near the park a pike was hanging around.

(Photo by Adam Kulczycki)

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

This was the end of our fall anniversary dive.

(Photo by Adam Kulczycki)

congratulations to Adam for ten years of diving. I look forward to writing about his emerald anniversary!

Categories: Trip Report Tags: Anniversary, Brockville, Dive, Diving, Wreck

Lock 27 Drift

October 20, 2011 Scubachristian Leave a comment

Categories: Uncategorized

Weehawk & Lock 27 Drift

October 19, 2011 Scubachristian 2 comments

(Photo by Dan McCormick, via the Ottawa Save Ontario Shipwrecks Chapter)

Don’t judge a book by its cover! The pile of wood and metal resting in the old lock 28 has a rich history. Hearing about the Weehawk from other divers and shops never made the site sound interesting, but after diving it and then looking into the history I immediately found this article http://ottawa.saveontarioshipwrecks.on.ca/proj_weehawk.php

Wow! instant respect for a pile of wreckage. I’m sure there were some interesting people on that ferry.

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

When its warmer in the water then the air temp, it’s a no brainer where you should be. Fannie, Adam, and I met up together to dive the Weehawk & Lock 27 drift to the Conastoga. Pouring rain didn’t slow us down.

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

Doesn’t Adam look like an Oompa Loompa in this shot!

(Photo by McCarthy Aero Services Ltd. http://www.uer.ca/locations/viewgal.asp?picid=140630)

A 1920 aerial view of the Galop Canal locks just west of Cardinal. I learned that this was the site of both Lock 27 and Lock 28. Lock 28 is now filled in with earth.

(Photo from Google Earth)

We jumped off the ledge close to the Weehawk. It was a 6′ leap! Once in the water I began sealing my mask around my hood. A little help from Fannie and we were ready, but… Fannie said she thinks she has a leak. I stuck my head under the water to see her SPG hose was doing a good job trying to empty her tank. We were floating with our BCD’s full, so I turned off her tank. Climbing up the bank that filled in Lock 28 Fannie realized she had a hose failure and called the dive. I like the “My cat chewed my hose” story better. With Fannie unfortunately MIA Adam and I started the dive.

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

We didn’t hang out too long with the Weehawk. I intend on exploring it more on another occasion.

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

Not much current around the Weehawk, but as soon as we got into Lock 27 we were on a high-speed ride! No fighting against the current. A couple of times I slowed myself down to not lose Adam.

After zipping through the Lock we had our eyes peeled looking for the spot to cross into the main channel of the St Lawrence. Feeling the pull of the current getting stronger we swept across and down onto the curving bottom of the causeway. Easy! Now all we had to do was find the Connie. 10 minutes drifting we ran into four other divers. This was a good sign suggesting we hadn’t missed it. Then Ta Da the looming hull was there.

(Photo by Christian Lloyd-Kohls)

Adam and I did the traditional drift down the side, swam up through it, drift down the other side, swam through it, and then back down the first side.