Trip report - Øland 2002 UK

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Öland Expedition 2002

Wednesday, april 24th
Dansk

The wind had calmed and with the sun rising we headed off to the SS "Director Reppenhagen".

Compared to the "Nicomedia" and "Gutrune", the "Reppenhagen" with it’s 1.600 tons and a length of 79 meters is one of the smaller wrecks from the Uboat incident.

After 3 hours on a south westerly course the wreck appeared on the echo sounder. Anders Oestergaard dropped the shot. The following two dives were to be the dives made during the entire expedition.

We arrived in the bow and got the shot tied into the wreck. From here we swam towards the bridge area where we took a brief look at Captain Spiegels cabin. We did not enter the cabin which gave the following divers a chance to see it.

From here we continued through the bridge while looking into a lot of open doors leading into a number of cabins. In here we found furniture and shelfs where bits ad pieces once had been kept. This was an area with a lot to examine and if we had had the time for it, we could have used the entire dive here.

But on this dive we had planned to do the grand tour so we continued towards the stern. During the traverse from the bridge to the stern we came across the ships spare prop which was lying on the deck. This was definitely a sight worth for an avid photographer or video.

We found the stern broken off from the hull and completely turned backwards leaving the inside of the wreck open and ready for examination. Inside the wreck we came across a lot of furniture, closets and other things that once had belonged to the ships crew.

Time had now almost come to an end and we returned to the shot line and began our slow ascent. The best dive on this expedition had all to quickly ended.

Later in the afternoon we visited the wreck for the second time this day and on this dive we primarily spend our time exploring the bridge area. After this dive we agreed that the "Director Reppenhagen" was the best wreck of the 3 we had been diving so far on this trip.

We kept the shot in the wreck as we left the wreck site. The following day we would return to the "Reppenhagen" after visiting the "Walther Leonhardt". The weather forecast was very promising and with a bit of luck, the next day would give us the opportunity to visit the fourth and final wreck from the Uboat massacre. Simply great !

(c) nolimitsdiving 2002

*The wind had calmed and with the sun rising we headed off to the SS "Director Reppenhagen".* *Compared to the "Nicomedia" and "Gutrune", the "Reppenhagen" with it’s 1.600 tons and a length of 79 meters is one of the smaller wrecks from the Uboat incident.* After 3 hours on a south westerly course the wreck appeared on the echo sounder. Anders Oestergaard dropped the shot. The following two dives were to be the dives made during the entire expedition.
We arrived in the bow and got the shot tied into the wreck. From here we swam towards the bridge area where we took a brief look at Captain Spiegels cabin. We did not enter the cabin which gave the following divers a chance to see it. From here we continued through the bridge while looking into a lot of open doors leading into a number of cabins. In here we found furniture and shelfs where bits ad pieces once had been kept. This was an area with a lot to examine and if we had had the time for it, we could have used the entire dive here.
But on this dive we had planned to do the grand tour so we continued towards the stern. During the traverse from the bridge to the stern we came across the ships spare prop which was lying on the deck. This was definitely a sight worth for an avid photographer or video. We found the stern broken off from the hull and completely turned backwards leaving the inside of the wreck open and ready for examination. Inside the wreck we came across a lot of furniture, closets and other things that once had belonged to the ships crew. *Time had now almost come to an end and we returned to the shot line and began our slow ascent. The best dive on this expedition had all to quickly ended.*
Later in the afternoon we visited the wreck for the second time this day and on this dive we primarily spend our time exploring the bridge area. After this dive we agreed that the "Director Reppenhagen" was the best wreck of the 3 we had been diving so far on this trip. We kept the shot in the wreck as we left the wreck site. The following day we would return to the "Reppenhagen" after visiting the "Walther Leonhardt". The weather forecast was very promising and with a bit of luck, the next day would give us the opportunity to visit the fourth and final wreck from the Uboat massacre. Simply great !