I e-mailed one charter boat and one dive shop in Pensacola about tech diving the Oriskany. Both were primarily open water rec diving outfits. I told them my interest was to do a quick drop to the sand floor at 212 on trimix and then ascend back up to the hanger deck to penetrate and look around, then enjoy the coning tower during my deeper stops. I told them I was both full-trimix and full-cave certified. I also said if a second dive were permitted, I'd like to do a nitrox doubles dive on the coning tower itself.

One outfit didn't even bat an eye at my profile. But the other didn't condone penetration. Here's what this one said in part . .

"I will be taking tech divers to the wreck, although I would strongly advise against and do not condone any penetration dives on the Oriskany. There is nothing inside worth dieing for!"

WTF?? Why cut a big hole in the hanger deck area if you don't expect penetration. My question is are we going to be restricted from entering overhead based on their fears and risk being thrown off the boat? That "nothing in here worth dying for" speech is on every warning sign in cave country. I'd think an artificial reef would be much less dangerous to penetrate than one sunk on accident with all its cargo, wires, etc.

I know, I know . . sharp edges, etc. But does that mean wreck penetration is an absolute no-no in any environment? I mean, I wasn't talking to this guy about a rec dive trip. I specifically mentioned tech diving, trimix, and penetration. I assumed there would be no holds barred as long as you were certified to do the diving you planned for.

I'm sure he was just giving his CMA disclaimer, but are we going to get grilled everytime we go out there telling us how dangerous what we are doing is? Maybe I can buy him a couple of cold beers once my dive is done to ease his mind.

Dunno. I was just kinda surprised at his response. Maybe I'm wrong. What's funny is some DIR folks had recommended this outfit saying you can do scooters or whatever you want. It would be funny if he restricted their dive plan. Just wanted to give a heads up in case you decided you wanted to do some steel cave diving.