Giant Stride Dive Shop

09/06/2026

Reds Dive Log:
#2631 Fort Wetherill Night Dive 9/4/26
This lovely evening was a meeting of Giant Striders FB Club Run by Ross & Cheryl out of Giant Stride Dive Shop in seas like glass. 11 members showed up for the Dusk Dive excluding me due to working at the store until 6pm but I wanted to get wet for the night. Cheryl and Ross brought a grill, Dogs and Burgers, LeAnn brought some sausage and littlenecks to appease our growling bellies before the night dive. I suited up, made my way down the boat ramp and immediately felt the stress rinse away from my mind in the blackness. Finning South/SE along the wall 1 minute into the dive I found myself face to face with a small Squid having a snack. Heading west at the cut through between the island and the peninsula I glided over a tire tube and saw a nice big claw but it was filled with sand and there was only a small 2” opening along the perimeter of the inside of the tire so I fanned and dug but got it in my bag after a short fight and was rewarded with a 2 pounder. After exploring the wall and boulders on the west side I again headed east and found another bug on a rock and quickly grabbed it but while measuring it it squirmed away into open sand so I turned on my magic fins, kicked faster than Bruce Lee and gave chase. He must have got tired because after a few minutes he just gave up and was motionless on the sand getting grabbed yet again where I informed them they won a free spa treatment (a nice hot bath, exfoliation and a warm butter massage before dinner.) On this dive I saw small Lobsters (and 2 big ones), many small Squid, Skates, Black Sea Bass, Hake, Small Fluke, tons of Juvenile Northern Pufferfish, Hydroids and Oyster Toadfish, what I think were 2-3” juvenile Bluefish, Rock, Spider and Blue Crabs. Max depth of 25 ft for 67 minutes in 66 degree water with 5-10’ viz…..

09/01/2026

NOTICE: Giant Stride Dive Shop will be closed Monday September 7 in observance of Labor Day

08/31/2026

Reds Dive log:
#2630 Gould Island 8/30/26
I had Cheryl, Ross and John aka the Dive Angel, meet me at my boat “The Live N’ Let Dive” at 9am to get in and get out before 2 when the wind was slated to pick up to 25 MPH wind Gusts. Narragansett Bay was like glass and the ride out was great in calm seas and good music. Arriving and dropping the hook I rolled in and did an anchor check before heading to the middle of the pilings headed west toward where the building was. The tide had just switched from High to outgoing so there was a bit of managable current but it was bit stronger under the building floor. I had already bagged 2 Tog and was looking to see if there were any Fish with Striped pajamas there. I saw a few schools of small porgy but the Bass were staying out of sight. Exiting easterly at the overhead midway I hit the debris field and took my 3rd Blackfish while looking for lobsters. (without success) I was out of the water first wanting to clean fish before the boat got crowded. I was just finishing the last one when John ascended behind the boat with a couple of nice fish on his stringer…..Ross & Cheryl were on his fins a minute later as I finished. Time for a Bourbon and a Cigar! Once everyone was settled Cheryl busted out with the Jersey Mikes Grindahs’ and I passed out beers. While we were relaxing I saw DEM approaching, so I took the Dive Flag down as they pulled up and boarded us to check for fishing licenses and size & bag limits. It’s odd because I have never been boarded by DEM out on my boat before and now twice in an 8 day span. I don’t mind as I know they have a job to do and they were friendly and polite but has anyone else been checked by DEM lately or noticed a greater presence? Max depth of 39 ft for 47 minutes in 64 degree water with 2-5’ viz opening up in some areas to 8’…..Like the Caribbean.

08/26/2026

:Upcoming classes at Giant Stride Dive Shop:
September Open Water Class 9/15/26 @ 6:30pm
September Nitrox class 9/2/26 @ 6pm
Sept. DAN Dive First Aid Pro course Sept 26 & 27 @ 9am learn CPR, O2 Provider, First Aid and much more.
PADI Advanced Open Water Class 9/30 @ 6pm
*Refresher Classes can be scheduled during any of our Open Water Classes during pool sessions or do Ocean refresher to suit your schedule. * PADI Divemaster and Drysuit classes can be scheduled upon request. (you must have your own drysuit for the Drysuit class)

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08/24/2026

Reds Sporty Dive Log:
#2628 Dixon Chemicals aka “Acid Barge” 8/23/26
The forecast was all over the place depending on which marine forecast you looked at this weekend so Captain called a few of his fellow fishermen who were already on the water as to the conditions this morning. The report was good with a mild 2-3 foot sea so after getting gear stowed we began our hour and forty-five minute voyage. Todays divers were Ross, Jon, Kevin, Mark, Josh and Ryan all pumped with excitement as this was the first time for any of them diving “The Acid Barge” as it is known to RI Wreck Divers. She was built in 1959 (same year I was lol) and is a technical dive with a max depth of 155-160 fsw. This steel double hulled steel tank barge measured 220’ in length with a beam of 43’ and was transporting sulfuric acid from Philadelphia on a passage to Boston towed by a Tugboat when it collided with an inbound tanker Samuel Q. Brown on 11/15/61 before clearing the Delaware Bay. There was some damage but the repairs to damages were deferred to a later date and it was decided the tow must go on! (Lol) On November 20, 1961 found the eastern seaboard in the grip of a Nor’easter that put so much strain on the towing hawser that it parted with a snap sounding like a shotgun blast. She is only 3 miles from the USS Bass and enjoys much of the same great visibility. November 18, 1961, a 220-foot unmanned, steel tank barge, owned by the appellant, and loaded with 2,300 tons of sulphuric acid, was taken in tow by at Paulsboro, New Jersey, bound for Everett, Massachusetts. Shortly before this trip, the barge had been damaged in a collision, dry docked and repaired, including patching of the bow. It was thereafter given a temporary seaworthy certificate from the American Bureau of Shipping. The captain of the tug considered the barge properly trimmed and loaded at departure. When the vessels were about 9 miles south of Block Island they ran into strong winds and heavy seas and the tow was lost, foundering in the heavy seas and resting upright and intact on the sea floor for us to enjoy. I have many dives on this wreck and after tieing us in I was in exploration mode first heading to the foredeck to where the huge danforth style anchor still rests in its brackets. I snapped a crappy picture of it and headed forward to the bow section grabbing a nice lobster (actually not so nice as he got my hand with his crusher claw but fair is fair, he was fighting for his life) in the small room on the stern starboard end of this beauty and a big sea scallop on the deck on the way back to the upline. Max depth of 154 ft for 86 minutes in 55 degree water at depth and 60s on deco with 30’ viz…..Such a great dive!
#2629 Dixon Chemicals aka “Acid Barge” 8/23/26
Today everyone was doing 1 long dive with the exception of yours truly due to having to free the grapnel. I planned on a 12-15 minute bottom time with a 20 minute deco. The vis had declined to 15’ but I collected some lead fishing sinkers for Captain Rick and stabbed & bagged an 18”
Winter Flounder as I returned to the line in rapidly declining visibility. The current had changed and whereas the line was originally perpendicular to the barge it was now parralell and really fouled in some ghost lines on the gunwale. It had become sporty with a surge that seemed to get stronger as I worked…..I tied a break-away line (not having a lot of faith in the line not snapping before I ascended) and got slicing through a tangle of 3/4” line which took 10 minutes or so increasing my Dive/deco time by more than double. Having done this many times before I got in the habit of putting a large SS Caribiner on my Wreck reel and attaching it to the anchor line in case of a premature break. Good thing I did because at 90’ the BA line snapped and I had to pull the clutch on my reel as the hook rapidly rose to the surface. Once my deco penalty was complete I climbed the ladder in some big waves to find us in pouring rain at the tail end of a strong squall. I guess it started a few minutes after I rolled into the water. Max depth of 142 ft for 74 minutes in 55 degree water with 5-20’ viz with Small schools of Mullet and a 8” Scrawled Filefish keeping me company on my deco stop. This was a challenging dive and a lot of work under pressure (lol) but everyone was super happy with this adventure today!

08/21/2026

2026 upcoming classes, trips and events: Upcoming classes at Giant Stride Dive Shop: September Open Water Class 9/15/26 @ 6:30pm September Nitrox class 9/2/26 @ 6pm Sept. DAN Dive First Aid Pro course Sept 26 & 27 @ 9am learn CPR, O2 Provider, First Aid and much more. *Refresher Classes can be scheduled during any of our Open Water Classes during pool sessions or do Ocean refresher to suit your schedule. * PADI Divemaster and Drysuit classes can be scheduled upon request. (you must have your own drysuit for the Drysuit class)

08/10/2026

Reds salty dive log:
#2626 Block Island Pinnacle Dive #1 8/9/26
This was a Giant Stride Dive Shop charter with Cheryl, Ross, Joe R, Kevin B, Kevin M and Mark on the manifest. The Marine forecast was completely fooked with a prediction of 2 1/2 seas SW of Block Island BUT they were 3-5 with some 6 footers mixed in at short intervals making for a very sporty day.…It was also a big tide making for strong currents. On the way out we had a pod of Dolphin feeding on the port side but I imagine they were too engrossed in eating to “race” the boat as they usually do. A few minutes later we spotted a big fin on the surface….a Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) was feeding & sunning itself but we were cruising too fast to get a picture. This site is a geological wonder. The Pinnacle (approx. coordinates 41°07'25.8"N, 71°33'52.8"W). Formed by glacial flows 15,000 years ago is comprised of massive boulders pushed through the area by a glacier eons ago. These stones form huge underwater cliffs, caves and swim-throughs, as well as a home to a wide range of marine life, rising 25-30’ to the surface from the bottom in 75 feet of water. Captain Rick positioned us at the 30’ mark I tossed the hook and waited an hour and a half before suiting up to tie us in when the tide slacked up a bit and we didn’t have wind against tide…..waves recessed to 3-4 footers. We had hit a crease perfectly and were securely anchored so I sent the signal up almost immediately. Viz was awesome and fish were everywhere, Scup, Giant Tautog, Black Sea Bass and a few Cod as I finned north and circumnavigated the site. I found a fishing pole in 60’ and wondered if some fisherman caught a fish and had his pole ripped from his hands. I didn’t see any Sharks but I wasn’t spearfishing so as not to endanger anyone. I explored many of the caves and Swimthroughs enjoying my solitude in such a beautiful place. There were several anchors on the bottom but nothing I would attempt to recover in these seas. This was a great dive! Max depth of 68 ft for 60 minutes in 57 degree water with 30’ viz…..
#2627 Block Island Pinnacle Dive #2 8/9/26
For this dive Cheryl and Ross were the only 2 doing a second dive so I put them in first giving them 20 minutes before rolling in to release the kraken. Did a bunch more exploring in the caves and grottos seeing a 4’ Conger Eel as well a tall the same fish as the first dive. I found a ghost pot in one of the caves without any body or tethers and 3 nice bugs in it so I rescued them and invited them to a spa treatment at my house starting with a nice hot bath, exfoliation treatment and a warm butter massage before dinner. Max depth of 65 ft for 27 minutes in 57 degree water with 20’ viz…..Life is Good!

08/10/2026

NOTICE: Giant Stride Dive Shop will be closed Monday 8/10 for Victory Day

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08/03/2026

Reds Dive Log:
#2625 Gould Island 8/2/26
I can't believe it's August already. Today the weather looked good, I had a day off and I wanted to use my boat for only the 4th time this season…..Giant Stride has been really busy and required me to work 6 days a week and do charters on Sundays. I hired Tim and Leann and am now confident I can start leaving them alone. All my dive buddies were either busy, sick or washing thier hair so I took my boat the “Live N’ Let Dive” out solo to get some of Tautog now that the season has opened up. I rafted up with the Ingram family long time friends and awesome people who arrived at the site a little before me. Heather, armed with her Riffe metal tech and Brittany were already in the water hunting and Spencer and Brice were waiting for them to return to the boat before their turn. I suited up and rolled in after quickly setting fenders & lines. I headed for what used to be the building, now just the concrete floor making it an overhead environment and dark dive but a haven for a few dozen predatory Striped Bass on the west side just underneath the bank in the shadows at various depths. Out by the pilings I saw many Blackfish darting in and out of my vision but not quickly enough to avoid my invitation for dinnah! Stringing my limit already I just finned around enjoying how prolific the marine life is here. Once back on my boat I doffed gear and went to work cleaning my fish and enjoying the company of a great all American, Hunting, Fishing and Diving family. We ate our lunch and had a beverage or 2. Brice reported seeing an Octopus making me envious but glad for him. We released lines and went on our way to wash our respective boats, rince and stow gear. Max depth of 39 ft for 64 minutes in 65 degree water with 5-10’ viz…..Another great day on Narragansett Bay!

07/30/2026

Reds Dive Log:
#2623 U 853 Submarine Wreck Dive 7/25/26
On the manifest this beautiful, fairly calm afternoon was The Battle of the Atlantic Research and Expedition Group (BAREG) with Bill, Brian, Evan, Miguel, Fred A and my buddy Joe filling the vacancy spot on this Giant Stride Dive Shop charter. we had about a 3 foot sea with a 6-7 second interval. I tied my grapnel into the conning tower for an overnight stay as we will be back early morning tomorrow and every time we set a mooring on this wreck it gets cut most likely by passing ships as we are in the shipping lane. I had thought it was fishing charter head boats but after Cape Rick checked with some of the other Captains he was assured it wasn’t charter boats. Once my work was done I entered the forward blast hole finning to the bow and exited the same way I entered as I reached my planned time & pressure. Max depth of 125 ft for 52 minutes in 50 degree water with 8-10’ viz…..
#2624 U 853 Submarine Wreck Dive 7/26/26
Arriving early morning it wasn’t the same sea today with 3-5 footers at a 3 second interval inspiring some to feed the fish and making a sporty climb back up the ladder. Today it was Bill, Brian, Miguel, Fred A from BAREG with my buddies Mark and Kevin taking the other 2 seats BAREG couldn’t fill. Diving last to free the hook I had Capt Rick uncleat the line giving me all the slack I needed to bag and tie a breakaway on my free floating upline so I could safely ascend in these conditions. But prior to finishing my job I got to frog kick a complete circuit around the hull and see all the derelict mooring lines originating at the conning tower that had been cut. Max depth of 125 ft for 48 minutes in 50 degree water with 8-10’ viz…..

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