Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
Home · Contact Me · Sydney Reef Dive Sites · Sydney Shipwrecks · NSW Dive Sites · Australian Dive Sites · Overseas Dive Sites · Dive Accidents and Incidents · My Yachting Adventures · 4WD Trips · Weather · Search 13 October 2024 23:53
Navigation
Home

General
About Me
My Diving
FAQ
Downloads
Web Links - Dive Clubs
St George Scuba Club
Some of my Best Photos
Contact Me

Dive Sites
Sydney Reef Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwrecks
Sydney Dive Visibility, Swell and Temps
Kelly Talking on ABC Sydney about Shipwrecks
NSW Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwreck Summary
NSW Shipwreck GPS/Marks
Australian Dive Sites
Overseas Dive Sites
Aircraft I have Dived
Old Bottles
Free Shipwreck Books

Dive Related Equipment
Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
Uwatec Aladin Dive Computers
Apollo AV1 Underwater Scooter
Bauer Compressor
DIY Oxygen Stick - Nitrox
GoPro HD Hero Video Camera
My Camera Setup
Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
My Dive Gear
GPS and Diving
Make Your Own Car Tank Rack

Marine Life
Rarer Sydney Marine Life
Bare Island Pygmy Pipe Horses
Bare Island Sea Horses
Bare Island Nudibranchs
Bare Island Marine Life
Encounter with Southern Right Whale and Calf

Other Dive Info
How Weather Affects Diving in Sydney
Visibility and Wave Averages in Sydney
Waves and Diving
Diving Weather and Sea Conditions
Tide Tables
Dive Accidents and Incidents
Dive Book Reviews
Site Map
Noel Hitchins 1951-2005
Lloyd Bridges - Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt
My Yachting Adventures
Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
  • Purchase of Catlypso
  • Details about Catlypso
  • Cleaning/Repairing Catlypso
  • My Yachting Adventures.
  • Login
    Username

    Password



    Forgotten your password?
    Request a new one here.
    Michael's 4WD Trips
    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
    Home Brewing
    Click here for an article about Home Brewing.
    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "There are only female and juvenile male grey nurse sharks at Magic Point"
    SS President Coolidge - Bridge

    BRIDGE - CAPTAINS BATHROOM (Maximum depth 40m)

    On one of your first dives you will almost certainly be taken to see the bridge area. It is sometimes called the Captains Bathroom (for reasons that will become obvious). This dive is also sometimes done in conjunction with dives to the Promenade Deck, the Bow, Hold One or Hold Two.

    From the shore you swim out to near the deco stop and then descend. You follow the rope to the bow and then angle across past the mast and crane arms to the Bridge. As you approach for the first time, you can really appreciate how big the Coolidge was. The front of the Bridge area is enormous, almost too big to take in.

    The Bridge from Hold TwoCaptains Bathroom
    The Bridge from Hold TwoThe Captains Bathroom

    The Bridge has a great deal of interesting things to see. the dive usually follows a very convoluted route, zig-zagging in and out of the various decks, going though cabins and across decks. The following is a brief description of some things that you may see on a typical dive.

    The remains of the Bridge can be seen on the upper most level of the ship. The wheelhouse is not really recognisable as the top was made of timber and now totally missing as it has been eaten away by borers. The anti-aircraft guns that were located on this deck have all fallen away and now lie on the sand. Only a couple are worth looking at as most ended up upsidedown on the sand.

    Below this level is the Boat Deck which had the officers' quarters. At the front of the Bridge (to the left as you look at it) and just down from the side of the ship (top as you look at it) on this level you can see the Captain's Cabin. All that remains are the bath, toilet and basin. This is very colourful and you can get some nice photographs.

    The rest of the cabin and his office, including walls and ceilings, appears to have been made of timber or some other fragile substance (as were all cabins) and they have either been eaten away or rotted away. Lower down there are some other officer's cabins but they are too deep to see on this dive.

    The Promenade Deck at the BridgeGas masks on Prom Deck
    Looking down the Promenade Deck from the BridgeGas masks on the Promenade Deck

    The next level of the ship is the Promenade Deck which has the Promenade. You will probably have a look at a section of the main Promenade. This is very interesting and has lots of artefacts on it. You will also notice that the "floor" (actually the wall) is now angled down at 10° or so. Before 2002 this section was level and it will probably not be too many years before the whole section collapses like it has further back.

    On the Promenade there are rifles, machine guns, helmets, gas masks, boots and more to see. There are also some excellent gorgonias and the remains of the roof and the outside of the deck make some very attractive photographs.

    Further into the centre of this deck of the ship are the Library and Writing Room. There is not much to see here. Further towards the stern inside the ship is the Continental Lounge which is really a separate dive, but can be combined with this one if you like.

    A Deck at the BridgeExiting A Deck
    Kelly about to exit the hatch on A Deck onto the main foredeckKelly outside the hatch shown at left

    The next level is the A Deck. This has a lot of passenger accommodation. The rooms closest to the hull of the ship, accessible through the window at the front of the Bridge, are First Class. There are a large number of baths, toilets and basins to be seen, some in groups of two (back to back). You can return back to near Hold Two via this same deck and exit the hatch shown above or go to B Deck.

    A bathroom on B DeckB Deck
    Kelly coming through a bathroom on B DeckRifles, shovels and more on B Deck near the Lobby

    On B Deck there are more bathrooms as well as lots of artefacts. This can be an extremely interesting section of the ship to explore. As you move along, you pass through the bathrooms and you will see lots of things abandoned by the soldiers as they fled the sinking ship.

    Artefacts on B DeckB Deck Hatch
    More artefacts on B DeckThe hatch from B Deck to Hold Two
    There are lots of artefacts here

    There are rifles, gas masks, helmets and lots of other things to see. At the end there is a pile of bottles, some appearing to be medical supplies. These are right next to a small hatch that leads out into Hold Two. From here some time can be spent in the hold or on the bow before going back to the deco stop.

    Return to the SS President Coolidge Dive Index Page.

    Copyright © Michael McFadyen 1990 to 2024
    Non-commercial use of an article or photograph is permitted with appropriate URL reference to this site.
    Dive shops, dive operators, publications and government departments cannot use anything without first seeking and receiving approval from Michael McFadyen.
    This web site has been wholly thought up, designed, constructed and funded for almost 30 years by Michael McFadyen without any help from the Australian Dive Industry.
    Website created 1996!