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[SafetyStopBait]

yo, is lake lanier decent diving or is it a badge of honor? or both?

I moved recently to atlanta, though i still split time between here and philly, and i havent dove since i been here. just looking for ways to keep track of close diving spots and diving opportunities. try to take advantage of some of them despite school

 

[KidK9]

Great subject line heading! Maybe you'd like to clue people in on what you are asking before they actually look?

 

[SafetyStopBait]

that better?

 

[Corigan]

LOL, well, it's diving. I guess decent diving is kind of a relative term. I like Lanier. It's basically the pool for me. When I need to test out gear, or just get wet it's there and close. It's a nice place to go and get wet on the cheap. During the summer it is warm above the thermocline and there are plenty of fish to look at to make it rather entertaining in the summer if you are into fish watching. Of course you need to pull a flag and be wary of fishing boats/monofiliament, but it isn't bad.

I just keep hoping all these rumors I keep hearing about that quarry in Cartersville comes about. It would be GREAT to have a quarry in Atlanta. No boats to worry about and not having to drag a float would be great.

Matt

 

[The Kraken]

SafetyStopBait,

A hearty "WELCOME" to the ScubaBoard, and especially to the "Lake Lanier Looney Bird" forum.

No, Lake Lanier is not the world's most pristine dive site! However, it is close, it is convenient, it offers some interesting dive sites, and one can get some depth of dive if desired.

In the winter time it's cold, 44 degrees or so. In the summer it can be warm/cold, 80 degrees at the surface and 44 degrees below the thermocline.

It can be clear, 20' visibility (to the Looney Birds that's good viz) or it can be like a night dive at 20 feet.

One thing is for sure, a diver can certainly improve his/her diver technique by diving Lanier.

I was thinking about the diving we do at Lanier last night.

My mini-van, loaded with all my gear, will get about 18 miles to the gallon.

Takes about 2 gallons to to up to the Lake and back. $4 entry fee to the park. Whatever a fill costs nowadays ($0 for me). So that runs about $5 per dive (based on two dives/day). Not too bad.

Now to get to the ocean to do a couple of dives is a different matter. About 2 tanks of gas (36 gallons), $85 for the dive, $10 for food - and that's if you don't stay overnight. Now that totals up to roughly $210 (OK I know that's not exact, but there is the occasional beer or whatever). Now if you do a two tank boat dive, that equates to $105 per dive.

Lake Lanier is looking a whole lot better, isn't it?

By the way, we also have a pretty good time when we get together. Seems like the dives nowadays are turning into cookouts. In fact, one member of the board accused us of being a dining club instead of a diving club, but that's OK.

Come dive with us!!!!

The Kraken

 

[95VROOM]

What's the story on a possible quarry for diving in Cartersville? First I've heard of that.

 

[The Kraken]

One of the Looney Birds, Mike Ault, has located a quarry in the Cartersville area, but it doesn't look promising. Owner/access issues.

the K

 

[Footslogger]

Did my Rescue cert dives/underwater mapping up at Lanier in the early 90's. Visibility is nil and a good test of your SnR skills. Also ...what appears to be the "bottom" isn't the real bottom. It's about 2 - 3 feet of silt.

Other than that it's a great place to dive.

'Slogger

 

[The Kraken]

Well, that sort of depends upon where one is diving.

Up at the "Redneck Reef" the bottom is a hard clay and the visibility can be in the 20 to 30 foot range.

In the winter, the visibility below the thermocline can be quite impressive.

I guess we've all had various experiences at Lanier.

the K

 

[Corigan]

One of the Looney Birds, Mike Ault, has located a quarry in the Cartersville area, but it doesn't look promising. Owner/access issues.

I've heard about the quarry from a few different people. I actually know of some people who dove it recently and they said it was looking promising. Hopefully good things will come from it.

Matt