288, Twin Lakes, Rockin' OK, or Mammoth?

[ms mirth]

Been lurking for so long I don't feel like a stranger

I'd love your opinon:

If you had to do a dive on a weekend day at either Lake 288, Twin Lakes, Mammoth, or Rockin' OK RV park (which honestly - I've never seen *anyone* mention Rockin' OK - not sure if that's cause it's well-kept secret or just sucktackular?), which would you choose and why?

Perhaps cause I don't get it as much as I'd like, I'd prioritize
1. good visibility
followed by
2. stuff/critters to see
followed by
3. not too crazy crowded
then
4. air fills on site
followed by
5. a lack of spores

I know these are all Houston area and I've left Blue Lagoon off the list, but I already know what BL has to offer.

Love to hear your $0.02.....

Thanks!

 

[MichaelBaranows]

OK, I am a little partial cause I work at Mammoth Lake but I will tell you what I think. I have never been to Lake 288 or Rockin' OK RV park so I will not be much help there.

1. I hear that Lake 288 has great viz. ML is 55 acres so it is big so vis. can vary. The vis. has really improved from last year. It has been as good as 20' this year. Last weekend much of the lake vis. was around 15' but some was less. Seemed to be really good less that 15' depth and then improved again below 30'.

2. I am pretty sure that all the lakes have fish. But ML lake is the only lake that you have a chance of seeing paddle fish. And the last few weeks I have been seeing many more bluecats. Plus there are several new wrecks to put the number wrecks over 70 with the only diveable C-130 around.

3. ML does allow swimmers so it will only be divers. In the past I have heard divers having problems with swimmer at Twin Lakes but I have never had problems with swimmer the many times I have been there.

4. I think TL and ML are the only sites air fills.

5. Spores?

* Also Dive Rite Tech Tour will be at ML this weekend.

 

[ms mirth]

Thanks!
Last dive report put the water temp at 90 out your way - still that warm? Any thermoclines?

and

SPORE

Stupid
People
On
Rental
Equipment

(People intent on killing me with their boats/jet skis)

 

[MichaelBaranows]

Yes, the water is hot. Around 90'+ on the surface, 88 down to 25'-30', and 82 below below 30'. I have been diving in a rash guard the last few weeks.

 

[ms mirth]

*sweet* I'll leave my 7/12 wetsuit at home then....

 

[therealwwdiver]

fyi, you'll need solo cert at Mammoth if you don't have a buddy.

 

[ms mirth]

fyi, you'll need solo cert at Mammoth if you don't have a buddy.

Good to know!

thanks!!

 

[ms mirth]

SO......any (more) opinions floating about on Twin Lakes, 288, or Rockin' OK?

*gazes intently at the other members of scubaboard forum*

 

[therealwwdiver]

I've never even heard of Rockin' OK but I've been to all of the others. 288 seems to have the best vis but not much to look at and can get kinda crowded around the training platforms. Mammoth can have very spotty vis but there is a ton of stuff to see and they have a full service shop on site. TL, IMHO, isn't worth going to, at least compared with the others. TL lets ANYONE in for 5 bucks while the other 2 are more or less diver specific. In my opinion charging $15 or $20 per person keeps a lot of the riffraff out.

 

[therealwwdiver]

BTW, I'll be going to Mammoth Saturday if you need a buddy.