anyone up for diving on sat?

[askdjasd]

Gotta work on sunday.

I personally dont give 2 ****zu's where we go.

Apparently, whyte has been treating wall divers to pretty good vis.
Not really down for porno cove.

But like I said, I dont really care.

Just gotta pick up tanks at GPD, which opens at 9:30 sadly

 

[Slamfire]

I want to do one or two dives in Buntzen Lake. They have been working on replacing a turbine all summer and have closed the dam. Consequently, water levels are high. There used to be an island right in front of the boat launch and right now it is basically just a small rock that protrudes out of the surface. I want to check out the underwater scenery.

It's not a long drive from Surrey/Langley and you can drive up to the water's edge, drop your gear in a picnic table and then go park a few meters away. Parking is free. Typically, Buntzen will get overcrowded with people, but it seems that a lot of people think it's closed during the turbine repairs. I guess others don't go because the beach area is now underwater. In any case, I was there last Saturday, had no trouble finding parking and a table close to the water.

 

[askdjasd]

how's vis?

anything to see?

(more importantly vis )

 

[Slamfire]

I've never dove the site. About 3 years ago, I did some snorkeling with a 2mm shorty. I couldn't go beneath ~25' because of a pretty intense thermocline. Above 25' vis was great. Last Saturday vis seemed great from the surface, but that tells you nothing.

For me it's a personal exploratory dive. Go in and see what we see. Whytecliff is great but I've done it so many times and this Saturday I would like to try something new. Dale has probably dived the lake.

A few weeks ago I dove Alouette Lake (Golden Ears) North Beach by Gold Creek. We went down to 94'. Vis was very good -- 50' to 60'. Very little life compared to the ocean. Saw some tiny northern squawfish and a couple of decent sized crawfish. What really called my attention was all the underwater trees all the way down to the 90 feet range. Sometimes several fell down piled upon one another that it kind of made it feel like the jungle gym at porteau. We also found the remains of a dock at around 50'.

Lakes like these, that have a dam, will have an underwater scenery that was originally above water. I find it interesting to go in a take a peek at what that scenery may have been many years ago before the dams were built.

 

[miai]

Sorry to burst your bubble but I've dived Buntzen Lake and it's awful. It' a man made lake and it shows. It looks like it's been dug up yesterday, no vegetation, no fish, nothing. It's getting deep and dark very quickly. The bottom looks more like a muddy cave to me (barren, brownish water, almost no natural light) and that's about the only good thing that can be said about the lake. I was very happy when I saw the first fish (small and bland) because by then I almost lost hope. There was a tree decorated with masks that had the same allure as a bad roadside attraction. On the positive side you will entertain the people on the shore with your bubbles. Some even thought they saw a really big fish when I was there.

 

[Bobspadger]

YES!

except I'm in the UK


and getting married


Apart from that lets go!

 

[tregrrr]

bubble pop #2:

the masses have not gotten the memo about buntzen construction. There are still park gate closures EVERY warm weekend. typically the front gate closes around 10-11 am and opens again around 1-2 pm on warm weekend days.



the water is down by 5' or so from the highest point, but it is still high by quite a bit. I never have been tempted to go dive in there, but I do drive through the park pretty often to visit friends who live up that way, and that is the warnings I have recieved from them routinely. Maybe your timing was just bang on Slam, but from what the locals tell me that be less than ordinary (finding good table AND parking)

 

[Slamfire]

miai, tregrr, thanks for the heads up.

Here's what I plan on doing if somebody wants to join me. I'll try Buntzen first. If I can't get into Buntzen because of overcrowding, I'll head to Belcarra. If Belcarra is overcrowded I'll head to Whisky Cove. I haven't dove either Belcarra or Buntzen. I've done Whisky Cove a couple of times, but it's been more than a year since I did the site.

I've heard similar comments about Belcarra being a less than spectacular dive, just like Buntzen, Copper Cove, or Larsen Bay. But even though they may be less than spectacular dives, I've got it in my head that I want to do those dives just to personally see what's there. I already did Copper Cove and Larsen Bay and I don't regret it in spite of them not having as many features as Whytecliff.

I've been canoeing in Buntzen for quite a few times. Many times, while heading out north, I'll detour around the island that's in front of the boat launch. I liked what I saw underwater from above in the canoe. Visibility from above seemed to be at least 20'. I also saw many underwater trees. About 3 or 4 years ago, during the first time I went around that island, I made a mental note that I had to go in and dive it. I just want to cross that off from my to-do list.

 

[mustang_5l]

There is a nice deep wall off the Island in Buntzen lake, We've dove it many times. Whisky cove is cool... when the vis is good. Left of the Island there are some nice walls and you will come to a funny lawn chair. To the right at whisky there is a nice rocky patch but not much to see. Vis is very tricky here. You can always try to find the VT100 out that way too.
Have fun!

 

[DaleC]

Sorry to burst your bubble but I've dived Buntzen Lake and it's awful. It' a man made lake and it shows. It looks like it's been dug up yesterday, no vegetation, no fish, nothing. It's getting deep and dark very quickly. The bottom looks more like a muddy cave to me (barren, brownish water, almost no natural light) and that's about the only good thing that can be said about the lake. I was very happy when I saw the first fish (small and bland) because by then I almost lost hope. There was a tree decorated with masks that had the same allure as a bad roadside attraction. On the positive side you will entertain the people on the shore with your bubbles. Some even thought they saw a really big fish when I was there.

Oh brother

There's plenty to see in Butzen, and any other lake, if you take the time to educate yourself and look. What kind of fish did you see, where was it's habitat, behavior? I've seen 4 main species there myself. Did you observe sculpin nesting sites or become interested in the fact that sticklebacks can live in fresh and salt water? Did you see the otter that sometimes swims with us? What kind of vegetation (yes it's there) and what exists in the littoral zone? Where did those logs come from (natural or man made structures)? Did you see the old pier pilings? what about the wall that John mentioned? We've found three or four.

A dive report like that tells me more about the diver than the location.