Clark Hill/ Lake thurmond, Augusta, GA May 17

[diveprof]

Just a quick report before I head out. Great dive day in Augusta. Weather was absolutely beautiful. Lake was just about empty of boats as usual. Water temp about 75 on the surface, 70 on the plane, still 57 at 98'. Two dives today. Dive 1 was to 98' for 1:14 (36mix). We began our 1st dive at the 40' ledge, the angel, trench and down to the 100' wall. Vis at depth was just great 15'+. Lots of small fish on the wall around the stumps at the top of the wall. We dove the entire 100' wall, turned South along the North wall to the big stump that was loaded with fish today. We headed upward to the fallen tree (about 23'), crossed the pipe and went over the stumps at 15', then dropped down to the 40' ledge (lots of fish including bass), the three big rocks and onward to the plane, ski boat and a long, slow safety stop/swim back to shore (large school of blueback herring).
Dive two began with a look at the big bass that are nesting, then to the plane, and down to the missle. We dove the entire 80' wall (great vis again - no lights need on the 80 or 100' walls today unless you were looking in holes (saw a few of the Clark Hill lobster - crawdads). We then went throught the forest to the two large stumps, dropped back down to the top of the 100' wall among the stumps, then turned South to the North wall, big stump, and upward to 15-20' swimming among the stumps for a long safety stop to our exit - herring sighted again, a few more big bass too. Dive time was 58 min at max depth of 85'.
Tomorrow, we dive the river....

 

[sporket]

Let us know how the river conditions are. And thanks for the e-mail. I wont get a chance to get in the water until week after next. I would love to join in if your diving then. I've got you number and will give you a call.
Thanks!

 

[diveprof]

We had a great dive today in the Savannah River . Vis was great 10 -15'+, water temp was 68 degrees and max depth was 21'. We did the big drift. Entry was a 5th street bridge. We dove on the wreck at the downriver side of the first bridge support in the water (from the Georgia side). Several nice bass and sunfish. From there we angled over towards the S.C. side of the river to the remains of the old hamburg docks (this run the better part of a mile about 1/3 of the way out into the river from the S.C. shore). More fish. A large carp was "hidden" under a log - at least I guess he thought he was though most of his body was hanging out. More bass and then we were under the US 1 Bridge. We dove around the bridge supports and then continued downriver on the old Hamburg docks remains. Lots of sunlight thsi afternoon and at times vis was beter than 15'. We then angled back to the GA shoreline. I timed/angled our swim cross river just right and we hit the 2nd wreck of the dive - a cabin cruiser. After diving in and around, we continued downstream and dove through the Savannah river kelp forest- an invasive aquatic weed whose name I can't recall at the moment (starts with an E). The GA side has large boulders and rocks at the shoreline down to 18'. We saw several more carp, bass, and assorted sunfish dirung the drift. There are also trees that have fallen into the river and you can swim among the branching limbs. Just after reaching the remains of the old Hamburg bridge we came across a large turtle and watched it a bit, then we moved to mid-river at bit and then angled back to the old Hamburg dock remains for more fish life. After a bit more time here we angled back to the Ga side of our exit at the boat ramp. A nice day of diving. Dive time was 1:42.