diveprof
Contributor
Today's dive should have been crap. The wind was howling, waves were 2-3', there was a lake wind advisory, and off the point there was a silt trail that went out 100 yards. Folks bailed out of today's dive anticipating a bad dive day given conditons. Yet, today's dive was one of the best of the new year. We had 8-12' vis and temps of 54-58 degrees. Dive was to 101' with dive time of 1:00. We started at the plane (several bass and large bluegill), and dropped down past the skull and crossbones to the missle (fuel drop tank) at 74' today. We then swam over to the 80' wall. What gives!! The fish are supposed to be in the shallows this time of year, but we ran into several small schools of fish on the wall - one odd observation, the fish were negatively bouyant as they would sink to the bottom when not swimming. They were small fish and maybe new "divers" who haven't perfected bouyancy control 
Still an odd observation. No lights needed on the 80' wall. In fact, I used it little when we dropped to the 100' wall. Small fish here too. We made our turn just before deco and swam up through the forest to the trench. We turned north to find the new bouy. A few weeks ago the old bouy broke loose. I could have repaired it for less than $3 as the rope, bouy and anchoring system were in place, just the clip attaching the rope to the bouy was broken. I offered to fix it gratis. However, the corps guy at the desk at the visitor's center wasn't interested in my offer. A new bouy, rope, and anchoring system (probably concrete anchor) has been installed. I'll have to revise my map as it is not near its former location. After spending a few looking for the new bouy anchor on the bottom, we returned through the trench, past the angel statue and upward to the 40' ledge. Lots of small fish and a large striper here. We dropped back down past the pool filters to the three big rocks, more fish and another striper and continued to the plane, bouyancy course and ski boat befroe beginning an extended safety stop to our exit. What a nice surprise today's dive!
Still an odd observation. No lights needed on the 80' wall. In fact, I used it little when we dropped to the 100' wall. Small fish here too. We made our turn just before deco and swam up through the forest to the trench. We turned north to find the new bouy. A few weeks ago the old bouy broke loose. I could have repaired it for less than $3 as the rope, bouy and anchoring system were in place, just the clip attaching the rope to the bouy was broken. I offered to fix it gratis. However, the corps guy at the desk at the visitor's center wasn't interested in my offer. A new bouy, rope, and anchoring system (probably concrete anchor) has been installed. I'll have to revise my map as it is not near its former location. After spending a few looking for the new bouy anchor on the bottom, we returned through the trench, past the angel statue and upward to the 40' ledge. Lots of small fish and a large striper here. We dropped back down past the pool filters to the three big rocks, more fish and another striper and continued to the plane, bouyancy course and ski boat befroe beginning an extended safety stop to our exit. What a nice surprise today's dive!
