Clark Hill/thurmond Lake, Augusta, GA

[diveprof]

Four good dives this weekend. Vis below 45' is 15' and 20' on the walls. There is a very low vis area between 25-35' (2' or so). Sat. dive one on 32 mix in steel 100's allowed us to dive the three big rocks, all of the 80' and 100' walls, a bit of the cove ledge, north wall, 50' wall, trench, angel statue, 40' ledge and a finish in the hydrilla feeding fish. 90' max with dive time of 1:07. Not as many cats this weekend. Still nice bass and stripers, gar, and other stuff. Met some Covington diver folks today. As I've not dove Lanier, I asked how this compared to Lanier. The reply was that this is better diving. The walls were particularly nice this weekend.

 

[Sprinky]

It was good diving with you and Jeff on Sunday. Thanks for letting me borrow the 100 and tagging along with you guys!

 

[JKSteger]

Hey Diveprof,
At Clark Hill what are the shallow dives like at this time? My brother and I are getting some new gear and would like a nice shallow dive just to check everything out, adjust trim, etc. I thought about going up to Jocassee but then saw your post and I think Clark Hill will be a little closer to us and with gas up in the stratosphere, every little thing helps.

Don't really know when we can make it over but in the comming weeks I do know. Could you give me some info on what to expect and where to enter, which park, etc.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[diveprof]

Hey Diveprof,
At Clark Hill what are the shallow dives like at this time? My brother and I are getting some new gear and would like a nice shallow dive just to check everything out, adjust trim, etc. I thought about going up to Jocassee but then saw your post and I think Clark Hill will be a little closer to us and with gas up in the stratosphere, every little thing helps.

Don't really know when we can make it over but in the comming weeks I do know. Could you give me some info on what to expect and where to enter, which park, etc.

Thanks,
Jeremy

I recommend diving at East dam (cross over the dam from GA to SC and take an immediate left into the parking lot. Park in a space near the road. Restrooms are in the visitor center above the parking lot. Enough stuff at the visitor's center (free) to entertain nondivers for a little bit. Snack and soda machines also. We enter at the very corner of the dam (path through the rocks). Stay near the rocks when entering the water (the dropoff is real close - like three steps after you step into the water -use caution). Swim along the rocks at about 15' depth and you will run into a rope laying on the bottom (swim is not very far, maybe 25 yards). Follow the rope down to the tail of the plane. The plane is a Mitsubishi MU2 (do a google search to see a photo). A rope to the left secured to the plane's tail (heading West) takes you along the bouyancy course to the ski boat. Vis on the plane (currently at 18' deep on top) and ski boat was 10'. If you take a 0 degree heading off the nose of the plane (or a little to the right and hit the line) you will find the wing tank at 68' . Off the nose and slightly upslope (about 5' north and upslope) off the nose of the tank you will find the line leading to the 80' wall (currently at 66' on top to 82' or so on bottom). When the 80' wall ends, head upslope east to you hit a 3-4' high ledge, follow it North until there is a break, turn right and you are in the trench. The other stuff is a bit harder to find but... when exiting the trench, hang a sharp right and follow the 1' high ridge. When you reach the gallon milk jug turn left and you should hit the angel statue. Continue upward to the rocks of the 40' ledge (now at 26' and generally lousy vis right now except above 20' or so (head south on the ledge), when this ends turn east and hit the hydrilla.

On the rocks of the dam vis is about 8' depending on how many folks have been diving. Vis in the hydrilla (runs parallel to the parking beginning at about the trash can on the slope midway through the parking lot and running north a ways) is about 6', but there are fish -small guys and the occasional big bass (the sunfish will eat tiny pieces of bread or fish food out of your hand - in the hydrilla or on the rocks). Vis on the 80' wall was 15-20' Sunday. One word of caution, at the end of Sept -first of October, the lake does it's turnover and vis drops considerably for a couple of weeks. I'll post when this occurs.

 

[diveprof]

Forgot to give the temps - about 80 on the surface and 67 at 80'.

 

[diveprof]

It was good diving with you and Jeff on Sunday. Thanks for letting me borrow the 100 and tagging along with you guys!

Good to have you along. Now you know what we mean when we say "the plane" is only a taste of the neat stuff to see.

 

[diveprof]

We are diving east dam Clark Hill on Saturday 9/20 @ 8:30-9am for two tanks. I will be away from a computer until Friday evening, but pm with phone number if you would like to join us and I'll give you a shout Friday evening to confirm the time, etc.. All are welcome. If limited diving experience, think about joining us for dive two. Dive one is deeper (80-90'). Dive two (shallower dive) will be at about 10:45a -11 a or so.

 

[diveprof]

We are diving east dam Clark Hill on Saturday 9/20 @ 8:30-9am for two tanks. I will be away from a computer until Friday evening, but pm with phone number if you would like to join us and I'll give you a shout Friday evening to confirm the time, etc.. All are welcome. If limited diving experience, think about joining us for dive two. Dive one is deeper (80-90'). Dive two (shallower dive) will be at about 10:45a -11 a or so.

I will not be diving Saturday. My father passed away this week after a battle with cancer. I and others do plan to dive Sunday afternoon at 1p for two dives. All are welcome to join us. Dive 1 will be deeper than dive 2.

 

[JKSteger]

Diveprof,
I'm am so sorry to hear about your Father. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
J:

 

[diveprof]

Diveprof,
I'm am so sorry to hear about your Father. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
J:

Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. He is in a better place, free from his struggle. My father was a wonderful person - dedicated to his church, always helping others (though he was always very quiet about this), and a great partner to my mother and father to my brother and I. Life is a wonderful journey. When we are 18 years old, we say that we never want to be like our parents. By 40 years of age, we begin to realize just how much like our parents we are becoming (and that this is not a bad thing). When they pass on we realize just how great they really were and are so very proud to be their offspring.