Diving Minnewanka -- How important is Altitude diving training?

[Hawkwood]

Yeah, better for the average diver and the tourists. Things really got out of hand last year - it was noticeable.

I really hope all the Instructors "make nice" and follow the rules. I know what "self-policing" means and hopefully we never go down that path. The walk from the parking lot to the Plaque site might do some folks some good!

 

[markmantei]

Token, although I'm a little biased, I'd highly recommend meeting up with the outlaws. There are divers of every skill level at pretty much every event, so you shouldn't ever feel like the "newbie," but there are lots of experience around to help you if your looking for it. If your interested you can find the events here: Underwater Outlaws Social Club - Events The club is fairly active on facebook as well. There is a Father's day dive @ forget-me-not pond in June that will help you get used to the freezing cold water (drysuit highly recommended for local diving) in fairly benign conditions before jumping into Mini.

Hawkwood, Two Jack is open enough for diving now, here's a picture from last weekend from a friend that was up there.


I heard mini was still pretty frozen.

 

[Hawkwood]

Great advice Mark. I met Dave at our customer appreciation night yesterday. Not only is Minnie still covered, the level is about the lowest I have ever seen. I think with the amount of snow in the mountains, there is anticipation of significant run off this spring and summer.

 

[aaen]

About time they decided to do something about that plaque site. It was rather annoying when all the shops would literally set up structures and be in everyones way. We would typically get up to the lake at 7 so we could do our dive to the townsites and be gone by noon give or take so we would be just leaving(hopefully as they came) it was a real gong show.

That being said it was nice to see that strong of community there.

On a side note how is Mossman/s and my concrete step we placed at the bottom of the plaque site holding up over the years!!

Steve

 

[Hawkwood]

The steps are holding up just fine and were a great blessing.

Bill

 

[shoredivr]

Hi divers, I'm hoping to be out your way in may or June, and would like to dive Minnewanka. Suggestions for shops or divers to hook up with? I will have my own drysuit etc

 

[Hawkwood]

Visibility could be an issue in May and June this year again...but that waits to be seen. The shops are all good. I have a bias however...I teach through The Dive Shop. Feel free to touch base with me closer to your travel time. I live 20 minutes away from Minnie.

Bill

 

[aaen]

All depends on where you are going to be living/staying. And your going to get a different opinion from everyone. I'll try to give u an unbiased opinion, well as much as I can from when i lived there.

Aqua sport: Charlene and here crew are good people, she has great prices and is very easy to deal with. Every time I go there it is a pleasant experience.

Leisure Dive: relatively a new shop in town, well it is out in Airdrie. This by far is the best service store I have been to, guys is a machine at servicing regs etc. Darrin also use to be the owner of the dive Shop which he has sold to their current owners awhile back. Anyways he has great prices as well and works with aqua sport as well.

Adventures in scuba: just up on mcleod trail about 4-500 m north of southern if i remember correctly. Well this shop tends to run with a quite bit higher prices then the rest. Friendly staff and they have great attitude, etc.

Dive shop: located by the hooters on mcleod and the heavy metal bar(drawing a blank on the name, back alley i think). This use to be owned by Darrin that now owns leisure dive out in airdrie, I have yet to shop there under the current owners. My thoughts are that it is probably run pretty much the same, slight variances etc but that shop was the largest in town and probably still is. I'll have to check it out though next time i am in town.

Caribbean dreams: basically follow glenmore trail west to the casino and it is right around there. I was only in this shop once it is relatively small and is more geared to warm water diving. I do believe though that they have gear for the area as well.

Considering i no longer live in Calgary take this all with a grain of salt.

My opinion, go to aqua sport or leisure dive they are great spots to go for rec/tech diving,they will not steer you wrong and are great people. I am sure the other will give you good service but those are my two choices of shops when I am back in town.

Regards

Steve