First Dive at Aurora Res

[BigBubbaJ]

Hi Gang,

If anyone is interested, Mpscubatoytech and I are planning on diving Aurora Reservoir tomorrow for most of the day. Just get a hold of us or post here and we'll look over the form tonight to gather anyone who wants to join the flock.

Regards,


-S

If I didn't have to work I would dive wet! Keep me in the loop! Should get my drysuit back next week!

 

[syonker]

Hi Gang...

Well, it's getting warmer down there. The low temp was 48F/8.9C degrees, but the average was around 50F/10C degrees or so at depth. The surface temp was 55F/12.8C degrees.

There were families and groups "wading" at the beach.

Here are a few specific considerations around new rules and current park conditions:

• Build about 30 minutes total add-in time to your trip because they don't know how to issue the SCUBA passes or keys at the gate yet, so you have to go to the main office. I wish they would fix that because it really cuts into our time when we have commitments before and after. Oh well, they'll get around to it.
• They now offer a night-diving permit with one week's advance notice. I haven't tried it yet, but if someone is interested, let me and/or Mpscubatoytech know - I'd like to try it sometime out there.
• If you are boat diving in Aurora Reservoir (which frankly I don't understand because I don't recall them allowing boats in the SCUBA area and I don't recall them allowing SCUBA in the non-SCUBA area, so how does that work?), they require the boat to fly the Aplha flag...that's a new one.
• They want the divers to have a surface buoy per team. We've been skirting that one so far opting to carry along an SMB we can deploy if we need to, but it is listed on the sign.
• There is still a sign at the SCUBA area that says "SCUBA AREA CLOSED FOR THE SEASON". Pay no mind to it because they are obviously willing to take your money for the season now.

Happy Bubbles!



-S

 

[Waterskier1]

• they require the boat to fly the Aplha flag...that's a new one.

This is a Colorado Boating Regulation. Granted, most boater and many divers don't know this.

• They want the divers to have a surface buoy per team. We've been skirting that one so far opting to carry along an SMB we can deploy if we need to, but it is listed on the sign.

-S

This too is a Colorado Regulation. But, I think more important to Aurora Parks is that they know when divers are still in the area. Since many walk in, or ride in, unload, and drive their vehicles back out (as required), there may be times when they are not quite sure if divers are still underwater, or the area has been vacated. Your underwater (non deployed) SMB is of little use to a ranger on land. Granted, they have been very lax in enforcing this requirement. I don't think I've seen it enforced the last two years, although many do use the requisite float Flag.

A quick review of the Colorado Boating Regulation will show both the requirement for an "A" (Alpha) Flag and the surface dive flag. It applies to all public waters, Federal, State, County, or City (private lakes may be different).