If you are camping at the state park campground, keep going past the right turn into the camping area to the remote boat ramps. You will come to a fork in the road. Take the right fork to the divers ramp. It is 3 boat ramps with two of them blocked off for divers to use and it has low boat traffic in that area. Boats are to stay out of the cove to the left of the ramp as you face the lake. The Bones Family lives in the cove on the left side.
If the family wants to hang out on the ramp and set up a canopy they will be in good company as many divers do the same. The kids can feed the fish in that area and play in the water a bit. If the family just wants to hang out and take in a great view or get a tan, the ramp is the place to do that.
You can do any kind of dive you want off the ramp. I really like to stay shallow in about 10-25' of water and just watch the fish. I see the most fish in that range as I follow the shore line around the cove.
If you head straight the ramp on the far left side you will pass 2 dive platforms. The2lake is down about 20 feet so the 40 foot one is now in 20 and the 60 in about 40. off the back side of the 2nd platform you will see a trampoline frame and a guideline. Off the back of that is gets deep very quickly and you can reach deeps well over 100 feet in just a few kicks. Beyond that is the forest. Have never been there myself, but I hear that is both cool as well as a bit tricky. Was diving with a group last year and one guy took a stick in the mask and nearly missed his eye. That was the end of that mask. Have heard of people getting a bit tangled, but lots of people go there and have a good time. Just be aware of where you are if you go that deep and plan gas accordingly.
If you want to take a charter to the Wall, you can go with Off the Wall Diving or the Scuba Shop. I use Off the Wall most of the time when I take a charter but have dealt with both and have no complaints. Off the Wall has 32 % nitrox on tap all the time and can blend special gas mixes or tri mix upon prior request.
I like diving the cove off the divers ramp the best as I can take my time on the dives and go at my own pace.
The Bones family usually lives in about 40 feet of water in the cove on the left, but now they are 20 feet and complaining about the hot water! It consists of Mr Bones and his hot blonde bombshell wife--Mrs Bones, Fisher Bones and his yellow fishing pole, Momma and Baby Bones. Last time I was there Momma was sitting in her chair with drink in hand and her head tossed back as if to say I can't take these screaming kids any more--when will school start! Baby is of course too young for school and sits screaming for joy on Momma's lap with hands held high waving in the air. They always welcome a new diver and look forward to saying hello! LOL
Hope you have a good time diving. If you have any other questions, feel free to post and I will try to answer or point you in the direction of someone who can.
If you want to know more about this history of Jocassee before Duke Power flooded the valley a great resource is
www.jocasseeremembered.com There is also some dive footage of the Attakula Lodge which now rests in 300 feet of water when the lake is at full pond. There was a dive on her yesterday with the group from Off the Wall Dive Charters and some great new footage was taken and a bit more exploration of the site. Deb will probably put some of that new footage up on her site as soon as some of the editing is done.
By the way if you see Sue from Divers Supply out of Georgia-- make sure you congratulate her for being the first woman to dive the Attakula Lodge. Sue is nice gal and a great diver. Always enjoy bumping into her group when they come up this way to dive. She has worked really hard to get ready for this dive and handled herself quite well in the water from what I hear. Way to go Sue!
