Florida diver looking for possible dives in Ohio

[OrlandoRogue]

Hi! I'll be travelling quite a bit for work this fall and I am trying to investigate the possible business trips that I can make into long-weekends in order to encompass diving. I'll be up in Mason, OH for business late-October and wondered if there is any diving within 1-2 hrs of that locale. Is the water too cold for diving at that time of year? (I get spoiled by temperatures here in Florida!) Any suggestions are welcome! (oh yeah...and if anyone is free to go diving with me, that would be great too)
Thanks, Rebecca

 

[skyking]

There are several possibilities within 1.5-3 hours of Mason, depending on what your interests in diving are. A few suggestions:
Natural Springs, Circleville, Gilboa, Portage, to name a few. There are several others I haven't been to, such as Whitestar in Northern Ohio and Blue Springs in SE Indiana, and a few in Kentucky.

The water is certainly cooler than Florida, ranging as low as the high 30's at depth. Definitely bring a heavy wetsuit or dry suit, and perhaps something lighter for the shallower sites like Circleville and Natural Springs.

Tom

 

[rab]

Rebecca,
I'm just a stone's throw from Mason. Post or PM when you're looking for a buddy. I'm typically buddyless so if there's nothing else going on count me in.

-Rob

 

[simbrooks]

It looks like these lake/quarry dive ops rent 7mm suits!! We dont have them much down in the sunshine (hurricane) state! It now seems the trip might be later on in november, from quickly scanning through the various links that we should expect low 60's on surface and maybe dropping to low 50's or mid 40's (depending on quarry) around 30-40ft or so - a bit chilly even with our 5mm suits!! Also they seem to be around $10 entrance fee, and i would expect that mid november might be considered winter opening hours. Thanks for the help, looks like Natural Springs and Twin Springs are closest, the others are quite a good drive north, but will keep in consideration! Hope to meet some of you there if possible.

 

[Notso_Ken]

I'm not familiar with Mason OH, I live near Dayton. We have some quarries nearby that are pretty good. Natural Springs is fairly small and shallow, but the water is warmer. Gilboa is further north, and has a lot more to offer. But, the water is cooler. Oct/Nov, the water won't have cooled off that much YET, so shouldn't be too bad. I regularly dive there with a 7 mil suit, to include early spring before it has warmed up any.

Let me know when you'll be up to do some diving (like maybe right now would be a good idea with Ivan bearling down . . . )

Ken

 

[Scubakevdm]

I'll be up in Mason, OH for business late-October and wondered if there is any diving within 1-2 hrs of that locale.

Aaaaahhh! Don't do it! But, if you must there are some secret spots up there. They are all quarries, and all involve tresspassing. I know some lunatics that live up there (two of them actually in Mason) that dive that would probably show you around. I would recommend by-passing the quarry scene and heading further North to the Big Lakes. PM me if you decide to go through with it.
Where are you Swedish Slaving at in Mason? King's Island?

 

[rab]

Aaaaahhh! Don't do it! But, if you must there are some secret spots up there. They are all quarries, and all involve tresspassing.

Why bother with a "secret" spot when there are several execellent quarries that are run as diving sites.

I know some lunatics that live up there (two of them actually in Mason) that dive that would probably show you around. I would recommend by-passing the quarry scene and heading further North to the Big Lakes. PM me if you decide to go through with it.

Uh, you'll need the same exposure protection diving in the Great Lakes as in a quarry (and will likely pay more for it and be praying that weather doesn't call the dive for you)

Where are you Swedish Slaving at in Mason? King's Island?

Or P&G, Cintas, etc. By October, King's Island isn't open much, maybe still weekends, but probably just for the Halloween event they run.

-Rob

 

[OrlandoRogue]

Brrr....I get cold just thinking of the water! Actually, I have lived in New England, so I am not as spoiled by the Florida heat as others who may have grown up here (but I do love the fact that I can wear my 1mm in Florida!). It looks like my trip will officially be November 19th and I'll stay up there for the weekend. Is that really too late to even do the springs? I am prepared for the fact that I may have to rent a 7mm, but is that still not enough for water temp? (I guess I'll just have to schedule another business trip in the spring time if that is the case!).

And, finally....the amusement parks will be closed?!! :0 The rollercoasters at Cedar Pointe and King's Island were my other motivation for staying the weekend, but I guess I'll have to find other amusements for this November trip. Thanks for all of your help, guys. So, if the diving is still a possiblity at that time of year, then count me in! (And I do wish I could be up there next week while Ivan pounds my city once again.)

 

[Big-t-2538]

Brrr....I get cold just thinking of the water! Actually, I have lived in New England, so I am not as spoiled by the Florida heat as others who may have grown up here (but I do love the fact that I can wear my 1mm in Florida!). It looks like my trip will officially be November 19th and I'll stay up there for the weekend. Is that really too late to even do the springs? I am prepared for the fact that I may have to rent a 7mm, but is that still not enough for water temp? (I guess I'll just have to schedule another business trip in the spring time if that is the case!).

And, finally....the amusement parks will be closed?!! :0 The rollercoasters at Cedar Pointe and King's Island were my other motivation for staying the weekend, but I guess I'll have to find other amusements for this November trip. Thanks for all of your help, guys. So, if the diving is still a possiblity at that time of year, then count me in! (And I do wish I could be up there next week while Ivan pounds my city once again.)

Actually, I like diving in OCT & NOV up here because the water is still warm enough to dive, and there's not near as many people at the sites.

I dive a 6.5 mil suit, and if it's a little chilly outside, wearing a wetsuit all day is kind of nice.

One day soon I will dive again....

 

[cstreu1026]

Hey how far is Natural Springs from the Dayton area? I am really feeling deprived since I Have only done three dives all summer. Anyone been there lately? Just kind of curous about what the conditions may be this time of year.