Gilboa

[dajmitch]

Here is how I rate 'em
#1 Gilboa.... plenty to see and easy to find some depth
#2 Whitestar ... I've "Heard" that swiming down the tunnel into the crusher pit is a real blast w/ the lights out.
#3 Portage ... Some good stuff to see, but seems to always be less vis and colder to me. even early.

As far as finding the best vis ... Like Ber said... go during the week, or be in the water by 8:15 am (they open at 8)

 

[jham2081]

I haven't tried Gilboa yet but will later this month. However, I'm usually off work on Monday's so let me know if you'd like to come up this way to dive. I know how hard it can be to find a buddy on a Monday. I live in Toledo so Gilboa, Whitestar and Portage are all easy for me to hit.

Andy

Thanks for your offer. I'll definately let you know.

 

[netmage]

Ok, i don't know if this is in the right forum... sorry if its not.


So, I live about 3 hrs from Gilboa, is it worth the drive to dive there. The nearest quarry to me is a shade under 2 hrs away. Its frustrating to live in ohio and try to dive. I'm open to comments and suggestions.

I'm in Chicago, and when I can't get into the Lake I routinly make it out to Gilboa & Portage despite the 4.5hr drive. Only been to whitestar once - need to go back...

My dive buddies are in Cincinnati (Dad & Brother), so its a good halfway meeting place and we make a whole weekend out of it... Plus you can routinely run into some of the more rag tag rabble-rousing beer drinking members of the GLWC....

[Note: If I offended any members of the GLWC, feel free to think the taglines "rag tag rabble rousing" do not apply to you... ]

 

[yknot]

For those that haven't been to Gilboa, it'll probably be a bit underwhelming at first glance. Out of the three quarries mentioned it is the smallest. On the plus side, Gilboa has hot showers and the best set-up areas for your gear. Tables, decking, ladders in and out, etc. plus what some claim to be the deepest water in the state of Ohio. For the quarries mentioned, Gilboa is at 140'+, Whitestar is at about 72' and I don't recall ever finding much over 55' at Portage. There is camping right on the grounds at both Gilboa and Portage with night diving avilable. Whitestar closes at dusk but does do night dives by reservation during the summer on Sat. nights. Vis can be great or poor at any of them for reasons other than poor diving skills. Portage, in particular, has had a milky appearance below the thermocline in some area that doesn't appear to be from sediment stirred up by divers, more like something leaching in thru the quarry. Whitestar is large enough to usually find sme area with decent vis- just stay clear of the OW training platforms.

 

[DaveP]

I've been to Gilboa, Portage, and Whitestar - as has been said by others, they all have their advantages - here's my quickie on all three:

Gilboa - as for diving, it's my favorite... great facilities (hot showers, flush toilets, platforms, tables, burgers/dogs/drinks on site), you can camp right there, and there's lots to see underwater, particularly tons of huge trout. Downside - it's gotten really expensive. Camping + diving + 8 airfills (4 for my wife and I) ran about $200 - that seems excessive for quarry diving.... As was said earlier, dive midweek or VERY early in the morning if you want any sort of vis...http://www.divegilboa.com/

Whitestar - nice place... I'm pretty indifferent to it. Not as much to see underwater, not as many fish (but lots of crawfish), camping is available but across the street (you'll need to drive between campsite and quarry). Decent entry points, and the water has a much more pleasant "tropical blue" color rather than the "icky pond green" of other places. This is run by the parks system (although has a privately owned [I think] airfill station/mini-dive shop on site). http://www.scpd-parks.org/whitestar.htm

Portage - Not too sure how to describe this - everything is a bit lower-key here (which could be good or bad depending on what type of person you are) - there doesn't seem to be as much to see underwater, no running water on land... There is a beach and sand-volleyball courts which are good for surface intervals or non-divers. You can camp here.
http://www.portagequarry.com/

Overall, I like Gilboa the best since it pretty much has everything I want in one place - only disadvantages are the weekend crowds and the price, but all three quarries have their own characteristics and are worth a visit at least for some variety - they're all different.

 

[netmage]

Downside - it's gotten really expensive. Camping + diving + 8 airfills (4 for my wife and I) ran about $200 - that seems excessive for quarry diving....

Not sure about your math, $200 seems excessive. I'm assumming arriving on Friday late, and departing Sunday afternoon/evening.
Diving = $12 = $48 for two days/two people
Camping = $8 = $32 for two days/two people
Air = $7 = $56 = 8 fills
= $136

By comparison, Portage is $10/day to dive & $4/day per person to camp & Whitestar is $10/day to dive & $10/day per site for camping...

 

[DaveP]

Not sure about your math, $200 seems excessive. I'm assumming arriving on Friday late, and departing Sunday afternoon/evening.
Diving = $12 = $48 for two days/two people
Camping = $8 = $32 for two days/two people
Air = $7 = $56 = 8 fills
= $136

We dove on Friday too, so add another $24 to that ($160 total)
... by the time you toss some food, firewood, and ice in there, it turns into an expensive weekend. We do bring our own food, but it's nice to have a fresh burger on the grill there, and we're not allowed to export firewood out of Michigan right now (emerald ash borer).

$7 airfills and charging per person rather than per site for camping are a bit steep IMHO. Don't get me wrong - I like Gilboa, and I'll keep going back, but it's a lot of money for quarry diving, and keeps us from going there more often.