Has Anyone been to Oronogo lately?

[dflipp]

I'm thinking about making a trip to Oronogo Oct. 15/16. Can anyone provide information on visibility there?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[diverbob]

I was there over Labor day weekend. Personally, I wouldnt be dissappointed if I never dove there again. The people are nice, but there isnt a whole lot to see. I only saw a few fish the whole time I was there, and those were just small ones at the surface when I saw finning up.

 

[kbrown4ou]

Hi Dan (aka dflipp),
Did you make it to Oronogo the 15th/16th? I was there the 16th - my first and not-to-be-my-last visit. I thought the visibility was great (20ft +?), the weather was fantastic, and the trees surrounding the lake were beautiful as they're changing color. All that and only a handful of other divers - mainly tec divers. The four of us that drove up together felt like we had the place to ourselves. I'm guessing that the absence of a swarm of other divers helped account for the great visibility. Anyway, for a driveable dive spot I was impressed. I also want to second diverbob and say that the people running the place are very nice.

 

[dflipp]

No, I didn't make it. My dive buddy couldn't get free to go. Thanks for the update though. I still want to make a trip up there before it gets too cold.

I haven't been there since 1992. I remember being impressed with the wall dives and the chambers cut into the sides with "chimneys" that extended up to around 30 feet or so from the surface. I personally don't enjoy the underwater salvage yard scene that most quarries have created. I'd rather see just a few interesting "wrecks" and the structure of the quarry.

 

[bgray]

We were at Oronogo on Sunday, Oct 23. The conditions were probably the best that I have seen them. Although there were two classes of Open water students, the vis was still 20+ft on their side, but if you ventured just a little farther, where the water had not been disturbed you could find almost 40ft vis. It was great. The surface temp was around 68* and the first thermocline at 35ft. Bottom temp at 100ft was 53*.

 

[EuphoriaII]

Is there anyone at Oronogo that offers cavern diving training/certification? I've been interested in going there but I would also be interested in exploring the garage bay areas with the proper instruction/guide.

 

[texdiveguy]

Sounds like a place to try out this winter,,,,7 hour drive from my Tx. location,,,,I need the cool water dives before hitting Co. in Feb..

 

[kent_1848]

Is there anyone at Oronogo that offers cavern diving training/certification? I've been interested in going there but I would also be interested in exploring the garage bay areas with the proper instruction/guide.

Yep, the owner can instruct you. I can't remember what level it is, but I know he can train you to get to the bottom of there which is >200'. I wasn't really interested in getting that deep the last time I was there...especially since that was before I had my drysuit. Just give him a call, and he will be happy to get you the information that you are wanting.

 

[Jmaserati]

If I can ever get my act together... I'd like to do Oronogo next summer! Didn't know about caverns or instruction there! Oh boy!

 

[cummings66]

From what I've read it offers things besides that, so it would be a pretty good trip no matter what you want to do.

The problem is there are just too many places to go and too little time to do so.