Hello from Virginia - (re)bit by the bubble bug

[mtg]

Hi there,

I also live in Richmond. Just dove in Lake Rawlings yesterday--a really nice quarry outfit. Have heard about Smith Mountain Lake--does anyone know how to dive there? I've researched on the web, but came up with very little. Apparently, it's fairly close to Richmond and has an underwater city??
QUOTE]


Did you hear this or see it somewhere?? Ever since I saw this earlier in the thread I have been trying to find out more. I don't think its promising that there isn't a single dive shop in the area...

My hubby travels to west va alot and he just called me today about a similar thing there. The lake is called Summersville lake and has a dive shop. I looked online and found plenty of info on diving there, but didn't see anything about a town. I think that would be a really fun dive if it existed (and you know there have to be some somewhere considering all the dams around).

 

[diverdiane]

Welcome to SB

 

[james croft]

Hi,
Welcome to the board. I am in your area, Rawlings is good diving but I would avoid diving Smith Mtn Lake. It is a flooded valley and deep. I last dove there on a body recovery. 50 feet from shore we were in 90 feet of water. Upon entering the water and making the descent it was nice for the first 30 feet. Then we started going down through tree tops of a flooded forest. At the bottom there was silt, tons of tree limbs and mud. O visibility. One of the worst dives I have been in. Upon coming up we had to thread our way up through the forest. Definitely a spooky dive. I would need a real good reason to dive there. Oh and it is wall-to-wall boat traffic. Get with a dive club and they will hook you up with places to dive. Check out Dallas Weston Dive Shop in Chester on Rt 10 or The Dive Shop on Broad st.