Looking for info on diving the CT river

[diver413]

My name is Pete and I've been reading this board for the last couple years, thanks for all the great stories and dive sites! I'm in Western Mass. and I'm interested in diving the CT river. I grew up walking the banks of the river collecting all kinds of bottles and trash. Anyone dive it locally? or is this done more in the Greenfield and Northern areas?
I've been diving for 2 years in the ocean, and would love to try something new.. Thanks for any info..

Pete

 

[plankspanker]

My name is Pete and I've been reading this board for the last couple years, thanks for all the great stories and dive sites! I'm in Western Mass. and I'm interested in diving the CT river. I grew up walking the banks of the river collecting all kinds of bottles and trash. Anyone dive it locally? or is this done more in the Greenfield and Northern areas?
I've been diving for 2 years in the ocean, and would love to try something new.. Thanks for any info..

Pete

I dove the ct river with a friend who lives in NH. I am not sure exactly where on the river it was but it wasnt that far from Keene NH. It was very warm, maybe 20 foot vis and there was the remains of an an old bridge at around 20 or 30 feet. I enjoyed it and it made for a nice dive.

 

[reefguy05]

The CT river in western Mass has some very interesting dive sites to offer. Several old dump sites, ice age varve and concretion deposits, bass that will eat out of your hand and of course the occasional remains of a wrecked pleasure boat. Most of the sites I dive are easier to get to by boat but I wouldn't rule out shore access if you don't have a boat. My advice? Pick a spot and explore it. You never know what you might find. If nothing of interest there, try another spot. The river has lots to offer, you just have to go looking for it.

 

[mstudley]

If you go, check out the abyss.... cool but VERY dark and pretty deep:

http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/abyss.html

oh, and the water temp at 118'? 80F!

 

[ScubaSarus]

You dive above the Turners Fall dam in Gill mass. There is a boat launch there near the dam. Great dive when the flow is low.

 

[aquageek]

What kind of current(s) might you encounter in various sections of the river?

 

[ScubaSarus]

You have to monitor the flows on the computer or by calling a number. Depending on the needs of the electricity etc the dam opens and closes increasing the water flow.

 

[reefguy05]

I do most of my diving between the Sunderland bridge and the Holyoke dam. The current in that section is generally not too bad unless there has been a lot of rain to the north. You can get a good idea of current by the river's height compared to normal or something as simple as throwing a stick in the river. During the summer I would avoid weekends as there is a LOT of boat traffic (at least in this section) which stirs up the river which results in low viz. It usually takes a day to settle so I try to avoid Mondays also. This is the ideal time of year to dive as there is a dramatic decrease in boat traffic after Labor Day.

 

[JohnDough]

You have to monitor the flows on the computer or by calling a nuber. Depending on the needs of the electricity etc the dam opens and closes increasing the water flow.

anyone have that link or phone #?

 

[ScubaSarus]

I dom't have the link but GrabaShellDude has all the info.