Mashapaug Pond - Bigelow Hollow in CT

[7millimeter]

I'd heard that some divers tried to visit Bigelow Hollow state park in Union, CT earlier in the spring and they found the park closed. It's open now; I went in for a nice snorkel there last Friday (4/21/2006).

Surface water temps were in the mid 50s (if you can believe my cheap themometer). I saw a crayfish, some small fish and two really big fish right off of the point by the picnic area. It was a nice little dive on a beautiful day. By the way, I arrived at around 11:00 AM and it seemed as though most of the fishermen were packing up and leaving then. It was pretty quiet by the time I left.

 

[ScubaDobe]

That's great to hear! Thanks for the info.

They were closed from late fall through the winter due to harsh flooding. Good to hear it is open again.

 

[ericfine50]

I have heard about this place - I am thinking of heading there in the next few weeks. Any info about the place? Anything good to see?

Thanks

 

[7millimeter]

I have heard about this place - I am thinking of heading there in the next few weeks. Any info about the place? Anything good to see?

Thanks

Well, I don't know if I'd make any kind of long-distance special trip just to dive there. I think a lot of instructors like to do open water checkouts at Bigelow Hollow because you can get a certain amount of depth when diving off of the point by the picnic area. It's decent for training, although you do have to hike a fair distance from the parking lot to the point since diving off of boat ramps is forbidden in Connecticut.

There are some relatively interesting sites further out in the lake, though. These are only reachable by boat. I snorkeled an interesting boulder field from my canoe last summer. The lake is petty nice for canoes and kayaks.

Of course, I'm not claiming to be an authority on the place. I'd be interested in reading anything any other members have to say.

In short, I think that Bigelow Hollow is pretty useful if you need a place for training or practice. It's also a nice place if you're combining diving with some canoeing or kayaking or if you're bringing non-divers that might want to boat around, hike or picnic.

 

[michaelp68]

I've gone diving here. I didn't like it. It's a terribly long walk from the parking area to the dive entry area. I thought there were a couple mildy interesting areas to explore while diving but found it to be, for the most part, a boring mud pit. Sorry to be a naysayer.

Michael

 

[countryboy]

Good for training / checkouts, etc...

I second what Michael said...

 

[dbg40]

Quarry's probably better.

 

[7millimeter]

I've gone diving here. I didn't like it. It's a terribly long walk from the parking area to the dive entry area. I thought there were a couple mildy interesting areas to explore while diving but found it to be, for the most part, a boring mud pit. Sorry to be a naysayer.

Michael

Ummm, yeah, what he said! I agree with what Michael has written and I would only mildly object to the "mud pit" designation. That seems to imply little or no visibility and I've not found that to be the case.

After my open water checkouts, I thought that there was no way I would intentionally make the effort to go there again. But I found myself back there for AOW and for some skills practice dives. It's kind of grown on me a little. I see more and enjoy it more every time I go. But it's not the ocean........

 

[michaelp68]

Quarry's probably better.

I've been in both. The quarry is MUCH better.

Michael

 

[7millimeter]

I've been in both. The quarry is MUCH better.

Michael

Closer, too. See you there, eh?