Milbrook Quarry in September

[scubamickey]

I may be going to Chantilly, VA the last week in September. I was thinking about doing a couple of dives just to get wet and experience a quarry.

Is it only open on the weekends?

What will the average water temperature be at depth?

Thanks in advance.

 

[scubamickey]

Bump

 

[WW2]

Its only open on the weekends April through November. I've only been a few times, and never in September so I couldn't tell you what the temp would be like. Since no one else has responded yet I'll tell you that I've heard when it warms up later in the year (August) you can get away without a hood and gloves, but still need a full wet suit. Hopefully someone who's been there more often then me will post as well.

 

[scubamickey]

Its only open on the weekends April through November. I've only been a few times, and never in September so I couldn't tell you what the temp would be like. Since no one else has responded yet I'll tell you that I've heard when it warms up later in the year (August) you can get away without a hood and gloves, but still need a full wet suit. Hopefully someone who's been there more often then me will post as well.

Thanks. What thickness wetsuit is recommended in August?

 

[PWCPD Diver]

I'd use a 7/5 mm. It depends how deep you to go though. At the deepest part I had a temp reading of about 54 degrees (f) in September. If you are only going as deep as the platforms I'd get by with a 3mm.

 

[scubamickey]

Nevermind...I'll stay in Alaska

 

[UP4AIR]

I was there this past Sunday. This is my normal close to home haunt and I get out there several times a month.

If you look real hard you can find 90-95' and at that depth you will find a temp of about 43-45deg year round.

Towards the end of Aug , and as of this past week-end the temp down to about 30' was hovering around the 54-56deg mark.

The Va dept of Agriculture recently launched a "kill all the zebra mussels" program which as far as I can tell has been sucessful(hundreds of shells laying at the bottom). The viz appears to have suffered a bit due to the chemicals used(algae is running amuck).

Ther are no facilities there (i.e. showers,running water) it does have porta smells.

All in all...it's a good place to get wet and maintain ones skills. There are some sunken items to check out...bus, boats,plane,RV, and the likes. Take a light if you intend on going deep...it's dark.

 

[scubamickey]

Thanks for the info

 

[JanR]

Scubamickey...

My first time at "Lake" Millbrook was a couple weeks ago and was much as UP4Air described.

The air temperature was about 91 degrees. The surface water temperature was at about 80-81 degrees which was very misleading.

The termoclime was at about 25 feet. The temperature at the platform below at 30 feet was at about 54 degrees.

My deepest dive was to 47 feet at which my computer showed 50 degrees.

I was wearing a 5mm wetsuit with a 3/5 hooded vest underneath. With the exception of some chilly cheeks, I was fairly comfortable.

From my conversation with those who dive Millbrook more often, what changes as the season progresses isn't so much the temperature of the water at depth, but the depth of the thermoclime. My LDS has told me that in August/September, it is right at about 30 feet.

Hope this helps,

Jan

 

[cgilyeat]

I was there last Sat afeternoon/evening for my AOW dives, and as jan said, surface temp of about 80 and a thermocline at about 25 feet, colder, but not unbearable. I only had the top of a 7mm on for the first dive and I defintely noticed the drop,in temp. After that I put the rest of the suit on. At the airplane (approx 60 feet), I had a reading of 48 degrees, but with the 7mm farmer john, hood and gloves, it was fine.