pairizarry
Guest
All,
Here's my dive report for the Chilly Willy Dive, sponsored by The Dive Shop, at Millbrook Quarry for Sunday 1/9/05.
Outside it was cloudy and around mid 40's. We had about 7 divers participating in the Chilly Willy dive, only two were going in with wetsuits, myself and Jackie. I got a sample of the water when I went to wet my tank band on my BC. It was definitely colder than any other time but not enough to scare me off. I went ahead and put on my 7mm wetsuit, 6.5 mm hood, 3mm gloves, and 5mm boots for the 1st dive.
I got down the stairs and stuck my first foot in and it didn't feel too bad, so I stuck my other foot in and so far so good. Got in about waist level and put on my fins, still not too bad. Once I got in all the way and felt the first cold water entering my back, it still wasn't too bad. It definitely was cold about 46 degrees on my computer.
Now for the decent. For those of you that haven't enjoyed cold water, imagine rubbing ice or snow on your face because I got that feeling when my face touched the water. We went down about 20 ft, when my buddy asked to surface so she could regroup because it was darn cold. After a minute, she was ready to go and away we went. It took about 3-5 min to acclimate to the cold. We went at a quick pace to combat the cold water. Other than my face and hands I was not cold anywhere else. I saw about 5-10 bass but no other marine life. They were probably huddled up somewhere to keep warm. We did a 20 min dive at 61 ft with the low of 45 degrees.
During the SI, all other divers except for myself and a dry suit diver decided to stick with one dive. During the SI, I switched to a dry pair of 5mm boots and gloves. I had brought my dry 3mm wetsuit with the idea of wearing it under the wet 7mm wetsuit for the 2nd dive but I decided against it during the SI, since I didn't feel cold.
Out I went again, the other divers had an over/under of 10-15 minutes for the length of my 2nd dive. I felt confident that I would surpass the 1st dive of 20 min. I did not feel really cold going in other than my face. At about 15 min in, my hands and feet were getting cold. I was opening and closing my hands to keep them warm but other than that it was relatively smooth sailing. At about 20 min, I did have a few chills but nothing to deter me. Unlike the quick pace of the first dive, this dive was done a very leisurely pace which is probably why I felt a little chilly at the end. I finished the 2nd dive at 30 min, 52 feet with a low of 44 degrees.
This time when I got out, my lips felt a little numb. I was definitely a bit chilly, especially since it was a little windier outside. I quickly got out of my wetsuit and warmed up with some hot apple cider.
Thanks to The Dive Shop for the campfire, hot cider, hot cocoa, and the dives. One may think that after this experience I would be inclined to get a dry suit. Well at least in 44 degrees a 7mm wetsuit did the job. I may invest in another 7mm wetsuit, so I can have a dry one to get into between dives and save a minumum of $1,000 or maybe I will stay away from the quarry when the water is below 50.
Naah, I kind of like diving and you have to in order the dive at Millbrook in 44 degrees with a 7mm wetsuit. So to those of you who said I was crazy, maybe so but I had fun and that what diving's all about. Anyway I will be going to Florida in February and March so I will get my taste of warm waters.
Pedro
Here's my dive report for the Chilly Willy Dive, sponsored by The Dive Shop, at Millbrook Quarry for Sunday 1/9/05.
Outside it was cloudy and around mid 40's. We had about 7 divers participating in the Chilly Willy dive, only two were going in with wetsuits, myself and Jackie. I got a sample of the water when I went to wet my tank band on my BC. It was definitely colder than any other time but not enough to scare me off. I went ahead and put on my 7mm wetsuit, 6.5 mm hood, 3mm gloves, and 5mm boots for the 1st dive.
I got down the stairs and stuck my first foot in and it didn't feel too bad, so I stuck my other foot in and so far so good. Got in about waist level and put on my fins, still not too bad. Once I got in all the way and felt the first cold water entering my back, it still wasn't too bad. It definitely was cold about 46 degrees on my computer.
Now for the decent. For those of you that haven't enjoyed cold water, imagine rubbing ice or snow on your face because I got that feeling when my face touched the water. We went down about 20 ft, when my buddy asked to surface so she could regroup because it was darn cold. After a minute, she was ready to go and away we went. It took about 3-5 min to acclimate to the cold. We went at a quick pace to combat the cold water. Other than my face and hands I was not cold anywhere else. I saw about 5-10 bass but no other marine life. They were probably huddled up somewhere to keep warm. We did a 20 min dive at 61 ft with the low of 45 degrees.
During the SI, all other divers except for myself and a dry suit diver decided to stick with one dive. During the SI, I switched to a dry pair of 5mm boots and gloves. I had brought my dry 3mm wetsuit with the idea of wearing it under the wet 7mm wetsuit for the 2nd dive but I decided against it during the SI, since I didn't feel cold.
Out I went again, the other divers had an over/under of 10-15 minutes for the length of my 2nd dive. I felt confident that I would surpass the 1st dive of 20 min. I did not feel really cold going in other than my face. At about 15 min in, my hands and feet were getting cold. I was opening and closing my hands to keep them warm but other than that it was relatively smooth sailing. At about 20 min, I did have a few chills but nothing to deter me. Unlike the quick pace of the first dive, this dive was done a very leisurely pace which is probably why I felt a little chilly at the end. I finished the 2nd dive at 30 min, 52 feet with a low of 44 degrees.
This time when I got out, my lips felt a little numb. I was definitely a bit chilly, especially since it was a little windier outside. I quickly got out of my wetsuit and warmed up with some hot apple cider.
Thanks to The Dive Shop for the campfire, hot cider, hot cocoa, and the dives. One may think that after this experience I would be inclined to get a dry suit. Well at least in 44 degrees a 7mm wetsuit did the job. I may invest in another 7mm wetsuit, so I can have a dry one to get into between dives and save a minumum of $1,000 or maybe I will stay away from the quarry when the water is below 50.
Naah, I kind of like diving and you have to in order the dive at Millbrook in 44 degrees with a 7mm wetsuit. So to those of you who said I was crazy, maybe so but I had fun and that what diving's all about. Anyway I will be going to Florida in February and March so I will get my taste of warm waters.
Pedro
. Have you been down there before? My favorite dives there were the Rhone and the Indians. The day we were at the Indians the silvers were running and so there were lots of larger fish there to feed on them. Have fun - and if I could dive in water like that regularly, I'd probably never dive in a quarry again.
