I've dove Mystery Lake four days this week. Conditions are still great! Water temp is 73 from surface to 85 feet at the airplane and the cars; dove wet 7mm + 3mm hood, was comfortable. Viz 10 - 20 ft, depending on where you are. We used dive lights below 60 feet, since there's not much ambient light penetration down deep this late in the year. Plenty of ambient light shallow; no lights needed.
Aquatic life is still active. This week, I saw freshwater jellies near the South Beach entry; saw turtles three of four days in The Jungle (near the Deer Stand); several large catfish, koi, and the usual mix of bluegill and bass every day. There are tons of baby fish everywhere, especially around Bottle Tree Point and Can Tree Cove, near The Maze, and in the Magic Forest.
While the water was comfortable, November brought in a frigid wind this morning, so we were glad to have the indoor changing room lol We almost built a fire in the fire pit, but were concerned about the winds.
The owners are still adding improvements. They recently installed a second aeration system, so they've doubled the aeration capacity to 8 aerators. (big investment, but should improve the water quality even more than it is now -- wow!) They put in several new fish habitats (Can Tree, Bottle Tree, Fish Hotel), all of which attract fish congregations. They installed a guideline (off the deep line) from The Big Gear to the Trestle. We explored more in that area today. They recently installed The Expressway line along the wall from the 27 ft platform to the back of the bus. This line is intentionally level, which helps for calculating SAC rate.
It looks like they're making great progress getting the Eastwoods area open. They've cleared the set-up and entry areas, and have cleared many underwater trees in the shallows of The Playground. When Eastwoods opens, it will be ideal for Open Water classes and for newer divers: easy access to shallow or deep water, training platforms, and a shorter swim to the Northeast Passage. Plus it'll be shaded, so I'm calling dibs on a set-up spot next summer
We love the owners. They're friendly, welcoming, and helpful (hey, they're divers, right?), and they're still improving the place. If you haven't been to Mystery Lake recently, go!
Aquatic life is still active. This week, I saw freshwater jellies near the South Beach entry; saw turtles three of four days in The Jungle (near the Deer Stand); several large catfish, koi, and the usual mix of bluegill and bass every day. There are tons of baby fish everywhere, especially around Bottle Tree Point and Can Tree Cove, near The Maze, and in the Magic Forest.
While the water was comfortable, November brought in a frigid wind this morning, so we were glad to have the indoor changing room lol We almost built a fire in the fire pit, but were concerned about the winds.
The owners are still adding improvements. They recently installed a second aeration system, so they've doubled the aeration capacity to 8 aerators. (big investment, but should improve the water quality even more than it is now -- wow!) They put in several new fish habitats (Can Tree, Bottle Tree, Fish Hotel), all of which attract fish congregations. They installed a guideline (off the deep line) from The Big Gear to the Trestle. We explored more in that area today. They recently installed The Expressway line along the wall from the 27 ft platform to the back of the bus. This line is intentionally level, which helps for calculating SAC rate.
It looks like they're making great progress getting the Eastwoods area open. They've cleared the set-up and entry areas, and have cleared many underwater trees in the shallows of The Playground. When Eastwoods opens, it will be ideal for Open Water classes and for newer divers: easy access to shallow or deep water, training platforms, and a shorter swim to the Northeast Passage. Plus it'll be shaded, so I'm calling dibs on a set-up spot next summer
We love the owners. They're friendly, welcoming, and helpful (hey, they're divers, right?), and they're still improving the place. If you haven't been to Mystery Lake recently, go!
