Need help finding an area to practice

[warhawk373]

So I have been wanting to get into snorkeling/diving to see if I really enjoy it, and scuba down the line if I do. The problem is that I'm having trouble finding where I can go snorkel without having to pay a fee all the time. There is only so much fun you can have in a pool before you feel an urge to explore larger bodies of water. I live near a few large bodies of water (the ohio river and land between the lakes in western kentucky) but these bodies are always very murky and not an ideal place to dive. Everywhere that is isolated from runoff is owned by diving companies that make you purchase their snorkeling packages. I wouldnt mind paying a small entry fee but I dont want to rent equipment that I already have. The closest place I can think of is current river in missouri, but I dont know how good it is for snorkeling since I think it usually has a decent flow to it.

 

[TMHeimer]

I assume you've considered snorkeling on vacation, where there would be lots more to see than in a quarry/lake. That's basically what I did for 40 years before scuba. Where I lived (northern Manitoba), there was no incentive for either snorkeling or scuba. Fishing, on the other hand.....

 

[warhawk373]

I assume you've considered snorkeling on vacation, where there would be lots more to see than in a quarry/lake. That's basically what I did for 40 years before scuba. Where I lived (northern Manitoba), there was no incentive for either snorkeling or scuba. Fishing, on the other hand.....

I mean yeah, but I'm in college and will be taking summer classes the next 2 summers, so there's not really such thing as vacation for me. Plus I don't want to just snorkel 2 or 3 times a year. If I enjoy it during the summer then I would buy a wetsuit and snorkel through fall too, if only I had a place to actually do it at. I don't mind not having much to look at (lakes and rivers relative to the ocean) it's just that you literally can't see what your looking at in the lakes and rivers near me. It's always so murky you can't even see below your waist in the water.

 

[Kharon]

Try to find a streem/creek that has deep (relatively) pools seperated by riffles. Pools that are only 3-4 feet can be fun to snorkel. Small creeks are often very clear and have a fair amount of fish life. I once spent a month in Brattleboro Vermont and snorkeled the West River (really a stream) for hours every day. Saw a lot of fish - more than I see in Lake George.

 

[2airishuman]

You may have a tough time because of the geography there, but look for smaller lakes that might be divable. I scout all the lakes around me. Many aren't worth a second visit. Some are gems. Keep in mind that viz varies seasonally and with the weather.

 

[northernone]

The surface and shoreline of rivers and lakes and a mask kept me going while I waited 7 years for a blown ear drum to heal.

 

[MichaelMc]

Some things you might do freediving in the pool to keep it interesting: I'm working on reverse frog kick both on the bottom and the surface, wearing waist and shoulder weights to keep in trim. If you do it on the surface, your depth may still vary, so watch that you do not inhale water, I wind up still holding my breath for several kicks, its just easier to focus on the kick that way. It's a nice workout but you need your own lane, otherwise you get to play 3D Tetris with lap swimmers every time you ascend. If you have some friends interested you might put colored glass pebbles on the bottom and see who can move over them, or do helicopter turns over them with the least disturbance. Might keep the pool interesting a bit longer. There is also skin diving ditch and don drill, but those are not really very fun. (Edit: Upside down frog kick 2' from surface, reverse upside down frog kick.., dolphin kick,.. Just do not drop hard weights in the pool, they will get mad at us divers.)