New diver to Great Lakes-Any tips or need to know?

[Jayfarmlaw]

Some days the Scuba Gods smile on you....some days not so much. After checking the weather and even speaking with Double Action this morning before we got out of Oklahoma to make sure everything looked good, after 13 hours on the road and one speed warning...Captain Keith called as we were pulling into the parking lot at the hotel and told us that the Coast Guard had just issued a small craft advisory and all boats were canceled tomorrow.

Were looking at High Quarry Saturday and hopefully Sunday will be a go. On the bright side....I never new what pizza was supposed to taste like until now. Giordano's Meat Pizza and a 312 beer was one of the best meals I've ever had. Damn near a perfect combination. Great service and the bartender even had a slice with us. Me and 2 friends still brought half a pizza back to the room. No large pizza has ever survived our attack until now. Thank you @Chidiver1 for the recommendation, you hit a home run on that one!!

We have some other dive options working tomorrow as well, I'll post when we get something worked up. Of anyone know what type of Sacrifice the Scuba gods require to calm the lake on Sunday, please let me know. I'd run naked (nekkid in Southern speak) through Dive Right In if I thought it would help....the Cubs are away this weekend or I'd offer Wrigley field. I've got a snorkel I could offer as a burnt offering too. Maybe donate a Dacor Extreme 2 to a worthy cause.....

Ja

 

[Marie13]

Go to Haigh. Suggest you stay on the deep side - to the left of the beach entry, with the docks. Less silt stirred up by students. It’s mostly 40-50ft deep, except for deep hole, in the far corner, which goes down to 85ft. Not worth the swim out there. Just a nasty 30ft diameter hole.

Do a wall tour on the deep side.

 

[Chidiver1]

Some days the Scuba Gods smile on you....some days not so much. After checking the weather and even speaking with Double Action this morning before we got out of Oklahoma to make sure everything looked good, after 13 hours on the road and one speed warning...Captain Keith called as we were pulling into the parking lot at the hotel and told us that the Coast Guard had just issued a small craft advisory and all boats were canceled tomorrow.

Were looking at High Quarry Saturday and hopefully Sunday will be a go. On the bright side....I never new what pizza was supposed to taste like until now. Giordano's Meat Pizza and a 312 beer was one of the best meals I've ever had. Damn near a perfect combination. Great service and the bartender even had a slice with us. Me and 2 friends still brought half a pizza back to the room. No large pizza has ever survived our attack until now. Thank you @Chidiver1 for the recommendation, you hit a home run on that one!!

We have some other dive options working tomorrow as well, I'll post when we get something worked up. Of anyone know what type of Sacrifice the Scuba gods require to calm the lake on Sunday, please let me know. I'd run naked (nekkid in Southern speak) through Dive Right In if I thought it would help....the Cubs are away this weekend or I'd offer Wrigley field. I've got a snorkel I could offer as a burnt offering too. Maybe donate a Dacor Extreme 2 to a worthy cause.....

Ja

Well if you want more food stops let me know your flavor(s).

I have a place for phenomenal ribs, a place that is in the top 50 in the US for burgers, and a pork chop stop that will have you loving it. Can also steer you to the best Chinese place I've had in the world, or one of the very best steak houses you'll ever set foot in. And I'm probably still forgetting a spot or two.

Locally you probably at least still want to hit Portillo's for a real hot dog, beef sandwich combo. Try the cheese fries if you do, I don't even like cheese fries, but theirs are damn good.

Edit some of my secret spots are a little drive, but so worth it.

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

Well if you want more food stops let me know your flavor(s).

I have a place for phenomenal ribs, a place that is in the top 50 in the US for burgers, and a pork chop stop that will have you loving it. Can also steer you to the best Chinese place I've had in the world, or one of the very best steak houses you'll ever set foot in. And I'm probably still forgetting a spot or two.

Locally you probably at least still want to hit Portillo's for a real hot dog, beef sandwich combo. Try the cheese fries if you do, I don't even like cheese fries, but theirs are damn good.

Edit some of my secret spots are a little drive, but so worth it.

Yes please, ribs, burgers, and I've never even heard of a pork chop place. Lol, luckily I also just learned that not all of Indiana was Eastern Time Zone. We could not figure out why our phones hadn't changed. Duh....

Thanks again,
Jay

 

[Chidiver1]

Sending pm to avoid more clutter.

Better be careful, you won't leave here.

 

[Chidiver1]

Yes please, ribs, burgers, and I've never even heard of a pork chop place. Lol, luckily I also just learned that not all of Indiana was Eastern Time Zone. We could not figure out why our phones hadn't changed. Duh....

Thanks again,
Jay

We are special up here. I hate when I go south or east. Or need to call that way.

 

[Chidiver1]

@Jayfarmlaw

Well what did you wind up going with or are you still in town?

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

Short version- friggin awesome trip. Just rolled into the driveway after 13 and a half hours on the road. Took about an hour break in Uranus. Well worth the stop. (Uranus, Missouri...they have capitalized on the name. They have a fudge shop and they will tell you...we pack fudge in Uranus)

Haigh Quarry was lots of fun and worked out very well. 2 of us we're diving brand new 7 mil farmer johns so they had tried their weights in the pool before we left, but there's no substitute for real water and real cold. Despite not diving wrecks on Saturday, Captain Kieth went out of his way to get us set up at Haigh. It was actually windier on Sunday, but no warnings.

Sunday was what we came for. Loaded the boat at 1:30ish, and were probably in the water by 2:30. Water was in the mid 50s so not as cold as the quarry. The barge was nice, but the wooden wrecks were just amazing. Great crew, Joseph and Captain Bob were great to meet.

Food wise, Giadorno's, Tony's Itallian Beef, and Beggars Pizza on Sunday were all just icing on the cake of a great trip. I'll definately be back.

I'll post a full report later in the week. Thanks again to @Chidiver1 and @Marie13 for the local information. Im working on the learning curve for the next trip.

Jay

 

[Marie13]

Short version- friggin awesome trip. Just rolled into the driveway after 13 and a half hours on the road. Took about an hour break in Uranus. Well worth the stop. (Uranus, Missouri...they have capitalized on the name. They have a fudge shop and they will tell you...we pack fudge in Uranus)

Haigh Quarry was lots of fun and worked out very well. 2 of us we're diving brand new 7 mil farmer johns so they had tried their weights in the pool before we left, but there's no substitute for real water and real cold. Despite not diving wrecks on Saturday, Captain Kieth went out of his way to get us set up at Haigh. It was actually windier on Sunday, but no warnings.

Sunday was what we came for. Loaded the boat at 1:30ish, and were probably in the water by 2:30. Water was in the mid 50s so not as cold as the quarry. The barge was nice, but the wooden wrecks were just amazing. Great crew, Joseph and Captain Bob were great to meet.

Food wise, Giadorno's, Tony's Itallian Beef, and Beggars Pizza on Sunday were all just icing on the cake of a great trip. I'll definately be back.

I'll post a full report later in the week. Thanks again to @Chidiver1 and @Marie13 for the local information. Im working on the learning curve for the next trip.

Jay

Which wrecks on Sunday? How was the viz at Haigh?

Keith is awesome. I affectionately call him “Captain Cranky,” which his wife wholeheartedly agrees with. Yosef was your DM? Great as well. I call Bob the “wee hairy beastie.” How did Keith help with Haigh? Learning curve?

 

[Marie13]

You didn’t do Portillo’s? Oh, the humanity! The chocolate cake you missed!