Quarry conditions (White Star& Portage)?

[glen99]

My wife and I are going to take a couple of days and dive White Star and Gilboa next week. We were thinking about a stop at Portage but conditions have been so bad the last 2 years I don't know if it is worth the time. Has anyone been to Portage this year, can you update on conditions?

thanks

glen

 

[Barracuda2]

My wife and I are going to take a couple of days and dive White Star and Gilboa next week. We were thinking about a stop at Portage but conditions have been so bad the last 2 years I don't know if it is worth the time. Has anyone been to Portage this year, can you update on conditions?

thanks

glen

I dove Gilboa yesterday. Because of rain, the first 25-30 ft. was about 20 ft. viz. The deeper we went, the better it got; about 40'. viz at and beyond the tubes. IMO Portage is not good on its best day.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Portage was actually 20-30 last week according to one of my Facebook friends. Not great but not as bad as I have seen it. Last year at the DAN BBQ it was bad. Could barely see the fuselage from one wing tip. A week later a buddy reported that you could see from tip to tip. It had rained hard the couple days before the BBQ and they actually got over an inch the day before we arrived. It is highly susceptible to run off. But I go every year at least once because I like the place and I like Jeff and Monica. He doesn't put up with any crap and it and the DAN BBQ have a special place with me for a number of reasons. I now look forward to the talks Dan Orr and I end up having every year. Portage is a good place to practice Nav and S&R as well as do OW checkouts. I just wish it wasn't a 5 hour drive. I'll be at Gilboa the weekend before the DAN BBQ this year doing Sidemount and Rebreather workshops with Steve Lewis (Doppler) and then back out to Portage for the DAN weekend.

 

[Davemohio]

Glad to hear about Portage. None of the buds in my dive circles have been there in a while. I was last there at the Dan BBQ in 2011. I "found" the plane by bumping into it. There was a young lady diving/snorkeling near us wearing a bikini. Surreal. Yes, I put that in my logbook.

Have not been to Whitestar yet. Will go soon.

Gilboa gets my vote for consistently good viz.

 

[aaron m.]

I was at Whitestar today vis was about 30' watertemp 48f .

 

[glen99]

Thanks for the info everyone. As long as the weather holds out later in the week we will be going to White Star and Portage. I cut my teeth at Portage and my wife has never been. I will be sure to post a report (hopefully positive...)

glen