Quarry trained Divers

[TomP]

One of things i like about quarry diving, beside its just being fun, is that i can combine fun and practice. And since i consider practice fun too, its all fun. But it wouldn't be if i had to burn my bottom time on an $85 - $100 wreck dive to do it.

This is actually one area where the silty bottom is an asset. If I can zip along a few inches off the bottom and not leave a cloud of silt in my wake then I'm pretty sure my finning and are decent.

 

[SwimJim]

One of things i like about quarry diving, beside its just being fun, is that i can combine fun and practice. And since i consider practice fun too, its all fun. But it wouldn't be if i had to burn my bottom time on an $85 - $100 wreck dive to do it.

This is actually one area where the silty bottom is an asset. If I can zip along a few inches off the bottom and not leave a cloud of silt in my wake then I'm pretty sure my finning and are decent.

Not creating a silt cloud is an important skill on a wreck too. Really, it's more important on a wreck as there are photo ops to be had. Ocean diving and or wreck diving does not have to be expensive. You have to get off your ***** and network. I dive up and down the west coast of Lake Michigan and rarely pay a charter fee. People know who I am and they ask me to come along. This didn't happen because I sat on my computer and looked at scuba board all night long. I get out and really dive and make contacts. People know who I am. They know my style, they know I take pictures and share and they know I will take them out on my meager boat too.
Quarry diving has it's place. It can be great training and it's easy to do. If thats all you do however, you will more then likely lose interest in diving as it will become boring. That is a natural response. Yes, I'm aware that some of you live several hours away from the Great Lakes or the Ocean. Yes, that is a problem. There is always shore diving. I can't speak for the Atlantic, but in Lake Michigan one can park themselves in Door county Wisconsin and have access to almost thirty shore dives. Its a touristy area with alot of little shops, so you can release the better half on the penninsula and she will have a great time. I personally recommend the winery tours, but thats just me.
So in summation, there is no reason to limit yourself to crappy vis, cold water water quarries when the Great lakes and or the Ocean is calling. You may not be able to dive it every week, but you CAN do it. You just have to think outside the box, er quarry.

Jim

 

[TheHobster]

Blue Springs routinely has pretty decent vis... 20-40 ft. It's my favorite that is close to where I live. Hidden Paradise, on a nice summer day will have vis in the 6-8 ft range, and if there's students to silt it up, you'll be lucky to get 3 ft. At Natural Springs, the beginning of last June, we started out the 1st dive with about 8-10 ft... by the 3rd dive, and about 60 divers later, there was vis of literally 2 ft. If Rod and I didn't hold hands, we would have been seperated in a heartbeat. I haven't dove White Rock in many, many years. Don't have any idea what it's been like. My 1st and only dive at France Park was late September, and we had everything from 10-15 ft vis, to total silt-outs.

It just depends on when and where you dive. I will only dive when the water is over 65 or so degrees... I'm anti-7mil. LOL Diving in the summer sure makes the vis worse for many reasons... more divers in the water, more algea, etc. I've never been to Gilboa or Haigh... I plan on visiting those next summer. I hear they're nice. But, within 45 minutes of me, is Blue Springs, and it's my first choice for a nice "close to home" dive.

HP used to be great - then they added the paddlefish and stopped treating for algae. Used to depend on 10-15 at worst - Blue Springs doubled prices this year so we are only going there when we have to - why pay more there and have 0 amenities; no nitrox, no snack bar, no food, no showers, pit toilets etc. primitive only camping?

Natural Springs I don't know what happened - we had 20+ in April, I was behind the boat and could see my DM beyond the bow quite easily; a good 20 in June, in fact we did a photo class that weekend; then 8-10 max the rest of season - dunno what happened there; zebras must have gone on a hunger strike I guess

France Park, if you were there at the Treasure Hunt, they had over 100 divers in the water, so viz would degrade - we had 30+ in May, and the paddlefish were way cool

Join Indy Dive Club (shameless plug) and you can dive with us, or learn when we are going to different places in the area - we had 40+ at Gilboa in Sept and had 25+ at Mermet in October and saw paddlefish on every dive; when we went to Lake Michigan had good viz as well as neat wrecks.

 

[erparamedic]

HP used to be great - then they added the paddlefish and stopped treating for algae. Used to depend on 10-15 at worst - Blue Springs doubled prices this year so we are only going there when we have to - why pay more there and have 0 amenities; no nitrox, no snack bar, no food, no showers, pit toilets etc. primitive only camping?

Natural Springs I don't know what happened - we had 20+ in April, I was behind the boat and could see my DM beyond the bow quite easily; a good 20 in June, in fact we did a photo class that weekend; then 8-10 max the rest of season - dunno what happened there; zebras must have gone on a hunger strike I guess

France Park, if you were there at the Treasure Hunt, they had over 100 divers in the water, so viz would degrade - we had 30+ in May, and the paddlefish were way cool

Join Indy Dive Club (shameless plug) and you can dive with us, or learn when we are going to different places in the area - we had 40+ at Gilboa in Sept and had 25+ at Mermet in October and saw paddlefish on every dive; when we went to Lake Michigan had good viz as well as neat wrecks.

Yeah, we really do need to join the dive club. Don't fret your shameless plug. LOL We've been procrastinating joining cause of the whole kid thing... and diving is hit and miss for us... and many times it's not at practical times for other people. I'm sure though, that at some point, we'll be joining.

We used to dive Hidden Paradise when it was really nice and had good vis. You're right... as soon as they got the paddlefish, the vis went downhill. We've only been there a couple or three times since then. Nothing like breaking the surface with an algea glob on your head. Ick!

We were at France Park for the Treasure Hunt, and we're gonna try that one out again this summer. The vis, like I mentioned, varied greatly depending on where you were. Towards the back, obviously, the vis wasn't as bad. There's more fish in that quarry than I've seen in any quarry though! Tons of fish!

As far as BS goes... I can see where I'm going, and they do have a changing area... albeit primitive, but better than the towel over the car window trick. LOL And... if you pee in your wetsuit, then at least 1/2 the bathroom problem is solved. Hahaha! The rest... well, I guess you better know how to hold it, or practice the warhammer. :no I do like BS and it's the closest to my house so I don't mind paying the $20.

There is a doctor that I work with that owns 6 quarries (and he's the only one that accesses them to fish). He's offered to let hubby and I dive them. He claims crystal clear water and max depth of 25 ft, and tons of fish. We may check it out this summer. It could be our "secret" dive spot. I'll have to ask him if he's lost any fishing poles that he needs found. LOL

 

[TomP]

Not creating a silt cloud is an important skill on a wreck too. Really, it's more important on a wreck as there are photo ops to be had. Ocean diving and or wreck diving does not have to be expensive. You have to get off your ***** and network. I dive up and down the west coast of Lake Michigan and rarely pay a charter fee. People know who I am and they ask me to come along. This didn't happen because I sat on my computer and looked at scuba board all night long. I get out and really dive and make contacts. People know who I am. They know my style, they know I take pictures and share and they know I will take them out on my meager boat too.

....

Jim

Jim,
My point was that its important to practice whatever your skill level and that quarries are a good place to do that.

I also think that, at least the quarry that i dive, is just plain fun too. The quarry I dive is an easier drive than the one to the coast so I'd really need to be convinced that shore diving in central NJ is anything but dismal.

As far as charter dives go, I didn't say that i think they're expensive or that the cost prevents me from doing more Atlantic diving. That's actually not the case at all.

 

[boulderjohn]

I also think that, at least the quarry that i dive, is just plain fun too.

It could be "in the eye of the beholder"--and I'm not knocking that.

This summer I was in pretty cold water in terrible visibility working to put together the platform we use to keep students off the silty bottom. (It is not a permanent setup, as you see in many such places.) In the middle of that work, it occurred to me that I was having a lot of fun. I don't think a very high percentage of humanity would consider that fun at all. It is a sensation unique to divers.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

All, Thanks for the input. you have brought up some great points about diving from a boat with waves, current etc... I am going to try to make a point to do some Great Lakes wrecks to expand my experiences this summer (In addition to a trip to Bonaire!)
I will still go to the quarry on Friday afternoon though.

 

[Meister481]

Good luck up there, and happy diving.