Scuba Pond?

[SnorkelLA]

I am simply brainstorming here about ways I can dive more on a regular basis, been about 4 months since I've gotten wet. I am constantly traveling, but my home sits on 10 acres of land in Louisiana. I am at home about once or twice a week, so I got the ideo of a scuba pond.

This pond would consist of a pier, an automatic fishfeeder(if need be), and fish to stock it with. I own lots of land with ponds on it that I've dove before, and one of the main things about them is that they are murky. Now, a simple assessment of causes will easily tell us why this is happening, with a few main causes.

1. Bottom composition. Solution: Make the bottom composition of gravel and boulders(of which I have an abundance at my disposal.

2. Standing water: This allows for algae, moss, and other things to form(they could form in moving water, but standing water makes it much easier for seeds of moss and whatnot to settle

3. The elements: At my property there is a ton of crap flying around all the time, including trees dropping their leaves in the fall, and even though gravel can be used to keep the bottom composition solid, silt will still rise through as the banks weather and erode

As you can see I have one solution, but many problems. My question to you is how would I go about approaching this project to make it VERY diver friendly. I'm hoping to make the pond somewhat square, about 25yds by 25yds. I will probably sink small "fish trees" for shelter for fish life. Hoping to make it about 8-10ft deep.

I also realize groundwater will be a problem, in Louisiana, groundwater can be very close to the surface. On my land about 3 feet. So I will also have to work with groundwater that will be murky and silty and clay.

Finally, this is just brainstorming, so the chances of this actually coming to pass are rather slim, so I am going to ask you guys to BRAINSTORM yourself. Also, what kind of fish life could be added, I'm thinking about white perch, bass, brim, and maybe some catfish(some dirty mothers there, could cause problems with water clarity)

 

[knowone]

Have you considered building a missile silo
or purchasing one

YouTube - missile silo for sale

Missile Base Properties for Sale

 

[Crush]

Your pond will be shallow enough that wind will agitate the sediment. The trick is to minimize sediment.

The sediment will have to be vacuumed out regularly. A gravel bottom will just make this harder. Design something like a big fish pond or swimming pool.

 

[NeedABiggerBoat]

This is an idea I too have considered. I would make it deeper than 10' though, at least 15-20' so the dives would be interesting enough to make the effort worth it.

 

[DivingWilly]

I had no idea those types of properties were for sale! That would make an awesome dive center!

 

[muddiver]

A gravel bottom will allow water to move in and out, so you might end up with a pond that stays at the same level as the local water table. The only two ways around that are 1. a plastic (non-permeable liner) or 2. a concrete liner like a swimming pool.

Being shallow it will grow algae. The only prevention is to either cool the water (like a mountain lake) or add chemicals which will kill your fish.

I think that minnow and/or those mosqueto eating fish would be one my first choices. Then I would consider the other stuff you mentioned. How about crayfish? They can be mini lobsters for your dive park.

 

[Steve50]

Hopefully you have some cattle. They may enjoy it

 

[falcon125]

With that kind of time & money.
Buy a condo in Cozumel.

 

[Bob DBF]

A gravel bottom will allow water to move in and out, so you might end up with a pond that stays at the same level as the local water table. The only two ways around that are 1. a plastic (non-permeable liner) or 2. a concrete liner like a swimming pool.

The problem with a non permeable liner is that a change in the water table could float the pool causing a bevy of other problems. Making it heavy enough to stay in place could be quite expensive.



Bob
-------------------------------------
I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[CuNanoTube]

If you were to put a layer of clay soil below the gravel you could probably avoid the water level changing. As for stopping the growth of algae, I have no Idea, but if you had full shade one the pond it would take longer for algae to grow.