So how bad is the viz at Millbrook?

[Mike126]

It's frustrating that all that I hear is that Millbrook has been really murky. Now that the zebra mussels are gone it seems it is turning into a big mud hole. The guys at the Dive Shop in Fairfax said that the EPA won't even let them stock fresh water mussles and clams to help clean the water.

Any recent viz reports?

Mike

 

[DivingPrincessE]

Mike-
I'm really bad with estimates on actual numbers, but the vis really isn't great. I did my AOW there two weeks ago and the DM said the vis was 10-12 feet. My description is that when at the surface and starting the descent, we couldn't see the platform below.

 

[SteveC]

Zebra muscle haters suck!

 

[ichigolin]

Viz is ~15ft until someone silts it up. Then, it can be as little as arms reach.

 

[NovaDiver23]

what's the water temp at? 5 or 7mm suit?

 

[Mike126]

If the viz is at 10 - 12' then I'm ok with that. I've heard reports of 3'!

 

[DivingPrincessE]

Oh no, 3'...I hope its never that bad when I'm there. I'm too new and that would make me too nervous.

NovaDiver- I was in a 7mm suit and was kind of cold below the thermocline...but then again I'm not a good benchmark because I am always cold. If you are planning on staying above the thermocline though, 5 or 7 would be fine...maybe even 3 mm...because when we were there two weeks ago the water was quite warm at the surface.

 

[King_of_All_Tyrants]

I'll second what Ichigoblin said. 15 ft or so last time I went for the first dive, less the second dive because of all the silting. Sometimes I do think it becomes 3-5' or so, again because a group of new OW divers have stirred things up.

This is what I have on temperature from my computer and from memory last time I was there:

Bottom (near plane) was probably around 40 some (I didn't stay long enough to get a good reading on my computer)

Mid level (30-45 feet) was probably around 50-60

Top layer was around 70, according to the computer (a figure I actually believe)

 

[Wheatondiver]

Dove from Beach 1 on Sunday afternoon (1:57 pm - 2:43 pm). Surface was warm. Thermocline was about 40 feet. It was about 60 degrees. We were the last in the water. When we got there a group of three or four had packed up and were getting ready to leave. A group of three were getting ready to enter. Around 1:30 or 1:40 a couple entered. Things did silt up easily if hoovering too close the the truck or dentist chair. Without silt, the viz was 10 - 15 feet. Over by the police car at about 20 feet it was warm.

Dove 7mm farmer john and jacket with hood. No gloves so hands felt the cooler water below the thermocline. Was warm at 20 feet, but not overheating. My son had a 4/3 jumpsuit style wetsuit witha 5/3 hood/vest over. He said he was comfortable.

By the time we exited the water, the first group was gone (I think they were leaving as we were entering). The second group was getting ready to leave. The couple were finishing up a snack and were getting ready to pack up.

Before we went down at the platforms, I noticed a large group over at beach 2.

 

[watercooled]

Zebra muscle haters suck!

i remember all the ruckus raised when they were all over lake erie. everyone went nuts. now the water in the harbor (port clinton) is so clear you can see the bottom from the dock. the only real problem is that now the grass has grown severly. It keeps gumming up the props.