Trashfest Oct 6 2007 Comal River

[parrotheaddiver]

Sushi Boy where are you Texas Gulf Coast Council of Dive Clubs

anyone attending this year here is the other posts on it http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/texas-swamp-divers/187469-comal-apr-21-a-2.html

can't go this year DH recovering from hip replacement surgery....

 

[ScubaTexan]

Ann, please give him our best for a speedy recovery!

 

[Foo]

Well, it was just decided today that Foo2 and I shall make the trek to Trashfest together this year. We're joining my LDS for this outing, and are really looking forward to the event. Any other Swampers going to make this one?

 

[okiejeff]

Foo, I may have to stop over and say Hello. I am not sure if you remember the wife and I from Tony Romes' in Cozumel July of '04 last year at the Scuba Board get together. At that time we were living further northwest in Texas.

I have in-laws in town and have promised to take them to the PGA tour/fundraiser in town that weekend and probably won't actually get to make it over there. Hope everyone has a good safe time.

The Comal has been flowing more strongly than in past years (so I am told) and if you are in the center channel you can cover a lot of ground very quickly. Just make sure you know where you are periodically, especially if you are diving in the section by the tube shoot (1-2 blocks upstream from Schlitterbahn), just make sure you stay well away from the dam there. I saved my dive buddy from going through it earlier this year which would not have turned out very well had that happened. It was actually my first time there and he was leading; however, I had popped up to see where we were at just the right moment, enough to avoid getting to close to get out of the current and being in the same predicament. He was able to brace himself in the cut-out long enough for me to ditch my gear on shore, get some additional help and pull him free before he was too exhausted to hold on longer.

Jeff

 

[Foo]

Foo, I may have to stop over and say Hello. I am not sure if you remember the wife and I from Tony Romes' in Cozumel July of '04 last year at the Scuba Board get together.

Just make sure you know where you are periodically, especially if you are diving in the section by the tube shoot (1-2 blocks upstream from Schlitterbahn), just make sure you stay well away from the dam there.

Jeff, I do remember meeting you two!! That was a really fun night, would love to see yall again, if you're able to make it.

Are the dam and the tube chute the same thing? I have dived in the Prince Solms Park area, and I think that is close to the tube chute. Thank you very much for the caution, I appreciate it. From what I understand, the river is divided into sections for the cleanup, so we'll have to stay in a defined area anyway. Then, during the afternoon session teams can dive anywhere. BTW, nice work saving your buddy! Where does the dam lead?

I did my checkout dives in the Comal (in January '04) so it's a special place to me, fell in love with it, and have returned many times, but we've always dived in the same area, so I'm looking forward to diving different sections of the river. You are so lucky to live in that area, do you dive Aquarena?

 

[okiejeff]

I have been here since around the 1st of May. The dam/tube chute are the same area. The tube chute goes off the main river course about 30 feet before the dam and re-enters the river about 30 feet below it. I have talked to others who say they have dove through the tube shoot (personally I would not), but the opening in the dam goes down to some large concrete blocks or boulders that are used to prevent erosion by slowing water velocity.

I have not made the trek to Aquarina, Canyon Lake, or Boerne Lake yet which are also close dive sites. The only other location I have made it to here in the area yet is Lake Medina (another 45-60 minutes west of the Comal), which is west of San Antonio about 10 miles.

 

[Foo]

Well the dam sounds plenty scary to me, don't want any encounters with that, so thanks so much for the warnings.

Hopefully someday you can take the scientific diver course at Aquarena, and become a volunteer there, it's a great little lake, with 100 ft vis. Hope to dive with you soon!

 

[outback]

Anyone looking to join a team, we had a last minute drop out so I'm looking for a diver......

Trashfest - 10/6/2007 - Official Thread - City of Houston Underwater Mariners - The Water's More Exciting with CHUM in it

If anyone is down there for TF anyways, come say hi - we'll be at the Rodeway Inn being noisy.

 

[parrotheaddiver]

Report Please .....I heard my good buddy Randy was there from B.A.D. I am sorry I missed seeing everyone maybe next year

 

[Foo]

Trashfest was a blast- all three of our teams from Scuba Steve's won Super Scooper t-shirts for our efforts. We had to use real teamwork, as our area was locked off when we arrived, so we climbed over 3 fences and down a gnarly set of platforms and stairs with our gear before we could get down to the river- we were all worn out just getting down there! Fortunately, Roger & team got the gates unlocked around 10:30, so we didn't have to try to climb back UP the same way we got down! Especially with the 564 lbs of trash just our one team pulled out of the river. The dinner was well-organized and delicious, free beer is always appreciated, and a good time was had by all. Thanks for Sushi-Boy, Reefhound, and all the other CHUM group who jumped in to make this such a great event. We all plan to return next year!