Vail Lake

[BrianS]

Anyone ever dive in Vail Lake?

 

[wetrat]

It's a private lake and we have a membership for waterskiing. I just got certified in May and have been meaning to take my gear along one of these days, but the last time I was there visibility was about six inches! The lake level is way up this year over last year, and I think that's why visibility is down.

Hey I'll let you know when I dive it!

wetrat

 

[BrianS]

Sounds good, thanks

 

[pasley]

From everything I have ever read about lake diving (Lake Tahoe being the exception) visibility is normally measured in inches not feet. Depending on how a lake is fed, stream or spring in the bottom of the lake it is often full of silt both from run off and um…natural processes in the lake. Then like our red tide in the ocean, there is lake bloom (algae) that cuts visibility considerably.

I would also worry about the boats and skiers. For safety I would recommend a dive flag on a float. Put the float out with the dive flag on it( a large one), then dive the other end of the lake. All the boats will be buzzing the new slalom course flag. dive flags are an unresistable magnet for boats.

 

[Kayak Diver]

I've made several dives in a lake in Riverside County, studying the lakebed geology. The viz was great above the thermocline...maybe 20-25ft, and there were a bunch of little fish...or minnows. Below the thermocline, it was FRIMO.

You can always volunteer with the Sherrif's department if you want to dive in low viz fresh water lakes, duck ponds, etc.

Fresh water diving is weird. It just doesn't taste right.

 

[BrianS]

You know where I would find info on that?

You can always volunteer with the Sherrif's department if you want to dive in low viz fresh water lakes, duck ponds, etc.

 

[wetrat]

Put the float out with the dive flag on it( a large one), then dive the other end of the lake. All the boats will be buzzing the new slalom course flag. dive flags are an unresistable magnet for boats.

LOL Mel! :laughing: You're probably right! I've seen some pretty strange boating behavior on that Lake, especially with the brand new boats! RE the dive flag: I would probably have my wife follow my bubbles in our boat. Vail has always been murky I believe, but I've been to Lake Mojave when the visibility was easily 30 feet. I think I'll probably give that a try first!

 

[wetrat]

You can always volunteer with the Sherrif's department if you want to dive in low viz fresh water lakes, duck ponds, etc.

I was wondering if there was any money to be had diving for golf balls on golf course water hazards. Have you ever heard of that Kayak?

wetrat

 

[Kayak Diver]

You know where I would find info on that?

You could do a search on the Internet. The Ventura County Sherriff's volunteer program always gets a Yahoo or Google hit. Not sure about San Diego County. A good friend volunteers for the San Diego County...they get called to look for bodies, guns, etc.

 

[Kayak Diver]

I was wondering if there was any money to be had diving for golf balls on golf course water hazards. Have you ever heard of that Kayak?

wetrat

No, never heard of that. But you can make good money scrubbing boat bottoms. A friend of mine teaches scuba part time, and opened his own boat scrubbing company. He's doing OK. It sounds like tough work but I think that it pays well.