Visability reality check

[Dave in PA]

Last weekend, four of us went diving at Dutch Springs on Sunday. All day saturday God was trying to drown this part of Pennsylvania. Ok, not really, but it did rain ALOT which resulted in a lot of sediment being washed into the quarry. I found out how much when we descended at the pumping station. I am practicing my bouyancy control, up, down, and sideways, controlling my descents as well as ascents. My buddy on the other hand later told me, "I don't add air to my BC until I reach the bottom". ANYWAY, we were maybe 10-15' apart going down, and I could barely see him. When I passed the 30' mark, it was like descending into pea soup. I could see, but there was no distinct light source. That was an erie feeling. We stayed withing 3-4' of each other as we followed the pipes to the wall and worked our way around.

 

[texdiveguy]

Sounds alot like our Texas lakes about this time of the year--lol!!!

 

[RDP]

It only suks when you have known better vis before. 10'-15' vis is pretty common for the quarries around here, Indiana, right now.

 

[JDostal]

Normal for quarries in Wisconsin too - right now, viz is about 15' until you hit about 30' deep. Then it's just soup until about 80'. After 80', it just gets clearer and clearer the deeper you go.

 

[ScubaCollin]

Did both my owd's with 5 feet visibility. Then another a week after in like 4 feet while it was raining. Im used to it, im going to mexico this weekend, I think ill be in for a treat.

 

[Kestrell]

That is bad vis for Dutch Springs. I was there 8/14-15 and it was at least 30' and the algae was blooming. Atleast Zebra Mussels are doing some good there by filtering the water. I hope it is better this weekend since that is where I'm going.

 

[scubasean]

Last weekend, four of us went diving at Dutch Springs on Sunday. All day saturday God was trying to drown this part of Pennsylvania. Ok, not really, but it did rain ALOT which resulted in a lot of sediment being washed into the quarry. I found out how much when we descended at the pumping station. I am practicing my bouyancy control, up, down, and sideways, controlling my descents as well as ascents. My buddy on the other hand later told me, "I don't add air to my BC until I reach the bottom". ANYWAY, we were maybe 10-15' apart going down, and I could barely see him. When I passed the 30' mark, it was like descending into pea soup. I could see, but there was no distinct light source. That was an erie feeling. We stayed withing 3-4' of each other as we followed the pipes to the wall and worked our way around.

I've heard today that vis in Monterey bay right now is quite low (maybe 5').

I hope it gets a bit better for the weekend... (!!)

 

[Rick Inman]

ANYWAY, we were maybe 10-15' apart going down, and I could barely see him.

Luxury!!

(the above was an obscure Monty Python reference)

 

[Gary D.]

Luxury!!

What do you mean boy? anytime I can see the bottom before running into it is Luxury......

Gary D.

 

[JDostal]

Indeed it is!