visivility at rock divers

[mike_s]

While this isn't in Alabama, Martha's Quarry just outside Nashville is also a favorite of people here. It's about a 2 hour drive from here.

The "neat" thing about this quarry is that the quarry flooded with all the buildings and rock crushers and conveyor belts/systems all still in the quarry. you can swim in the buildings and everything. Looks almost like a ghost city.

check out www.marthasquarry.com

FYI about this place. The above water facilities are almost non-existant. You'll first want to call and make sure they are open before driving. 2nd, take toliet paper. They have a porta potty and that's it, if it's even still there... Take your own snacks/drinks etc. They have one picnic type pavillion to get out of the sun and if lots of people are there it'll get crowded. Also take your own tanks and enough for all your dives. On ocassion they have an old gas/disiel compressor there but the air filtration system isn't that great and you get fuel fumes in your air. Unless you want to have to get your tanks cleaned later, you won't want to get an air fill there. You can print maps off their website I think. If you don't have a map, you'll never find the place. I think it cost around $15 bucks to dive there for the day. There also aren't any fast food or other food places around, so take a lunch.

Hope all that helps.

-mike

 

[TheRedHead]

Thanks everyone for all the information and links. I've heard about Martha's Quarry, but I didn't know you needed to bring your own air. Has anyone dived Cerulean? http://divecerulean.com/

That's north of most of you, but the same distance as Rockdivers from me.

Do any of you guys drive down to Pensacola? How is the diving (aside from Hurricanes) down there.

Thanks again,

Susan

 

[ScubaLuke]

Do any of you guys drive down to Pensacola? How is the diving (aside from Hurricanes) down there.

Thanks again,

Susan

I haven't dove Pensacola yet but I'm planning to go down early next summer to dive on the Oriskany. I just happened to be in Pensacola right before Ivan hit and I talked to the folks at the Scuba Shack (http://www.scubashackpensacola.com/sdm.asp) about specifics of diving the Oriskany and they seemed real nice.

I've never dove with them but I know people that have and they got a good report. I hope they survived Ivan OK.
Luke

 

[mike_s]

Are there any other good dive spots in No. Alabama?

Susan

Check out http://www.dtmag.com/dive-usa/divingusa.html
for a good map of "inland" diving spots.

They just did a story about 2 months ago on the Madision Quarry
in the printed version of the magazine. I think this is the online
version of it here.
http://www.dtmag.com/dive-usa/MadisonAquaticParkAL.html

There were also some very interesting comments in this months
"reader letters" section of this same magazine complaing about
them. Some of the things they said were valid, but it seemed
like someone was just whinning a lot also. Still a big 'slap' on their
"name".

The vis there can be good or bad. In recent years it's been mostly
bad though. Mostly due to large rain washing lots more silt into
the quarry and students kicking up lots of silt.

I personally like it because it's a good close place to get wet
and do a couple of dives. The poor vis does make it harder
to find your way around, especially compared to several years ago.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

DivePros and MBT Divers in Pensacola, FL are great shops as well. There are plenty of inshore and offshore sites.

If you want a beach dive, you can dive the jeddies at Ft. Pickens once they rebuild the road getting there Ivan washed it out completely at one section - the bay and gulf are connect - D'Oh.

 

[andrea31419]

Hi, glad to have stumbled across this TN thread. My family and I are moving to the Tri Cities area of TN the end of this month, and we are looking for dive spots. I've been referred to Martha's Quarry, and the Rock Divers. Glad to read there are clubs, but are looking for ANYTHING in our area. Thanks to all. We don't mind a drive, we drive to Florida for ocean and spring diving.

Andrea

 

[andrea31419]

Also, do any of you have pics of Tennessee quarry diving. Wesites to visit etc...

A.