What is the appeal of Lake, Cold, Low vis diving?

[J.R.]

So what is the appeal of diving in lakes, quarries, cold, low vis waters?

Same one there is to being a "Cubs Fan"...

 

[ClayJar]

And speaking of the Gulf, we have a severe shortage of charters (only one since Katrina) who will even take divers out to the oil rigs.

There's still a charter that goes out to the rigs? I had no idea we had any.

(I've always wanted to have one of those *gargantuan* refinery tank-farm tanks for a Baton Rouge dive site. It'd have more depth and area than some of the Florida springs I've dived.)

 

[AevnsGrandpa]

While I read only the first and last pages of this thread and my opinion probably has been list at least 3 times, I'll jump in.

In the middle of Illinois, you have no choice! The closest thing I have to an ocean is a big cold lake called Michigan, which is still 2.5 hours away.

Some other reasons;
*I figure if I can dive in 50 degree water with 1 foor of vis, I can dive almost anywhere.
*If I'm thrilled to dive in the conditions just listed, imagine how much I liked a drift dive off Ft. Lauderdale that I did last September!
*Where else can I go and see how well I am protected against the cold with my 7mm farmer john?
*I like thermoclines!

Dive here, dive anywhere!

Jeff

 

[Nemrod]

The idea that diving in cold quarries quote, "Dive here, dive anywhere" is a myth.

Each type of diving local prepares you generally for that local. Quarry divers generally who have never delt with diving from boats in waves, out of sight of land, in heavy current often find themselves challenged. Likewise a warm water ocean diver who takes on a cold, dark, deep lake often finds themselves challenged as well or more so. The more varied the diving, the more versatile the diver, that is a simple truth.

www.lakediver.com

Sidescan from my boat of the Zebulon Pike in Table Rock Lake. Depth about 90 feet or so, temps in the high forties to low fifties. Viz from none to over 40. The ship is an old paddlewheeler party boat that is 90 feet long, three decks, penetration is possible and it is a fun dive.

Just one example of a freshwater dive. The wreck is found by looking for a stump with a pop bottle strung on it. The stump takes you to the bottom at twenty feet where a guidelne will take you to the wreck. The wreck is quite large and potentially dangerous if common sense is not applied. Below the thermocline the viz usually picks up often in the 30 plus range or even over 40 but more commonly 15ish to twenty.

N

 

[hnladue]

Who said it's cold water diving up north??? Try the St Lawrence seaway!! 75 degrees all the way to the bottom(in summer)! Yea baby!! even at 120 ft, still 75!!! What cold water?

 

[Blitz]

For me the appeal is looking at WWII aircraft that are very well preserved.

 

[wb416]

The idea that diving in cold quarries quote, "Dive here, dive anywhere" is a myth.

Each type of diving local prepares you generally for that local. Quarry divers generally who have never delt with diving from boats in waves, out of sight of land, in heavy current often find themselves challenged. Likewise a warm water ocean diver who takes on a cold, dark, deep lake often finds themselves challenged as well or more so. The more varied the diving, the more versatile the diver, that is a simple truth.

Thank you.... I get tired of hearing that myth too. I think it's a story people tell themselves to feel better about diving in some of the quarries and crap. I've seen too much evidence to the contrary to think cold water divers can "dive here, dive anywhere".

Simply put... quarry diving (or picnic table diving) helps prepare you for cave diving! (providing you're not silting up the quarry, of course!)

 

[Nemrod]

I did not say that to hurt feelings. I simply mean that the more diving you do in different and varied locations the more versatile and adpatable you, as a diver, will become. All diving is good if the person is enjoying it, that is what counts. N

 

[haha49]

well in cold watter there is more life.. too see... happens to usally be alot bigger as well and in a lake there are alot of wreaks in the great lakes.. so theres lots of thigs to do.. there are lakes with corals and other salt watter animals that happend to end up in the lake at 1 time or another and they converted to fresh watter.. there is one lake i cant rember the name that has jellyfish in it and they cant sting because they lost the abilty to do so..

 

[Bryan]

So what is the appeal of diving in lakes, quarries, cold, low vis waters?

You can practice underwater sign language... but due to the poor viz, they would have to be Hellen Keller-style hand signs...