Solo dive in an abandoned stone quarry. First time. Never been there before.
Goal: to inspect
the site. Could it be used as a dive site for fresh divers? My dive buddy cancelled and this inspection had to be done before next weeks event. Hence, a solo dive had to be done.
Maximum depth was 64 feet and visibility, with a dive light, about 6 feet (maybe less). This meant that I had to stay at touching distance from walls or bottom to have any reference. Complete darkness prevailed at 30 ft, above which a red glow appeared. Blue light does not penetrate this deep, red does; this has to do with particulate matter suspended in water. I wonder how the visibility could be so bad. I guess the water is rich in nutrients because **** has been dumped into the pool (there is farmland around the place). Water termperature was 41F (a drysuit dive).
Above surface it was a beautiful, oh so beautiful, site. And under water - a dump. I was able to find car parts, a door included, bicycles, a motorcycle with register plate attached, clothes, oil tuns (empty), unidentified metal objects, usual stone quarry stuff/tools... Ropes and cables suspended in water were a bit scary, as they could not be seen from distance. I am used to low visibility diving, but doing it without surface support or any team, and with unknown entanglement hazards, can be a bit scary. Being afraid can be a wise thing sometimes. An excellent pychological drill, though.
That site will not become my favorite spot but a cleanup dive would be in order. Children jump into water from a height there. While the bottom probably does not
need to be cleaned, I think it should nevertheless.
