Will I see the Creature??

[Rick Inman]

Hi,
I’m getting back into diving after a long dry period (see: http://www.scubaboard.com/t26470/s.html) and I’ve moved north and inland where the local shops do mainly lake dives. LAKE dives?? What in world is there to see in a lake? I mean, can anyone compare it to diving the California Channel Islands and tell me what to expect? A few weeds on the bottom maybe.
I did, however, enjoy the underwater shots in the movie, Creature From The Black Lagoon. I’m afraid that if that movie were shot locally, it would be renamed, Crawfish From Spokane Mine Pit.
One fun thing to do might be to wear the costume from Creature From The Black Lagoon over my scuba gear, wait on the bottom of the lake for an approaching jet skier, fill my BC to max and shoot up from the surface as they pass by, waving my arms monstrously and scaring them from the lake forever (which could also win me a public service award).
Just a thought…
Anyway, if you have some input on freshwater diving it would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Rick

 

[Dee]

Rick Inman once bubbled...
....LAKE dives?? What in world is there to see in a lake? I mean, can anyone compare it to diving the California Channel Islands and tell me what to expect? A few weeds on the bottom maybe.

With this attitude you'll probably be sadly disappointed. But for us that dive in lakes or not at all...we like it!

I've never been to the Channel Islands but there's actually alot to see in local waters. For instance, right now in our local lake the Striped Bass are spawning so their normal shy behavior is out the window and they are fairly aggressive in protecting their nests. It's giving us a chance to see these beautiful fish up close and to see the very large breeders that usually stay out of our sight.

The many varieties of Perch, aka Freshwater Damsels, are also nesting. Their fry are already hatching, making mini bait balls with thousands of 1/8" - 1/4" baby fish. Turtles and catfish fill in the cast of characters. And photographing these freshwater fish and creatures is just as challenging as the salt water variety, just not always as colorful!

Since we dive regularly in the same place, we are tuned in to the ecological happenings in our lake, ie., when the algae blooms occurs, the temperatures/thermoclines change and what causes them. We don't need 100+ vis to be happy in our diving. 10ft just tickles us to death! We can navigate any course in any vis because our compasses are learned and used every dive.

So give it a chance. Who knows.....you may like it! Dive local or become another vacation diver who chooses perfect water for every dive.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Why there's just no tellin' what ye'll find in a lake. Just last month I saw a fish, and a snail! And we did run across this mysterious critter earlier this winter... local consensus is that it's a hodag embryo!
Rick

 

[MSP Rescue Diver]

Rick Murchison once bubbled...
local consensus is that it's a hodag embryo!

OK - I have to admit this sent me to the internet to find out what the heck you were talking about. Didn't you find it a little far south from it's natural habitat?

The best explanation can be found here.

Marc

 

[DiverBuoy]

Rick Inman once bubbled...
fill my BC to max and shoot up from the surface as they pass by...(which could also win me a public service award).
Rick

The only thing that will "win" you is an all expenses not paid trip to a decompression chamber.

just having some fun here of course ... LOL

 

[Dee]

Hey Rick...it must be a widespread infestation of those things. We've got a blue variety and a green variety with sparkles...they say the sparkles glow in the dark when they are adults.

 

[Rick Murchison]

FLL Diver once bubbled...
OK - I have to admit this sent me to the internet to find out what the heck you were talking about. Didn't you find it a little far south from it's natural habitat?
The best explanation can be found here.

Marc

Well, ye can't trust a hodag to stay put, don'tchaknow!
Rick

 

[ibnygator]

now that I am making the transition from vacation diver to all-year-round diver. Luckily for me, "local" diving includes 2 1/2 hours to the St. Lawrence River and some great wreck diving.

 

[Dectek]

I believe I have seen another species of your creature there. As a matter of fact I have a few lead head variety captured in a hinged top, multi drawer cage in my garage right now.

 

[double125's]

Lake diving is great to perfect skills get wet and see some unique critters in there natural habitat. Ive seen cat fish over 60lbs, been nose to nose with a 30 lb mud cat and seen bass that top10 lbs. Blue gill are freindly and like to be fed. Lake divers deal with a lot of adverse conditions; low vis and cold water which helps build confidence. And the number one reason to dive lakes is there are no entry fee's. I personally love lake dives so that is where I spend a majority of my time.:mean: