Any Divers?

[BraenDead]

Just got back from diving the Great Barrier Reef - will post some pictures later on when I get them all online. I'll be diving a lot throughout Madison, if anyone is interested in diving with me let me know, always looking for more dive buddies.

Bob

[lisadaley]

Hi Bob!

My husband and I would probably tag along on dives. I know the summer water gets pretty murky - and we haven't been out at all yet. I'm worried there may be some disappointment after diving in the BVI, but I want to go regardless of conditions. Do you have anything coming up or any thoughts on clearer water around here as the summer progresses? If you're going on any good Newbie dives - count us in!

Lisa

[BraenDead]

I'm heading to Haigh Quarry in Illinois this Saturday, it's about 2.5 hrs from Madison, has nice clear diving and things to see, most of the diving is fairly shallow. The following weekend on Sunday I will likely be heading to Lake Wazee for some deeper diving. If anyone is interested in heading out just let me know!

Bob

[jelly]

going to lake wazee in a few weeks to get my AOW. just compleated my OW lastnight. just made it out of the water before the storm hit.

[BraenDead]

Congrats! Have fun with AOW, when will you be there?

Bob

[jelly]

july 23rd. there will be a few others talking the class to so we will have a few getting there AOW. we even have a few others going with just to tag along.

[jelly]

this is who im taking my class from. he even has information about a dive trip on his page for next year, http://www.caribbeanbluescuba.com/

[lisadaley]

Just did a dive in Green Bay in Little Sturgeon. Decent visibility, actually. I heard it's been clearer because of all of the zebra mussels. There wasn't much to see. We were close to a wreck and found a lot of pieces, but not the whole thing, I think the latitude and longtitude given were a bit off because we should have been anchored right near the wreck, but we would have needed 10 ft additional depth to be in the right spot so something didn't add up.

I think we're going to Lake Wazee August 5-7th. Will anyone else be up there then? Haven't been there before - any advice on which of the dive sites to use on the lake? I don't particularly want to go too deep. I would prefer to dive w/o wet suits - and after this weekend figured out 48 degrees (for small bursts) is probably my limit without the wet suit. Brrrr.

[Tonis56]

Just did a dive in Green Bay in Little Sturgeon. Decent visibility, actually. I heard it's been clearer because of all of the zebra mussels. There wasn't much to see. We were close to a wreck and found a lot of pieces, but not the whole thing, I think the latitude and longtitude given were a bit off because we should have been anchored right near the wreck, but we would have needed 10 ft additional depth to be in the right spot so something didn't add up.

I think we're going to Lake Wazee August 5-7th. Will anyone else be up there then? Haven't been there before - any advice on which of the dive sites to use on the lake? I don't particularly want to go too deep. I would prefer to dive w/o wet suits - and after this weekend figured out 48 degrees (for small bursts) is probably my limit without the wet suit. Brrrr.

Was up at lake wazee at the beginning of June. There is no way you will be diving without a wetsuit. A couple friends of mine thought they would be good in a 1/2mm suit just at the surface snorkeling and they were out of the water in 5 minutes. I had a 7mm farmer john and that added up to 14mm at my core and I was still a little chilly. Almost 90% of the people there were in drysuits that weekend.

There was a pretty wicked thermocline at 35-40 ft that you could definitely tell a difference in temp. The water is really clear up there though. Its nice because the lake is really suited for divers. There are numerous dive sites there, just ask the people at the front check in for a dive map of the lake and that should help make a decision where to go.

[lisadaley]

I guess I'll be really shallow then. The temp is listed at 70 on the surface dropping to 40 at the first thermocline. (35-40ft). I hate the wetsuit so much that I'll keep it a short and shallow dive before putting that on. I know I can handle 40-50 degrees in short bursts without the wetsuit, so I'll try it, but am very glad for your advice. (maybe i'll keep the wetsuits in the trunk just in case, but definitely not bringing the dry suit). Hopefully it's just warmed up that much since the beginning of June. I'm glad you mentioned it - I'll at least have the wetsuits with now.

[jelly]

I was up at Lake Wazee completing my AOW class. The water was kind of on the cool side once you got to about 40 feet. There were a lot of people there checking equipment and training so the water was kind of kicked up. The visibility at the wall was nice and any where there wasn’t anyone else. Most people stayed by the forest and the boat landing. At 65 feet down the water temp was 41 degrees.

[lisadaley]

Thanks for the heads up! Looks like our Wazee trip is postponed until Mid-August, but maybe Pearl Lake this weekend.

Brrr to 41 degrees. I think I'll bring the wetsuit, and probably even wear it I just hate the way they feel!

Jelly - are you the one I bought the anemone from a bit over a year ago? The anemone is doing great - just trying to place a face with a name if possible.

[jelly]

Thanks for the heads up! Looks like our Wazee trip is postponed until Mid-August, but maybe Pearl Lake this weekend.

Brrr to 41 degrees. I think I'll bring the wetsuit, and probably even wear it I just hate the way they feel!

Jelly - are you the one I bought the anemone from a bit over a year ago? The anemone is doing great - just trying to place a face with a name if possible.

no i dont think so about the anemone. pearl like is nice i been there a few times already and its normaly clear. wazee was nice to but like i said at 65 feet its 41 degrees. but if your above 40feet its not to bad. but when you go under 40 then it starts to get cold on the face and hands.

[BraenDead]

Pearl lake is between 5-10 feet of viz right now, not so good. Typically it's only good for the first part of the year, then the visibility turns south and doesn't improve till later in fall.

Bob

[lisadaley]

Thanks for letting me know! Their website says it is significantly better than that. We ended up going, but my husband forgot his certification card. After the drive there, there was no way we were turning around for it - or giving them $70 for our group to only use the beach. They were very strict about the card - which is news to me, as we've never been asked to show our cards anywhere. Either way, we were turned away and they were pretty rude in the process. Something seemed awfully strange about the staff and the whole facility too. We did a quick murky dive in a Janesville lake instead and let the kids play on the beach. Just wanted to get the equipment wet as long as we had it all packed! Had fun playing with the fish, anyway. Wish local diving was a little more spectacular, but it's still just fun to be under the water.