Sunday, May 31, 2009

The 50th picnic!

Everyone remembers certain milestones in thier diving careers. Ashley's deft planning created a wonderfull adhoc BBQ to celebrate her 50th! As with most dives it started with those famous words we all love to hear "hey wanna go for a dive?". From there the magic begins, and soon after others tag along.
9 of us gathered at the Brule road quarry for a leisurly 45 min swim in almost crystal clear 65 F waters. It practically felt like down south in our dry suits. A bright sunny day with a few clouds in the sky meant Gaetan and myself could snap away with our cameras to our hearts content. Even Ash got a chance to work in her drysuit and luckily had no leaks this time. Finaly a few folks got a chance to work in thier open water dives to start thier diving milestones.

Big thanks to Scott, Kim, Mike, and Dianne for all the help getting things together.
Here are a few pics to savour the day:




1. Ashley celebrating underwater.
2. Gaetan losing his head.
3. The site and weather conditions
4. Gaetan's dog wanted to dive too!
Just one odd note for folks looking to spend some time in this fine training site. There apparently is a new owner who showed up just before we were ready to dive. He plans on rebuilding and cleaning up the site with the aim to create a pay to play facility in the near future.

Stay tuned


Until next time keep blowing bubbles.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

2009 Charter Dive Season Begins...


With less than ideal atmospheric conditions, 5 divers braved the foggy conditions to attend the first dive charter of the year out of Northern Tech Divers yesterday. As the picture shows, visibility on the lake was less than a kilometer... Thank God for GPS and all of those technological marvels to aid in maritime navigation. The wreck : Aloha and Effie Mae. Once in the water, we noticed a slight Easterly surface current. Dropping down on the wreck at 55 ft, we saw that most of the wrecks were covered in moss and weeds. The visibility was nothing to write home about, but was better than shore dives have turned up lately. Most of the pictures did not turn out very well simply because of the particulate in the water. The water temperature, although warming up slowly, remains on the chilly side at 47 deg F. All in all, everyone had a great time, especially Jesse who was on his first boat charter.. I hope everyone has a great 2009 dive season...








Monday, May 25, 2009

Psyched up for a dive...

So, what's better after a long day at work (or not, in my case) than a good dive in the Lake? That's clearly what Kevin, Gaetan, Philippe, Matt and I thought this evening. We made our way down to the Psychiatric Hospital (more correctly known nowadays as Providence Care Mental Health Services Facility, but it's still KPH to us). The Lake was relatively calm, the Sun was shining and the water looked inviting. Gaetan was even prepared to brave the chill in a wetsuit.

The dive was enjoyable. As we've noticed over the last week, the Lake is beginning to suffer from the effects of algae bloom. Visibility was down to a disappointing 20 feet or so. The water temperature though, even at 50 feet, where we turned around, was still 50℉ (10℃). Sightings were limited to the Gobies and a few large Bass circulating near to the wharf. One very interesting feature of the dive was encountering a good half Knot current flowing West to East. I guess that they are sending some water down to Montreal. That's not too surprising, the Lake is pretty high at the moment.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Picnic the perfect Pick-Me-Up...


Under sunny skies, with excellent water conditions (if you ignore a slightly chilly edge to the temperature) the annual Treasure Hunt and Picnic went off today with a very high level of attendance. More than 20 divers participated and there were at least 30 members present altogether. Kim and Scott did a wonderful job of pulling the whole event together. Their efforts on the catering front deserve special mention. The food was delicious and the home-made cookies and other delights just made the day. It was particularly good to see youngsters present. I think that Sophie, a babe in arms, took the prize for youngest of all.

The diving was good, despite a silty layer deposited by morning rain. One group was lucky enough to spot a Long-Nosed Gar. The accompanying picture was captured by Marc-Etienne.



As always, the occasion proved to be the rallying point for some members who have been away - or whose gear doesn't suit the colder weather diving. It was great to see them back in the water.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Call me Green Lantern...

Kevin has recently acquired a new canister light - a Green Force model with a 10 W HID head. That simply demanded a night dive to try it out. So, he, Bernie and myself made our way to Murney Tower last night to dive the KGH wreck. Entry was made just as the Sun was going down in near perfect conditions. By the time we reached the wreck it was dark, and the light was really showing its quality. It produced a tight, white beam, highlighting features of the vessel really well. It also showed up a number of sleepy Bass resting amongst the old timbers. On the way back, several Mud Puppies were evident. This was a fun dive in water temperatures of about 48℉ (7℃). We spent nearly an hour underwater without getting excessively chilled. The return journey provided an opportunity to clean off the line, which remains easy to find and to follow.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Sidemount Try-Out...



Today was a great day to dive. The Sun was glistening on the Lake, but a brisk breeze kept things moderately cool while gearing up. Adam had given me the chance to try out a side-mount rig and we chose Morton's Wharf to do so. The rig was perfect. Nothing needed to be done to the fit or weight - and it was really comfortable. I could get used to this.

The dive lasted just on 70 minutes in water that, at its low point, was just 46℉ (8℃). Visibility, although there was a murky layer in the upper sections, was great, probably as much as 60 feet in the deeper water. There were many Bass lurking on the Wharf and, in the area just to the West of it, a large school of Carp - perhaps as many as 8 or 10.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Of all the boats in all the World...

So, you travel 550 Km to Tobermory, arrange a dive charter and find yourself on the same boat as three other Club members, Andrew, Etienne and Darren. That's a pleasant surprise on a perfect dive day. The guys were spending the holiday weekend with a friend up here. The good news, they got the opportunity to dive two of Tobermory's best wrecks; the Forest City and the Niagara II.



The Forest City broke up after losing an argument with one of the many islands, the Niagara was sunk deliberately in 1999 to attract divers to the Marine Park. Visibility, again, was amazing. It has to be in the order of 80 feet or better. The water temperature though, is stubbornly stuck around the 39℉ (4℃) mark. Good for about 30 minutes, which is fine given that the depths are fairly well up there (120' on the Forest City - not the deepest point - and somewhere around 80' - again, not the deepest point - on the Niagara.)




Back to Kingston tomorrow, but probably not before we make another shore dive this afternoon.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Tobermory Tales...the sequel...

The second day in Tobermory has been mildly frustrating. Brilliant sunshine belied the strong, cold Westerly winds. Net result - no sailings to the dive sites today. Instead, determined to dive, we took one of the few shore options open - a site called The Tugs, just at the edge of Little Tub harbour. About 4 or 5 old working vessels have been abandoned here. They are about a century old in most cases, exhibiting wooden construction and early steam boilers.



The good news is that they lie in about 30 feet of water or less, making them readily accessible and the water just a shade warmer.

We also visited the Parks Canada Visitor Centre this morning. They have a great gallery featuring the treasures of the Bruce Peninsula, which includes a good section on diving and the shipwreck history of the region; recommended highly to anyone coming up this way.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Tobermory Tales...

A long-held ambition to visit Tobermory has been realized this weekend. Although conditions have been less than ideal - high winds, fairly heavy seas and rain - the trip was made immediately worthwhile this morning when, at 90 feet, the wreck of the Arabia loomed out of the depths. She's a magnificent old schooner, with a largely intact bow, many fittings intact and in place and NO zebra mussels. The block lies just off the starboard bow and you immediately see - in about 60+ feet of visibility - the bowsprit, bow, twin anchors and railings. A massive windlass sits between the anchors.

The centre section and deck have collapsed, and the stern is largely gone, but good management has seen to it that deadeyes, shackles, much rigging and other fittings remain to fascinate divers.

One slight downside today was the water temperature. It brought back memories of the Lake a month or two ago. The bottom temperature on the wreck was 39℉ (4℃). Nevertheless, with a dive time of 30 minutes for a max of 96 feet, this was a great experience.

A second dive, on the James. C. King, a schooner that sank while under tow as a barge, was less exciting. She lies bow down on the rocky slope of an island, massive timbers still very evidently showing her substantial construction. But, there's little else to recommend a visit. Visibility though, again, was fantastic.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Wolfe Islander II available to divers...

I had the chance to work on the mooring for the Wolfe Islander today. Pat Coyne (Pat's Charters) was good enough to take his boat out and dive with me. Finding the Wolfe is never too difficult, but we faced a couple of challenges raising the two lines. The bow line, the first we raised, had become twisted round a forward mast during the winter. That took a bit of work to untangle, then a lift bag sent it up without any further fuss. The stern line (with the Preserve Our Wrecks buoy) took a little more work. A completely new line had to be installed after we lost the previous buoy and line late last year. Fortunately, a little bit of brainstorming and a quick rehearsal at the surface allowed us to work together smoothly below. Conditions couldn't have been better on the Lake - and the presence of a few power boaters and at least one sailboat proved the point. The only issue we had was with swarms of mayflies. Small price to pay for two really enjoyable dives...

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Deadman - live turtle...

During just over an hour's meanderings around Deadman Bay today I had the interesting experience of being approached by an inquisitive turtle. It was one of the painted variety - about 6-8 inches long in the shell - and clearly curious about the creature slowly approaching it. It took a direct path towards my mask and I had to gently fend it off by lifting it under the shell and away. it continued on its way to the surface for a breather quite unfazed. The water in the Bay, despite heavy and persistent rain yesterday was very clear - and quite warm - about 48℉ (9℃). During the dive a little bit of capital was banked with the Yacht Club by retrieving a couple of objects that had been lost over the side during lift-in this weekend.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Out with the old, in with the new...


Club members could have been forgiven for thinking that reports of a new compressor were entirely groundless, given the time it has taken to obtain and install it. But, yesterday, the machine arrived and was installed. It has many significant advantages over its predecessor, although the heart remains a reliable Bauer compressor of proven pedigree and design. Besides a greater output, which will reduce fill times, the machine has auto start and stop functions, an automatic drain (no more bending, twisting and messing with stop cocks), and a carbon monoxide monitor. Instruction will be given on the installation in due course. The new fill panel is more complex than the old one and the danger of diverting air at 4500 psi to vessels that cannot contain it is much higher. The Club should be very pleased with the support of the Base that made the acquisition of this compressor possible. With new suits and other gear arriving shortly, we have a great season to look forward to.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Club Members learn about Archaeology..


Several members of the Club were amongst 21 divers who gathered, under the auspices of Preserve Our Wrecks, to learn about Nautical Archaeology today. The two-day course will teach basic survey techniques and acquaint the students with legal issues relating to the discipline and other essential topics. Exercises today included detective work on artifacts to try and establish their origins and ancestry, and the circumstances of the vessel to which they related, and instruction in survey skills culminating in an underwater session in the pool.

Surf's Up!!!!!...




As the picture shows, today's entry point was "interesting". The South-Westerly wind was churning up the surface, and had us experience a slight surge effect in the shallows. Burney and I swam out to the stacked hulls, hoping to encounter the same visibility as last week. Unfortunately with the weather systems we have had over the last couple of days, the viz was less than favorable. Once again, near the wreck, a long-nosed gar was lying on the bottom taking a nap. Thankfully, this time, I had my camera with me to capture this image of it. Sorry that you weren't there, Matt.... We spent about 20 minutes exploring the debris field, and turned the dive. A gently swim to shore, a 3 minute safety stop gave us a total of 60 minutes of bottom time. Maximum depth : 52 feet. Water temperature : 43 deg F (6.1 deg C).