Jamie joins the certified divers..

Congratulations to Jamie, who opted for Brule Road's more sheltered environment to complete his Open Water dives today over a rather lumpy lake. Each of the dives lasted almost an hour and required skills were all mastered without fuss. The Quarry was very busy - did we mention that there's now a barbecue running, with hot dogs and other snacks, as well as cold sodas available?

The tiny Bass fry which were very evident a few weeks ago are now reaching recognizable Bass form. They've stopped shoaling in large numbers and now move around singly, or in small groups of up to about a dozen fish. At about an inch long - and quite curious - they are great fun to watch. In and around the the old car chassis, three or four of the largest Bluegills I've ever seen are also lazily swimming around.

Each visit to the Quarry these days shows up new objects underwater. Take a trip and have a look around yourself.

Over the Bridge and not so far away...

Kevin, Josée, Gaétan and I made the exhausting (Not!) journey to Alexandria Bay this morning to dive the wreck of the Islander. Conditions were excellent, though the water temperature's the same as in Canadian waters. Strange that ...

For the first time, taking advantage of local advice, we ventured North to discover the dining chairs, tables and silverware in 60 feet of water below A Bay's Floating Restaurant.

This is a great wreck to do - and you can be back in Kingston (depending on lines at the Border) within three hours.

Who Knew The Internet Is a Powerful Divers Tool

At 6:45 pm yesterday, I posted on Face Book" anyone want to go diving? Tonight? Well within 15 minutes a phone call comes in, and plans are made for a night dive. Dan a club member said he would like to go. So the plan was made to meet at the club and leave for the dive site. On the way I thought why not try Morton's Wharf. A dive earlier in the week proved to produce some fish on the site. Once on site, a detailed dive brief was given on the details of the dive and the wharf, after gearing up and a final check was complete Dan and I headed into the water. The normal entry and descent, everything seemed to be going good, I looked at my computer and the water temperature was 37F. Wow, starting to warm up I thought. Then a large bass swims by, and I think this is going to be good, since my other night dives have produced little fish. Well the fish are back, and are plentiful, which Dan tried his attempt in night photography. We had the pleasure of seeing several large Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, White Suckers, Perch, Catfish, a small Northern Pike, and surprisingly a very very large Silver Muskie. The Muskie wasn't around for long when he realized he wasn't alone. But a thrill no less to spot such a large Muskie in the shallows. We turned the dive and headed back to our entry point. When in 15 feet of water it was noticeable that it was windy and the waves were building at the surface. Exiting took a little patience and good timing, however another excellent dive. With another diver convinced that night diving is a lot of fun, and worth repeating.

Getting the hang of this camera...?

Tonight was an on-request outing triggered by Rob Bradley. Todd, myself and James were happy to oblige and take a night expedition out to the KGH wreck. It presented the opportunity for me to play around with my external flash again - and the results are not too bad. Wildlife was sparse. Mudpuppies around the rocks and Bass on the wreck itself - including some big fellas around the stern, hiding in the timbers. A good dive and a chance to clean off the line a bit.

Pool's Open...

The change in the weather recently, and particularly the high temperatures, have combined to open the Lake for business. Last night, Marc-Etienne, Todd and I took a trip to the KGH wreck to prove the line and check out conditions. With an air temperature of 11℃ (52℉), you might have hoped for some warming of the water. Clearly though, whatever the recent sunshine has done to the ice, it hasn't substantially changed the water temperature. We recorded just 35℉ (2℃) during our dive. On the plus side, the visibility is great. Marine life was noticeably scarce. The only fish to be seen in the shallows and on the swim out to the wreck were dead ones. On the wreck itself, there were many Bass lurking around. They seemed quite surprised to have their evening interrupted by divers. I guess there haven't been many out there in recent weeks. A lone Crayfish was spotted by Todd during the safety stop on our return.

For Marc-Etienne, as the picture shows, this was also an opportunity to try out his new Poseidon Besea Backpack style BC.

Amphibians and other underwater creatures...

It's a Club tradition to make a dive on New Year's Day - and today was no exception. Numbers were down on recent years, but illness, injury and an outrageous self indulgence (travelling away to exotic, warm locations) have taken their toll. Chris, Jim and I were the only divers to enter the water, although we were observed by a number of other Club members. Our reward for making the dive was to enjoy great visibility and an unusual sighting of a frog casually enjoying the underwater environment. Shouldn't all these amphibians be hibernating by now ? There was little other aquatic life to be seen. A few gobies were scurrying around - and a single large Bass was swimming around the logs, but otherwise it's pretty quiet just now. Many thanks to Gaétan and Julie for a welcome hot coffee on exit...

Happy New Year to one and all !

Christmas Day in the workhouse...

Air Temp: -1℃ (30℉) / Water Temp: 37℉ (3℃) / Visibility: 40'
Depth: 36' / Time: 40 mins

So, it may be Christmas Day for most people; a time to sit back and let the turkey dinner suffer the digestive process, but some of us have business to transact. Chris and I (sad, lonely people, you might say) made a small expedition to Morton's Wharf, where we discovered that the viz was excellent, the weeds have almost completely gone and the Bass were circling the fallen logs. We cruised the wharf slowly and took a side trip southwards, but otherwise just meandered around and enjoyed the much-improved views. Note to self - this is the time to start taking wide-angle, tripod-assisted pictures of the local underwater landmarks.

P.S. Thank you to Gaetan for coming out to capture topsides pics - and to Dianne for hot chocolate (well, after all, it's the one day of the year that Timmy's isn't available for the après dive experience..!)

Night Time Photo Foray...

This evening Todd and Matt let me join them on a night dive from Morton's Wharf. They were both keen to experiment with new, or fairly new camera gear, especially external strobes for their setups. The results will likely appear in due course on their Facebook pages or elsewhere. In the meantime, the pic above was taken the old-fashioned way, with in-camera flash.

For record keepers, the conditions were quite good. Water temp - as expected - 45℉ (7℃). The air temperature a little cooler at just 2℃. Viz, thanks to a stiff SW wind, which was driving some good waves up on to the entry point - about 20'.

Post Dive Chills.. no way !

It was fun diving with Paul this afternoon, a friend from the Sport Divers in Belleville, but I was mildly concerned at his decision to dive wet.. Well, that was before I saw how he deals with the après dive cool-down period. I had been slightly curious about the large propane canister he was carrying in the back of his van, but all became clear when he was stripping down his gear.

Administration aside, this was a fun dive. The recent rains had left more than a little bit of residue in the water, cutting excellent visibility before the storms back to about 15' now. Nevertheless, we spent a very pleasant dive of about 30 minutes making our way out to, around and back from the wreck off KGH. The water temperature is down to 45℉ (7℃). I guess the snow yesterday didn't help things too much.

Other highlights on the dive; many large Bass on the stern of the wreck and a number of large shoals of small gobies.

Todd becomes our Man of the Century...

The headline should not be misconstrued; it's too early just yet for award ceremonies. But, there is some significance to Todd's latest dive. It was his 100th in Open Water. Many congratulations are due and it seems very fitting, and a mark of Todd's commitment to the sport, that he is currently well into his Divemaster course.

His century was completed on that most testing of Kingston's shore dives, the Stacked Hulls. In 48℉ (7℃), with visibility curiously low at about 20 feet, the dive was conducted in calm conditions at a gentle pace. A total dive time of 55 minutes included a full 15 minutes of wreck sightseeing. Many large Bass were present (one pictured - a Smallmouth ?), at least one big Carp and a Walleye.



Future visitors, do note that there is a short break in the guideline close to shore. Maintaining the line heading will quickly pick up the other side though. Directions and a guide to the wreck are available on the POW website.

Sunday Session at Morton's

Several divers took to the water at Morton's Wharf this morning, enjoying the calm conditions that this season brings. I was diving with Ben, a young man whose father I'd spent some time with in the water earlier this year. Ben proved to be a great buddy too. Todd, who's getting well into the Divemaster syllabus, accompanied and supported us. Ken and Suzanne were also diving, with Suzanne completing her first open water certifying dive for the drysuit specialty. Everyone had fun - and the visibility, somewhere between about 25 - 30 feet didn't hurt at all.

Some of us saw the large Pike which was also present last Thursday night. Bass were pretty commonplace. The water temperature remains the same as yesterday at 48℉ (7℃).

Many thanks to Todd for his picture of Ben and I.

Night Diving Fun at KGH

Todd and I geared up just after 7 pm this evening to check out the line to the KGH Wreck. The good news is that the line is intact and in good shape. Accumulations of weed and other debris at the outer end were removed on the homeward journey. And this good deed provided the perfect excuse to spend about 45 minutes in the water visiting the wreck and its many large Bass. Visibility was in excess of 30 feet and the water temperature remains at 50℉ (10℃). This increasingly contrasts with colder air temperatures on shore. Tonight, when we exited, the air temperature was -2℃.

The Golden Hour...

Sometimes a dive is just magical. When Kevin, Dianne and I entered the water to head for the Stacked Hulls this afternoon, it was just another dive; check out the line, have a good swim yahdi yahdi yahdah ! It turned out that it was one of those 'everything just clicked' occasions that you rarely enjoy. The line was easily found and followed, only a very slight current impeded the direct passage and the visibility wasn't too bad at about 25-30 feet. That's all well and good, but somehow it all came together for us. The swim seemed effortless, maintaining attitude and pace came naturally and all was well with the World. We were on the wrecks in 20 minutes. Huge Bass lazily and inquisitively nudged towards us and we had a really good look around the Hulls, noting features that we hadn't seen before. In all, we spent about 20 minutes nosing around. The return journey was just as straightforward. Nosing up over the ledge and swimming in over the shelf, it became clear that we were approaching an hour underwater, without really trying. What a great way to enjoy a November afternoon. There were rosy hues in the western sky as we emerged after 63 minutes - and a near full moon to the East. Genuinely, a Golden Hour !

Oh what a night..!

It's not very often that the Lake is glassy calm, but it certainly was last night, when Todd and I jumped in at KPH. We'd expected good visibility and were rewarded with exactly that. The range was limited only by the reach of our lights. Was there much to see though, you ask..? Well, yes, some Bass, Perch and Mud Puppies - and the occasional Catfish (we were in the water quite early). The water temperature was the same 52℉ (11℃) we've been seeing for a few days now. The good news is that the weeds are definitely dying back. We spent about 45 minutes in the water, checking out a rumour passed by one of the local estate managers that a car might lie off the eastern end of the wharf, amongst other things. There was no car, but it was interesting to note how badly undermined that eastern wall of the dock is. The cavities extend more than a dozen feet in some places. The key message - don't park on the eastern side of the wharf - the pothole may be deeper than you think!

Earlier in the day, I had the pleasure of introducing a member of our sister Club, the Flying Frogmen in Trenton, to Morton's Wharf and the St Lawrence site. That too was a good dive, with moderate visibility. This is a great time of year to be in the water. It's not too desperately chilly yet, and the algae and particulates are settling out nicely.

Navigation Station...

PADI have a monthly specialty they promote. It looks this week as if we have been having a special on Underwater Navigation. Today, I spent my third session in the water this week with students engaged in addressing navigation challenges. Paul, who is commencing his Advanced Open Water course was first to go. He did a great job in quite demanding conditions at KPH. Visibility can't have been more than about 15 feet, but he unerringly tackled some fairly testing tasks - controlling his buoyancy and demonstrating calm mastery of the environment. Todd, who was also in the water to gain experience and up his dive total (which is growing impressively quickly) then took on his second dive for the Navigation specialty. This required some long transits and dive site location and return exercises. He too did really well. Between the two divers, who supported each other admirably, we spent about 62 minutes in the 63℉ (17℃) water. All of us at one stage or another had an encounter with a massive Bass, which made a point of swimming up to investigate us, rather than the other way around. Todd performed a small act of kindness for a youngster as he made his exit. A little girl and her parents had come down to the shore to release what had been a pet turtle all Summer, but which needed to be released back into the wild. It was interesting to see it make its confident way out into the Lake. But, we all watched tensely as it appeared the local seagulls were showing an interest in it. Happily it survived - for now at least.

Paperwork...

Courtesy of a grant of sports afternoon, Alex and Cody completed their first open water dives today. Mike accompanied them to refresh his dive skills. Visibility was pretty poor at about 15-20 feet. This was to be expected after the torrential rains of last evening. It didn't affect enjoyment of the two dives - or the wildlife encountered. A pair of adult Bass are currently shepherding their babies in the shallows near the entry point, and a Freshwater Drum and other fish, besides the Gobies were seen during the swims.

Worth noting that these divers are the first in the Club to migrate to the new Electronic Recreational Diver Planner (Multi-Level), a device now used by 85% of PADI students across Canada to complete their dive planning.

The water temperature was a pleasant 66℉ (19℃).

SundayDives are GO!

Just like the old serial tv shows we have lift off on the Sunday dive program. Meeting at 9 am for gear and leaving for underwater adventure at 930. We boldly go where many have gone before. Ok so thats not my finest intro to writing ...

A small handful of folks braved the bright sunny day at 2 different sites Morton's Wharf and POH ( I don't have info on that dive ATM). Gaetan and myself experienced a leisurely hour-long dive at the Morton's Wharf. Sitting at 27 feet max depth at the end of the underwater pier this is easily one of Kingston's easier dives. I bet this would be a wicked night dive. The entry is a bit tricky however the water was calm at least when we went in. It was not so nice when we got out as the winds really picked up. Vis was clear for 30 or so feet, and we were treated to lots of bass that clearly had just spawned, as well as one massive Carp, and a skittish catfish. Water temp was a balmy 66F and I did the dive comfortably in a single layer 7mm wet suit. A simple dive with a few swim throughs and few plates and cups scattered around as well as a really old TV.

Big thanks to Chris Haslip for giving me a small map of the site however after 30 min of searching I gave up on looking for the St Lawrence that sits in 6 feet of water. Also thanks to Mike for pre-filling the air banks the day before for potential divers!

In short: I intend to dive every sunday in the morning (weather and other factors aside) and anyone is welcome. I havent decided how I want to post the intended sites in advance. Further: weather does affect that as well, so for now I will play it by ear and figure out the plan at the club. I am allways open to shore diving ideas and if there is something that can be done by rec divers from shore then we can entertain that. Its a long hot summer and quality time underwater is a sure fire cure for the heat.
Oblig pics:
Nice bass Geatan!

A swim through, the super carp, and as allways blowing bubbles:



Keep blowing bubbles

Matt

BTW I must say our new sign is nice and bright!

Stay tuned

Another Diver Advances...

Todd celebrated Canada Day today with his final adventure to complete his Advanced Open Water certification. We went to Morton's Wharf and enjoyed many encounters with marine wildlife. Several Carp visited us, a large Catfish, at least one magnificent Walleye and, of course, lots of Bass and Gobies. Visibility was not too good and there's a huge, shifting mass of bright green algae on the top of the Wharf. Otherwise, the dive was a lot of fun and allowed both of us to exhibit good buoyancy control as we moved up and over the wall several times.

Ain't Raining? Still Training...

Now that things are getting a little quieter, there's been the opportunity to catch up on some training. Today a refresher in underwater navigation was offered. Only one Club member took advantage of this, but I think that they benefited. It was certainly fun to run through some of the basics and then to put them into practice underwater. The dive presented the opportunity to take Todd on his Underwater Navigation Adventure; a mandatory component of his Advanced Open Water course. The dive was fun, with all the exercises completed well - and a chance to see some of the sights around the Marine Museum Bay. A large Pike was cruising the logs, probably threatening the well being of a shoal of small Perch living in the weeds below the slip.

Signing gear in and out this weekend at the Club, it was noticeable how active and successful it seems to be. There were literally no tanks sitting idle - and the large quantities of excellent new gear are obviously attracting more custom. Well done to all the members who are making the Club work - and to those who are getting some diving in.... It's what we're all about.

Picture credit to Marc-Etienne...

Every Cloud...

There are probably times when a dive just isn't meant to be. Today may have been one of them. After a bit of a hiccough over the catering arrangements, all seemed well, at 7 am, as divers assembled at Portsmouth for a day out on the Lake, with three deep dives ahead of them. However, a call from the Captain of our vessel, at just after 7 am, dashed hopes of that. A broken transmission wasn't going to be repaired quickly, and that left a decision about another dive option to be made. The upshot for most (someone had a better offer..) was a trip along the waterfront to burn some air on a visit to the KGH Wreck. Fifteen of us finally entered the water, in a staggered fashion, and enjoyed a dive in calm, but overcast conditions. The picture shows Sylvain, on one of his first dives this year, clearly enjoying the experience. There will likely be other blog submissions and pictures telling more of the story.

Highlights - Bass spawning on the top of the shallow shelf, and a Lake surface that allowed those ashore to follow the progress of divers by their surface bubbles - all the way to the wreck and back. Ashley is once again to be congratulated and thanked for contributing a delicious selection of cookies. The divers should be thanked for their patience with the mechanical problem and with the resultant change of plans. Che Sera...!

For the record - visibility - poor at about 15-20 feet and water temperature just 52℉ (11℃).