Well done Paul ! Now an Advanced Diver..

Congratulations this Labour Day to Paul, who completed his Advanced Open Water syllabus with a Deep Adventure at Fairfield Park and a Digital Photography Adventure at the Kingston Oasis. He was totally at ease with both experiences, as he has been throughout the course. Now he's free to spend more time out diving with Rick - and other members..

First Stab at Fairfield Park..

Jack and I decided to find out what attracts many divers to the little park in Amherstview. Fairfield Park, according to the nautical charts, offers about 90 feet of water within a few hundred feet of shore. That was almost exactly what we found. But, the highlight on what was largely a simple out and back over a gently descending slope, was encountering the large Freshwater Drum shown during our safety stop. It wasn't at all put out by our attention and we first saw it feeding. Entry and exit is easy - and there's a set of washrooms - always welcome at a dive site. Viz was great below about 60 feet and the bottom temperature well down in the low 40s℉.

Fresh Fields...

Stimulated by a desire to do something new, Jim and I ventured out to Fairfield Park on Route 33 today to see what sort of profile the bottom presented. As it happens, this site, which is popular with visitors from Toronto and elsewhere, is not particularly appealing, but entry is easy - and the parking is on a hard, tarmac surface right beside the Lake. After the anticipated short, shoreside ledge, the bottom drops away gently in mud to a maximum depth of just under 100 feet. We registered 94' today. The good news is that the water temperature is stuck reasonably tolerably at 50℉ (10℃) - all the way down.