Checking out the Marine Museum Barge...

This evening presented a great opportunity to get wet with Kevin and Gaetan at West St. Conditions were great and we entered the water just beside Ahoy Rentals. Kevin was keen to practice navigation and led a faultless dive across to the corner of the pier and on to the barge, where we completed a circuit before reversing our course for an exit at West St Ramp. Conditions in the water were good, though the viz could have been better. It was about 20 feet over most of the range. There weren't many exciting sightings, though a large Sheepshead was spotted near the logs on the return journey and a Pike was cruising the shallows on the ramp; something that is entirely typical of this area. There were also a lot of Bluegills on and around the car below the ramp. Water temperature was a balmy 70°F (21°C).

I Declare this Lake Open...

Yesterday, on a visit to Portsmouth, there was substantial ice cover all along the shore. But today, after strong overnight winds, the situation was completely changed. A visit to RMC's St Lawrence Pier revealed the Southern side to be completely free of ice. Examination of the West St Ramp also showed the ice to have disappeared offshore. Of course, caution is essential during this period, when drifting ice, propelled by the prevailing winds, can catch an unwary diver out by cutting off his exit point. Today produced perfect conditions for making a first foray back into the Lake though. Entry at West St started a 30 minute expedition out to the Barge and back. Visibility was limited to about 20' - and occasionally less. The only signs of life were the occasional tracks made by the mudpuppies in the silt. Water temperature, unsurprisingly, was only 34F (1C). Bright sunshine and a temperature of 2C (36F) ashore made the preparations relatively straightforward.

Wait until dark....

After a day spent discussing how perfect the diving conditions appeared to be, it only made sense to get in the water after dark...!
Actually, the incentive came from Kevin, whose circumstances pretty much dictated waiting until night fell. The experience was much less daunting than you might think. Despite having to push through a thin skin of ice at the West St ramp, the dive was straightforward. Our determination to dive was rewarded by two prolonged encounters with a Northern Pike and several close approaches to large and languid Bass. We spent 30 minutes in the water, visiting the car at the start and finish of the dive and checking out the logs in between. The water temperature was 34F (2C) and visibility a little poorer than expected - at about 20 feet. Calm conditions topsides were still chilly at -3C (29F).

Short sighted..?

Today's calm, clear conditions created the opportunity to take a swim out to the Marine Museum Barge from West St. The experience was slightly degraded by appalling visibility in the order of only 8-10'. It can only be assumed that the high winds and heavy seas of yesterday were to blame.

Given the conditions, it was quite pleasing to spot a couple of Bass in and around the wreck. The water temperature showed a slightly surprising 35F (2C) and landside, in weak sunshine, the mercury indicated just the same numbers.

West Street Boat Ramp

It was a nice winter day so we decided to go to the West Street boat ramp for a dive. The nice thing about having everything snow covered is that there is no bare ice, consequently the traction is good. Mike did a great job navigating but I have forgotten the bearings already. The waters were calm, 36 deg F and visibility was about 35 feet. There wasn’t any surface ice in the area. Those of us with leaky suits were cold by the end of the 35 min dive.

There wasn’t much underwater life, some bass and minnows; but there were about 100 duck’s that we chased off the boat ramp as we entered. There is a lot of stuff down there to see now that the visibility is better. In low visibility there just seems to be less. If it is not visible it doesn’t exist. Now I know that there are two underwater-cars in the area. How long have they been there?

Night Dive...

Three of us set aside the temptations of Friday night revelry downtown in favour of a night dive from the West St Ramp. Entering the water at almost exactly 9pm, we spent 45 minutes gently cruising the breakwater to and from the logs in the bay beside the Marine Museum. Fish life was abundant, with hordes of Perch, many Catfish and at least one Northern Pike. Only a few Bass were around. Curiously, not a single Mud Puppy was sighted.

Visibility easily reached the end of our light beams (HID) and was judged to be at least 30 feet. The water temperature was 59F (15C) at the deeper end of the dive, showing a distinct thermocline at about 24'.

Barging Ahead...

This morning's task was to determine the ease of access afforded to the barge usually reached from the Marine Museum now that entry from the West Wharf is closed to divers. The good news is that it's quite easy to get to the barge using the Pumphouse Museum Car Park as a starting point. The accompanying pic shows the solution adopted today, getting in - carefully - at Ahoy Rentals little inlet. Entry can be just as easily achieved from the ramp in the bay (it's just a bit of a walk with kit on) or the West St Ramp (which is just a bit of an extra swim..!). It's also quite straightforward to enter by walking cautiously down the breakwater.

The swim to the line, which should pass the corner of the logs (very shortly after starting out), is a gentle 8 minutes worth on an Easterly heading. This brought us onto the line from the Wharf's SE corner just past its startpoint. The return journey is easily effected by coming back to the corner and taking a heading of 290 Mag to get to the logs. From the logs to the breakwater is due West just a few metres. Then, for ease of use (and to see the car at the bottom of the West St Ramp, you can follow the breakwater edge along to exit. Be aware - if viz is really poor and you're uncertain whether you're at the Ramp, there's a large diameter pipe (about 1m) just East of the Ramp entry emerging from the breakwater.

Viz today was pretty poor at about 25 feet, but swimming right over the top of a large Northern Pike when heading up the exit ramp was my high point. He then paraded around the shallows there for everyone to see. Water temp - 55F (13C) out at 40 feet.

Ramping up the dive pace...

The break in the rain today gave an opportunity for Dianne and I to slip into the Lake at the West St Ramp. Taking advice received this morning from 'the Gladiator' we made our way out to the nearby car wreck - and then on to the dinghy, which shows impressive damage on the Port bow side.

Temperature in the water was 41F (5C). The air temperature - making suiting up a little warm - was 17C (63F). Visibility was in the order of 30 feet.