Well, after a couple of month hiatus (since October!) I finally got back in the water. After many trips, bad weather, a bout with pneumonia, and a cracked rib conditions finally improved enough for a couple of short dives in Lake Lanier this weekend.
As usual, Lake Lanier was merky, muddy and cold but it sure beat a day at the office! Dove with a new partner, Jim Little, and it looks like we will be doing a few more dives in the future. Even with temperatures from 43-47 degrees fahrenheit I was comforatable in my Bare Nex Gen bilaminate and the provided fleeces, Jim was getting a little cold in his 7mm wetsuit by the end of the second dive. I think a see a dry suit in Jim's future!
Anyway, I need to do some more dives so hopefully Jim and I can plan something for next weekend, maybe we will go up to the north end of the lake and check out the racetrack! I was a little light on the first dive with my SS BP/W and doubles with only 8 pounds of additional weight, but with 10 pounds the next dive all seemed to go well. I may breakout the camera if we go to the racetrack just in case there is anything left of interest down there.
The lake is up about 4-5 feet so you can get in without mud wading for the most part. Visibility was around 5-10 feet and as I said above the temperature from 0-20 feet was around 47 degrees and at 60 feet it was 43 degrees. Air temperature was 63 degrees. On the first dive at West Bank Park's Mask Cove we went straight out from the beach then made a 90 degree leg to port to check out the forgotten forest. On the second dive we searched (unsuccessfuly) for some new lines, a new platform and the wood pile, oh well, we will just have to try-try-again!
I am still working on the dive scooter but until I have access to the local pool (or a pool) it is a bit tough to run out to the lake to try things out. My next exciting dive trip should be to Edisto Beach in South Carolina. I hope to maybe do a Cooper River sharks tooth dive or maybe some civil war wreck diving. After that it is back out to Moneterey California in June for some more kelp dives.
Stay safe and happy diving!