Almost an Open Water Class today

This dive season has been challenging at Millbrook this year. As usual the water was it's normal cold back in April in the 40 degree range but it was pretty clear. May was about the same the water temp was not rising like it normally would due the rain, we have had a good bit this year.

From observation, but not by any scientific measurements, the picture you see here is the entrance to Beach one. There is a wooden platform with 5 or 6 steps.  Last fall the water level was so low only the last 2 steps were under water.  With this weeks past rain the entire platform is underwater and is about 18+ inches above the deck.  So that is 7 inches for each step plus the 18+ on top of the deck, that would put the total rise around 30 inches.  That is a lot of water considering the size of the quarry.

Somewhere between May and June a cloud of turbidity formed. This is not unusual there is always a layer of turbidity normally just above the thermocline and it is a few inches to foot high in the water column.  The density would vary from place to place in the quarry but never really dense.

When I was diving there in June, entering the water I notice something was different the surface water was very warm, warm like you would have in September around 70 degrees.  Once we descended I found out why. The turbidity layer started around 12 ft and went about 25 ft and it was like looking though pea soup.  Its density was such that sunlight could not penetrate that deep, it was heating up the surface water.

The end of June there was some more rain and divers I know where at the quarry they said the turbidity had seem to thin out. it was still not great but better.

Move a head to today July 13.  We had several inches of rain this week. Surface was warm, the descent had good viz down to 12 feet. Then it got ugly!  Taking my two open water students to about 20 ft holding a line I could not see them. The both grabbed my hand and pulled up, up we went.  They express their concerns about diving in this. This was if you could picture a green cloud in the water. I told there there was a good chance that if we got below it on the training platform it would be clear. I explained my past months experience. PADI standards say you can not leave a student unattended in the water. I explained that if they were willing we could go together in physical contact down line to the platform and see what the conditions looked like. If it was clear we could do the dive. They agreed.

Down we went. I have an Aeris AI dive computer, it is clipped to the chest D-ring on my BCD. It is always about 6-8 inches from my face. The digital display has reasonable size numbers and is easy to read. 16 feet was the last depth I could see. After that I could not see the computer the turbidity was so thick.  What was more disturbing as we continue down I swear the cloud turned from green to red.  That could be a problem. 

After what I thought was red, it became black and we where on the platform. Once my eyes adjusted it was clearer, 3-5 feet of viz, we where below the cloud but the only thing of note I could see was the phosphors glow of our three compasses, to read my computer I had to press the light button. 

Dive over, up we went.  I still swear the lower few feet of the cloud is red and that should not be. 

My divers where troopers, we are working on a plan  to go to Lake Rawlings.

Have to see what happens with the quarry. It may have too much water in it. Throwing off the ecosystem.  I will keep you posted. May just have to finish out the dive season at Rawlings.  It is just such a long ride.

PADI Rescue Class and EFR this weekend

What a GREAT weekend! PADI Rescue and Emergency First Responder (EFR) courses. Those participating in the course ranged from the reasonably new diver to the former military diver starting work on his civilian certs.

Friday afternoon covered Primary and Secondary care (First Aid). Most everybody had some past training it made the flying gauze and bandages easy to work through.

Saturday morning we hit the pool. Worked on self rescue and tows.  Learned something new about myself today. I found when acting as a victim needing rescue and you dive down and grab one of my ankles as your rescue option, you stand a better than even chance of being punched when you surface. Not much in water bothers me, the got right next to me, fast.  Also learned Tige can move really quick in the water when he wants to.  It's all good. We worked out other options.  The students did excellent. One of the best Rescue pool classes I have done.

Saturday afternoon we work played with Resuscitation Annie and her unnamed friend practicing scene assessment and CPR.  During the EFR course we discuss how it can be used in diving, the course is a ILCOR recognized First Aid and CPR class. This training could be put to use whenever the need arises.

Sunday was a great day. The weather was wonderful and it is late enough in the year Millbrook is about as warm as it is going to get.  We went out over  the sandy bottom near  the row boat off of beach 1 and work on our skills, loosing, finding, and ascending with divers. Worked stripping gear off of "victims" as we swam them to shore.  Hid the VA Scuba lost diver dummy. Tige and I waited a while for the student to find him. The student started in either the wrong direction or  turned around and figured out where the dummy  was lost at.

If you are an Advanced Open Water Diver looking for a new fun and rewarding diving challenge consider both the EFR and Rescue course, contact me and we can add it to the schedule. Or if would like to become trained as a Emergency First Responder (EFR) or need to renew your certification, it only last for two years, let me know this is a stand alone course.

Demo Day at Lake Millbrook this weekend.

This Sunday only it's Demo Day at Lake Millbrook.

This is always a fun event. Manufactures set up tents and let you try their stuff for free.

Regs, BCDs, Fins, lights, Drysuits, all kinds of stuff.

Good food, good people. Cool dive equipment to try. What could be better.

If go, ask to try the new Halcyon Regulators. I picked up a set earlier this year, they are great!

I will be taking a look at Halcyon new lights. If you go deep enough and can take the cold you can put them to good use in Millbrook.

Virginia Scuba is going to be handing out Lakeside discount coupons, that's right the only place you can get them is from the Virginia Scuba tent at Lake Millbrook. These coupons  the can be used towards gear purchases back at their shop. 

Update: I hear Whites Dry Suite, Aqualung, and Sunnto are among the many manufactures that will be there.

On your way out to Millbrook stop at Virginia Scuba to get your quarry pass (always cheaper at the shop then at the gate).  Have a great dive and try that new gear you have been thinking about.

On your way back with a discount coupon in hand, stop back at Virginia Scuba and buy that cool toy you tried.

DC Dive Show and Lake Millbrook Demo Day

Fall is just about a month a way so it must be time for the 2nd annual DC Dive Show.
This year it will be held September 25th and 26th at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center on the Potomac in Maryland

Then on September 27 Demo Days will be held at Lake Millbrook in Throughfare Virginia.

Two great events in one weekend. See all of the latest dive gear and cool places for dive travel at the show on Friday and Saturday, then come to Lake Millbrook on Sunday to try your favorite gear from the manufactures who where at the show.