Marmora Dam Bulletin [Archive]

DivingGal

March 25th, 2003, 03:47 PM

weight_for_me once bubbled...
Cheering Squad?.....never had a cheering squad before. If you want to come up, we'll definately do coffee afterwards. BTW, our splash time is not set up as we're wating for others to possibly join in. Are you listening Butch and Bottom Sucker!!!
Randy...

He probably hasn't adapted back to Canadian temps... :D

canuckdiver

March 25th, 2003, 03:56 PM

I'd probably be able to do the coffee thing, just let me know when and where.

Ontario Diver

March 25th, 2003, 04:30 PM

I have the kids this weekend...

jrtonkin

March 25th, 2003, 10:25 PM

For those of us who don't know anything about the dive, what's it like? It'd be a long drive out there... then again, it's an early-season chance to get wet... :)

So, is this a beginner-friendly dive? Shallow or deep? Current or no? Doable in a wetsuit, or is a drysuit required? Whats to see, all those sorts of things...

And here I was wondering what I was going to do this weekend.

Jamie

weight_for_me

March 26th, 2003, 10:21 AM

Hi Jamie;
Yes, this is a very friendly dive site....it's used as a OW training site. Maximum depth is about 35' but there is about a 50' "hole". You enter at the boat launch (east side) and follow a municipal water line across the river. As you near the far shore (west side) the current picks up and will take you on a nice drift dive downstream for about 100 metres. At that point, the current gently sweeps you back across the river into a back current that will bring you back to the boat launch. An average diver can make about 2 of these "loops" on a tank. I will be in a 7mil farmer john, but be warned, it's going to be COLD:wacko: I'll take my dive computer and get a temp this afternoon. Vis should be ok. As for things to see...lots of rocks and logs, usually fish and other small creatures.

Butch103

March 26th, 2003, 11:19 AM

I just dropped in. Hmmm Firday?....sounds chilly, but seeings how my wetsuit has made a triumuphant return from California, I may be able to participate in such activities........???

Just have to check my tanks for 1) air 2) current vises <sp> etc.....

What is the ETD ( estimated time of Dive)?

cobaltbabe

March 26th, 2003, 01:27 PM

:( , Alright boys, you can stop rubbing it in anytime now. I'm getting the shakes from withdrawal. I even went to the dive shop this morning to get some weights and it was closed, I CAN'T WIN!!! :( . Soon, very very soon. ;)

weight_for_me

March 27th, 2003, 10:50 AM

Ok..here is the plan....Scott is picking up my tanks and his reg and wetsuit at the shop on friday morning. How does 3:00 pm sound Butch? BTW...water temp is 45f :eek: That will put the Henderson to the test!!
Randy...

Butch103

March 27th, 2003, 10:55 AM

from scooter this am...He is filling one of his tanks for me cause mine aren't ready yet.....and we will me meet for the cold water dip......The Henderson should be fine...gotta brand new leg on it :) ........I will you there about 2:30-3:00.....Scott may have to use my old suit if his isn't back yet.......

canuckdiver

March 27th, 2003, 11:28 AM

weight_for_me once bubbled...
BTW...water temp is 45f :eek: That will put the Henderson to the test!!
Randy...

LOL, 45 is FAR better than the 36 we has at presquille on the 16th! ;)

I'll see what's happening, I may be able to get in for a quick dip, where abouts is everybody meeting? the parking lot by the old mill site?

cobaltbabe

March 27th, 2003, 01:17 PM

I would really like to ditch work and come. I know, I know, there will be other times but I want to get in the water. :(

jrtonkin

March 27th, 2003, 02:37 PM

So I guess I'm in for this bit of cold-water silliness :)

So I'll need driving directions from one of you kind souls. I'm coming up from the Toronto-direction. Finding Marmora is easy enough, but more accurately than that???

I'll try to leave here around 11am, should get me there around 2:00-ish.

Oh, and I'm currently coming alone, so hopefully someone up there will need a buddy :)

Last question is, "one tank, or two"?

Jamie

weight_for_me

March 27th, 2003, 02:39 PM

Butch103 once bubbled...
...The Henderson should be fine...gotta brand new leg on it :)
Um....which leg?....right, left or centre????:eek:
Canuckdiver..yes..thats the spot...below the dam, by the pumphouse on the east bank.
Randy...

weight_for_me

March 27th, 2003, 02:44 PM

Jamie...be glad to have you along with us. OK..directions.
As you come into Marmora from the west on Hwy #7, you will come through a rock cut and down a steep hill and over a bridge. Look left (north)..you will see the dam where we are. Go to the lights, turn left (north) up the main drag, make another left and then straight through the next intersection. You will be heading for the river...just follow the road and you can't miss us. It will probably be 1 tank but if you've got an extra, bring it along.
Randy...

canuckdiver

March 27th, 2003, 02:47 PM

I'll be there!
I don't know if I will be getting wet or not, that will depend on whether my sinuses have cleared completely by then.

I will, however, bring at least two full steel 72's with me, so if anybody needs air, they will be available ;)

Butch103

March 27th, 2003, 03:03 PM

Should be lots of are for this little jump.........hehehehehe......

Personally I think one tank is all you will want to do, unless you are going dry....

canuckdiver

March 27th, 2003, 04:00 PM

well, just got back from the shop, they just wanted me to let you know that they think we are sucidal for diving in the river with that big, scary current ;)

weight_for_me

March 27th, 2003, 04:50 PM

I was just checking out that "big, scary current". It's a little fast on the east bank but I talked to my frieds at the Conservation Authority and they are going to close down the east sluiceways and open the west side up more. It should be alright by tomorrow afternoon:D
Randy...

Butch103

March 27th, 2003, 11:53 PM

canuckdiver once bubbled...
well, just got back from the shop, they just wanted me to let you know that they think we are sucidal for diving in the river with that big, scary current ;)

If the current is that bad then we have two options.....

1) tie an anchor to our asses

2) abort the dive.....

I guess we will all know tomorrow at about 3:30 pm :)

cobaltbabe

March 28th, 2003, 12:43 PM

Hope the dive is great. Wish I could be there. Oh well, next time. :)

cobaltbabe

March 28th, 2003, 07:46 PM

Hey guys,
How did the dive go? A little cold or was it alright?

Butch103

March 28th, 2003, 10:54 PM

It was good, and cold.......39 degrees nice drift dive.......Weight_for_me, HairyFish,JRTonkin and myself made the dive. WFM had to abort...free flow...

Made a couple of sweeps with the current, however the vis was very low.......

Still very nice 1st dive for the others, and Hairy Fish to get ready for Mexico on Sunday.......:)

frogxman

March 29th, 2003, 10:21 AM

Hey guys, how about posting location and directions in the corresponding thread? ;)

canuckdiver

March 29th, 2003, 02:44 PM

sorry I couldn't make it guys, but after being told that I have to start round #2 of antibiotics for my sinuses/lungs, decided to just kinda take it easy ;)

weight_for_me

March 30th, 2003, 04:44 PM

Sorry you had to miss out Canuck...here is the proof. Scott, Tim and Jamie in the water...

weight_for_me

March 30th, 2003, 04:49 PM

Whoops....that was Jamie, Scott and Butch....this is one of them in the water.

cobaltbabe

March 30th, 2003, 06:41 PM

All I have to say is, you are all bigger men then me. Looks like fun. Next time, with any luck, I will be there as well. ;)

Groundhog246

March 30th, 2003, 07:38 PM

What were water temps? A couple of divers I know trying to get a group together for up near Wiarton next Sat. Not sure if I'm up for it or not. Will depend on the topsdie temp forecast. I dove the Morrison on Dec 22 and New Years Day dove near Wiarton and the dives (1 each) weren't too bad, but trying to get warm again topside was brutal.

weight_for_me

March 30th, 2003, 10:26 PM

Well Cobaltbabe..I guess we..um...are "bigger" than you...hehehe. Water temp?.....39 to 40f....but it didn't feel that cold. Of course, I wasn't in the water longer than 5 minutes either..:(
Randy...

cobaltbabe

March 31st, 2003, 02:38 PM

Well even if it was a bit cold it looks like the boys had fun. We are going to have to get the girls of OFWF out.

knives

March 31st, 2003, 02:55 PM

well it sounds like it was a darn good dive in Marmora!!!
I will have to hook up with you all sometime , I have not done any water in Marmora . Don't they have an old quarry? Is it diveable?

Can't wait to get wet !!!
=-)

Butch103

March 31st, 2003, 03:26 PM

We are currently and quietly inquiring about who owns the mine (quarry) and if we can get access. It is privately owned as I understand. Weight_for_Me is third generation Marmorite (poor fellow), perhaps he can shed some light. :confused:

You are welcome anytime, to come diving with us....

cobaltbabe

March 31st, 2003, 03:33 PM

Now that would be interesting. There are stories about that place, some I wouldn't want to find out if they are true. Doesn't the plaque at the observation point say who owns it now, or the chamber of commerce would know.

Butch103

March 31st, 2003, 03:46 PM

..they might, although sometimes I question if they know anything......oops did I say that out load? :wacko:

What stories have you heard?...It is deep and lots of water ......

Another dive buddy was to drop off some info this week, and I believe this was on hios hit list...I will let y'all know...

cobaltbabe

March 31st, 2003, 03:49 PM

There are rumors of dead people in cars. Lots of fish, but alot of people has killed themselves in the quarry.

weight_for_me

March 31st, 2003, 03:56 PM

Ok..let me enlighten you all....There are NO DEAD PEOPLE IN CARS...although someone did comitt suicide by driving over the edge many years ago...found the engine in the bottom of the pit. Fish...probably, as they tried a fish farm there after the mine closed. Deep..YES...cold...Yes...the bottom is probably about 350' deep at this pint..the pit is 550 altogether. As far as ownership...I believe its Armbro Aggregates who just changed their name to AECON last year. I doubt if anyone would be able to get permission to dive there. Just my .02 worth.
Randy... (3rd gen Marmorite :D )

weight_for_me

March 31st, 2003, 04:02 PM

I almost forgot. At the other end of Crowe Lake is the old Blairton Mine site. Rumour has it that there are deep shafts offshore and that one even goes to the middle of Crowe Lake!! We haven't found that opening yet though and even if we did, you wouldn't catch me going in it :wacko:
Randy...

cobaltbabe

March 31st, 2003, 04:06 PM

Like I said they are rumors. :rolleyes:

knives

April 2nd, 2003, 07:37 AM

Do you guys do the river dive in the summer too?
Thanks for the info on the mine, sounds like a great potential dive site...
:)

weight_for_me

April 2nd, 2003, 10:15 AM

Yes...river, lake.....we do it all. It's just too convenient when its at your backdoor...:D
Randy...

earlj

April 3rd, 2003, 09:19 AM

I did some checking into the local quarries last season. The AECON quarry on highway #14 (old Marmora mine) is allegedly 350' at the centre. It is also strictly off limits. It's posted at every opportunity and the information I received said they would prosecute at the drop of a hat.

The old Blairton mine site, (off Crowe Lake) is allegedly 150' at its deepest. There are vehicles, equipment, etc at the bottom. Information is that there is a tram road running around the outside of the pit. I spoke with some locals last season who advised that they could not get access any more even for swimming because the people that had bought the area around the site have fenced and posted and will not allow anyone access. I think this might just be a litigious issue. I'm going to try and get more information this season.

With respect to Crowe Lake, the writings of history indicate that there is a railway trestle in there that was deposited by the ice in the late 1800's. Depending upon which story you read, there is the railway trestle or there is the railway trestle and rail cars. This rail link was installed to link the Blairton mine to the river in Marmora to transport the ore from the mine.

I've located another quarry in the area, (just south actually) that I shall report upon when I get the info.

As for the book I promised Butch, it's safely stored with the manual for my dive computer. BTW, have you checked on your boat? That's one of the places I haven't looked yet. Fear not, I shall find it and drop it off.

Groundhog246

April 3rd, 2003, 09:43 AM

Good luck on your quest(s). There's an flooded limestone quarry not far from me. Workers went on strike and took a couple of shots at the managers on site when it dragged on. Those on site turned off the pumps and left allowing it to flood. I'm told it's about 80 feet or more and that at one point you see coffee mugs, etc still sitting on desks in the offices.
The owners no longer allow swimming or diving ( not sure they ever really allowed, but now take action against trespassers. Their worry is a lawsuit if someone gets hurt. I spoke briefly to a lawyer and to a couple of insurance brokers to see if a suitable agreement and insurance that would protect them from litigation might make it accessible. Basically as long as they own the property , no. Even if a person, group or company were to lease the property and buy liability insurance, the actual owner of the land is still open to lawsuits. With a proper waiver, etc, there's little chance you or they'd lose, but the legal fees could still be substantial. So unless you can offer them a significant rental/lease amount and possibly a cash surety to provide for legal costs if they do get sued, access is unlikely. This is what our lawsuit happy society, where people are no longer held responsible for their actions or decisions has brought us.
Maybe they'd sell you the mine
. ;)

weight_for_me

April 3rd, 2003, 03:33 PM

Isn't this just the reason that our wetsuits are "Ninja Black":boom:
Randy...

Butch103

April 4th, 2003, 09:12 AM

but nothin on the boat but lifejackets and other sundry boat items.......Last time I saw the book was in my office, about this time last year...:)

earlj

April 5th, 2003, 08:49 AM

Just a matter of time before I remember where I put it so that it wouldn't get misplaced.

Oh well, it will give me something to do this weekend while waiting for spring to return.

Jimmy B

April 5th, 2003, 09:10 AM

earlj once bubbled...
With respect to Crowe Lake, the writings of history indicate that there is a railway trestle in there that was deposited by the ice in the late 1800's. Depending upon which story you read, there is the railway trestle or there is the railway trestle and rail cars. This rail link was installed to link the Blairton mine to the river in Marmora to transport the ore from the mine.

I was under the impression that it was a horse drawn vessel at the bottom?

Tom R

Butch103

April 5th, 2003, 09:56 AM

Jimmy B once bubbled...

I was under the impression that it was a horse drawn vessel at the bottom?

Tom R

..........time and intensive diving will reveal the truth :D :D

Haven't heard this one though......Pretty cool if it was, we may all have to get together and have a look this summer....=-)

earlj

April 6th, 2003, 08:34 AM

Is the book from which I got my original information. It says in the article that this was the second time that the bridge was washed away by ice.

As Butch says, who knows? It will at the least, make for a few interesting dives to see what's there. that's interesting about the horse drawn vehicle. It makes sense considering the time period. I'll have to do some more looking and see if I can find anything else. BTW, do you remember where your information came from? May be a place to start. Thanks for the input.

Butch103

April 6th, 2003, 10:37 AM

.............to try out the planer boards (prototypes) I made last fall. Great way to cover lots of area on a tank of air..........

Can't wait.....woo hoooo....... :D

tinman

April 7th, 2003, 09:10 AM

Butch103 once bubbled...
.............to try out the planer boards (prototypes) I made last fall. Great way to cover lots of area on a tank of air..........

Can't wait.....woo hoooo....... :D

...Tim: are these planer boards designed to be towed by a boat with a diver on board? If so, you might want to talk with MDDOLSON who I think will be doing a search near Burleigh Falls for a wreck this year. This might help Mike...I'd be happy to volunteer...

canuckdiver

April 7th, 2003, 10:37 AM

hmmm, towed by a boat while wearing scuba gear??

sounds crazy enough to me!
count me in as a volunteer as well! (seriously)

Butch103

April 8th, 2003, 02:46 PM

yeppers that is exactly what they are for. I want to try the prototype out before they are launched "live"....We have many volunteers, however a couple I don't think I would let drive the boat whilst I am under..........

whooooooooshhhhhhhhhhh........................

I would come up buck naked (not pretty site, no matter how much alcohol you've had)...all the gear blown off...........and at the bottom of the lake......

Good find for someone........

canuckdiver

April 8th, 2003, 03:03 PM

ROFL!!!

"look mommy!":wacko:

tinman

April 8th, 2003, 03:05 PM

Tim: why don't you submit this as a new thread in DIY section - ah I mean a board not body shot!

Take photo of design and see who has already gone down this path.

Might be helpful to get info. on suggested safety procedures
such as: how do you signal tow boat if required in case of diver entanglement - 2nd line you can tug for reduce/increase speed; mask loss or free flow generated by speed/water turbulence. Require geared up diver on-board for rescue, contingencies?

Design characteristics - means for DIVER to quick release board from line. Presumably diver will have hand holds to release himself but I'm thinking of entanglement again, i.e. zip through some fishing line which takes your mask and/or reg and snare you to board (bit of a reach I know but s$!t happens).

Low viz makes this a little more exciting than a scooter which you can independently operated. Maybe Mike D can jump in or you might email him for input...

weight_for_me

April 8th, 2003, 09:56 PM

I can see it now.....the planer board shoots out of the water with a diver aboard...nails the side of the boat....the diver scrambles aboard...whips off his wetsuit showing a black tuxedo underneath and says....
"the name is Butcher....Tim Butcher" :mean:
ROFLMAO
Randy....

GTADiver

April 8th, 2003, 10:26 PM

Those Belleville movie theatres!!!!

Butch103

April 9th, 2003, 08:43 AM

tinman once bubbled...
Tim: why don't you submit this as a new thread in DIY section - ah I mean a board not body shot!

Take photo of design and see who has already gone down this path.

Might be helpful to get info. on suggested safety procedures
such as: how do you signal tow boat if required in case of diver entanglement - 2nd line you can tug for reduce/increase speed; mask loss or free flow generated by speed/water turbulence. Require geared up diver on-board for rescue, contingencies?

Design characteristics - means for DIVER to quick release board from line. Presumably diver will have hand holds to release himself but I'm thinking of entanglement again, i.e. zip through some fishing line which takes your mask and/or reg and snare you to board (bit of a reach I know but s$!t happens).

Low viz makes this a little more exciting than a scooter which you can independently operated. Maybe Mike D can jump in or you might email him for input...

We have a float on the boat end of the quik release, so when it pops up spotter knows the diver is has released the board form the towline. There is a marker float attached tot he board to mark where the diver is. Then we wait for the diver to surface or his buddy. Gotta remember we are not moving too fast.....(unless my 16 yr old is manning the boat)

Butch103

April 9th, 2003, 08:44 AM

weight_for_me once bubbled...
I can see it now.....the planer board shoots out of the water with a diver aboard...nails the side of the boat....the diver scrambles aboard...whips off his wetsuit showing a black tuxedo underneath and says....
"the name is Butcher....Tim Butcher" :mean:
ROFLMAO
Randy....

YOU FIRST DUDE !!!!!!!!!! :boom: :out: