Lake Ontario Temps

[wetman]

So the night of the blackout we were out in one of our spots that we use for practicing things just about a mile or so in front of Newcastle. Its anywhere from 40-60ish feet where we anchor and typically clear and quite useful. Surface temp that night was about 72 degrees and at the bottom it was around 59-60. Comfy in a 7 mil wetsuit for about 25 odd minutes.

We were there this past Sunday and the surface had dropped to 63 and the bottom was around 42-43. I wanted to cry but seeing as i was underwater it may have lost its dramatic effect. However, my question is: is this normal for this time of year? That is a heck of a drop over 10 days. I would expect it to cool off at some point but because we were robbed of an early summer this year i was hoping for a bit of a releif on this end. Even Brockville this weekend was a bit cooler at 72 degrees than it was last year at this time. It just seems like its a bit early for this yet. And who do i complain to about this abomination of nature?

steve

[Kevin R]

Why sweat the little things? Drysuit, thinsulate, drygloves, argon...... who cares what the weather throws our way. Dress for it and go diving.

When are you coming back to Kingston to do some dives with us? I'm down Saturday and Sunday looking for a dive.

Kevin

[Tom R]

In the 17 dives I have done in the last week or so, the temp has ranged from 43 - 63 all in Lake Ontario,

Tom

[wetman]

Well, actually, i wasn't sweating. That was the problem - i had forgotten my gloves and ended up wearing my warm water reef gloves - they were so cold at the bottom they felt like my hands were burning. And the biggest disappointment of it was that i was enjoying a few nice weeks off after the course in singles and a wetsuit before getting back at it in full bore practice mode with doubles and the full rig. Oh well, dreams are meant to be dashed i guess. ;-0

Anyways, we're heading up to parry sound this this weekend, but we'll likely be up kingston way for all of sept so i'll pm you shortly.

You guys ever head to Brockville much?

Steve

[wetman]

So nothing has changed in the kingston area then? Maybe its just a local thing. I just didnt expect it to be such a fast change here.

s

[D M I]

Yo!

Normally as the summer passes, the sun heats up the top layer of lake Ontario water that flows into the St Lawrence making it a nice warm diving location. If you get very little early seasonal sun like we had this year, that lack of surface heat on Lake Ontario forces the thermocline upwards and therefore will cause fluctuations at the bottom thermocline depth. Thats why some times the thermals are located at different depths on the same wreck on different days.


D M I

[diverlady]

:hmmm: I guess that means I'll need my drysuit next weekend when I'm in Kingston. Drat! I was hoping to get away with my wetsuit but at those temps, not likely.

Diverlady

[D M I]

Come on now show a little back bone. real divers Go wet.

D M I

[wetman]

So is this the beginning of the lake "turning over". (not that i'm 100% sure what that means actually other than the water seems to get moved around). Can anyone clarify exactly what happens there?

steve

[diverlady]

D M I once bubbled...
Come on now show a little back bone. real divers Go wet.

D M I

Real divers are smart enough not to care what other divers think of their choice of exposure protection!! :D

In the St. Lawrence, wetsuit no problem. In Kingston, 42-43F :eek: at depth? My backbone would snap from the cold!! Not much natural insulation. Plus, I need the practice with my drysuit for icediving this winter. ;)

Diverlady

[Doppler]

wetman once bubbled...
So is this the beginning of the lake "turning over". (not that i'm 100% sure what that means actually other than the water seems to get moved around). Can anyone clarify exactly what happens there?

steve

Steve... it's a little early in the season for turnover just yet.

You'll find information about exactly what it is here:

http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/fish/ponds/laketurn/

Hope that helps...

Steve L

P.S. I dive dry all the time!

[wetman]

Thats a good article. Exactly what i was looking for. I usually dive dry too, but even then its nice to hop in the drysuit with the really thin stuff on underneath. And theres nothing like diving in the caribbean with a skinsuit on. The less the better i think. Its also nice to just get in and cool off sometimes and be one with the water. However, with the way my drysuit has been lately, that one-ness thing has been closer than i've wanted.

I think i was just shocked that it dropped that fast - i've heard of the turning over process, but thought it was a bit early for that as well.

steve

[knives]

well cold or not I am going in this weekend ....and wet at that , you see I am an old fashion (drysuit is on order) diver...
yes it is cool at the bottom but still beautiful!!:)