No ice at Gilboa

[Barracuda2]

I called Mike because of all the cold weather we've been having to find out if there is ice on the quarry. He said that it hasn't even skimmed the surface or edge yet, so it should be a go for New Years Day. Man, I'll bet we have some great viz!:D We're planning on viewing the video, "Ice Water Mansions" at about 1 or 2 in the afternoon.

[Jchoby]

I'm looking forward to it.....

[Notso_Ken]

I called Mike because of all the cold weather we've been having to find out if there is ice on the quarry. He said that it hasn't even skimmed the surface or edge yet, so it should be a go for New Years Day. Man, I'll bet we have some great viz!:D We're planning on viewing the video, "Ice Water Mansions" at about 1 or 2 in the afternoon.

Denny, thanks for the post! I was starting to think about asking in a post just to see what it's looking like. I plan on being there!


Ken

[FWADIVER]

I was there last weekend, water temp was about 41F, there is plenty of ice... on the dock.. my boys are still hurting from a little unexpected gymnastics trying to climb out. Viz was about 30ft I feel like it was better back in august.

[FWADIVER]

I'm a pretty bad judge of viz since it was only my second dive so here are a few pictures courtesy of facebook.

December Diving 2010 | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3156709&id=2311057&l=db0d90e350)

[BoneCrusher]

Sounds great! Can't wait to get a dive in. It feels like it has been forever since I have been in the water.

[Paintballpsyco2369]

How was the diving new years day down there? I had been looking forward to going there again this year on the first, but the new manager they hired at work a few months ago decided to let me go so I had no money... Went to Port Huron though for the float down the river, that wasn't too bad (I do not like current at all) at least not as bad as I was expecting...

Anyways, I hope all had a good new years day, and dive if they went.

Paint

[BoneCrusher]

Hi Paint!

The dive was a ton of fun down at Gilboa. Too bad you couldn't make it. I know a bunch of divers as well that do the float down in Port Huron. I prefer being underwater if I am going to be in the river vs the new years day float down. Plus, the river is my default dive location if I am not ice diving.

[Paintballpsyco2369]

Hi Paint!

The dive was a ton of fun down at Gilboa. Too bad you couldn't make it. I know a bunch of divers as well that do the float down in Port Huron. I prefer being underwater if I am going to be in the river vs the new years day float down. Plus, the river is my default dive location if I am not ice diving.

Glad to hear it went well. It was my first time doing that, and it took the guy who talked me into it 2 and a half weeks to do so lol. I have a thing against current and was very nervous about it. The biggest thing everyone kept telling me was that doing that would help with my un-ease in the current, and it definitely did. I was still nervous as hell when I first got in, but after a few minutes I felt a hell of a lot better. I also prefer being underwater and would have very much preferred a nice deep dive to that, but it still wasn't too bad. I have done a few dives in the river, but the current has always bothered me. Not exactly sure why, or what it is that bothers me about it, but I just don't like it. Deep, dark, cold and ice don't bother me in the least, but current... Another story all together lol. I am still considering it for next year again, and still am not too sure, I will find out when the time comes closer next year I guess...

How many people were there this year? It has actually been quite some time since I have been down there. I was planning to do a ton of diving this year but the place I was working transferred all of us to a new store and my buddy and I were managing it so we had a TON of hours and I had no time for diving... Then they hired a new full time manager who long story short took 35 hours from me his first week, and my job the second so I went from having some money and no time to time and no money lol. Needless to say, a job has not been too easy to come by here in Michigan near me at all so... I am lucky enough to still be in college and living at home so I am ok for now, but I definitely need to find a job soon... Too much money in dive gear and I am not using it nearly as much as I want to.

I had also been planning to start some tech classes end of last year/early this year, that sadly is also out for now so...

Anyways, I wish you all the best, and hope you all have a good time diving.

Paint

[BoneCrusher]

As for the river, if you are looking to do some diving there and are worried about the current, diving up by the blue water bridge is not the best idea. There are some great spots down near Marrysville and Marine City that are much better for getting used to the current. There the current is less and the diving is a little easier.

As for the new years day dive, there were about 8 of us in our group and maybe 15-20 divers at Gilboa diving in the morning. It was really nice that the air temps were in the 40's this year. Made for getting suited up and especially getting out of the drysuit much easier and comfortable!

Sorry to hear about the job situation. Im sure you will find something. Hopefully the Michigan Job market will be on the rebound this year. I've got my fingers crossed! :)

[BoneCrusher]

As for the river, if you are looking to do some diving there and are worried about the current, diving up by the blue water bridge is not the best idea. There are some great spots down near Marrysville and Marine City that are much better for getting used to the current. There the current is less and the diving is a little easier.

As for the new years day dive, there were about 8 of us in our group and maybe 15-20 divers at Gilboa diving in the morning. It was really nice that the air temps were in the 40's this year. Made for getting suited up and especially getting out of the drysuit much easier and comfortable!

Sorry to hear about the job situation. Im sure you will find something. Hopefully the Michigan Job market will be on the rebound this year. I've got my fingers crossed! :)

[Paintballpsyco2369]

As for the river, if you are looking to do some diving there and are worried about the current, diving up by the blue water bridge is not the best idea. There are some great spots down near Marrysville and Marine City that are much better for getting used to the current. There the current is less and the diving is a little easier.

As for the new years day dive, there were about 8 of us in our group and maybe 15-20 divers at Gilboa diving in the morning. It was really nice that the air temps were in the 40's this year. Made for getting suited up and especially getting out of the drysuit much easier and comfortable!

Sorry to hear about the job situation. Im sure you will find something. Hopefully the Michigan Job market will be on the rebound this year. I've got my fingers crossed! :)

I have been diving in Algonac in the St. Clair river before, couple times actually with a friend of mine. Not too bad there. It is really any current though that messes with my head so... Definitely not ready to dive by the bridge though, in time perhaps, but not any time soon... I did a dive awhile back in the Detroit river by the Detroit Princess, wasn't too bad there, I was actually very surprised how slow it was, I had been expecting like wicked fast current there lol. I went once in Marine city too, was actually my first river dive. Wasn't too worried but to be fair, I was on a line lol. I think that was also one of my first dives with the dive team I am on now. 4

Glad to hear the weather was good down there for that. Been cold as hell up here the last few weeks. Last couple nights have been below zero and I have pictures of the thermometer in my kitchen reading -20 Fahrenheit. A few people I have shown the picture too debate its accuracy, but It is a very accurate thermometer. I know it was not windchill too. Where the sensor is located there is no wind at all so...

Sent my suit in a couple days ago for some repairs and possible replacement. Got some seam leaks that are driving me insane! Sadly found a new one on that new years day dive lol, right under my arm too... So hopefully I can just get it replaced, will find out soon enough but either way I hope it can come home soon lol. Been itching since last year to do some ice diving. I made a decision too. If I am unable this year to get any ice diving in after my suit comes back, I am bringing doubles next year and staying under for an hour minimum. Don't care who thinks me stupid for that either lol. I have no problem handling the cold at all and I really do enjoy it under there. Maybe by then I can get a housing for my camera and take pictures of the others too, that would be fun...

Thanks on that note. I hope so too. On the plus side I am almost done with my degrees at school. Would be nice to find something in that field to do... Found out there are some welding scholarships at the college for welding that no one ever uses so might be able to get a welding degree too, half done with the classes, basically I need one lab class, one like "intro to metal" class and then I would just need to take the certification classes and done:) Will be looking into that more this week. If anything it would be a nice thing to add to my resume lol.

Anyways, sorry for taking so long to respond to this, best of luck,

Paint

[nwohiodiver]

FYI: Just called yesterday...Whitney says still completely iced over as of 3/3/11.