marshallkarp
Contributor
North Point Quarry Newark, Ohio Trip Report
I just got back and got my gear washed off, so I can sit down and type. All these years, I have been driving three hours and 150 miles (sometimes six hours and over three hundred miles roundtrip) to the NW Ohio quarries. I was so glad to find out that North Quarry in Newark opened, a mere 77 miles and an hour and a half from home. Hooked up with Dave Humphrey and met at about 11:00.
The grounds are very neat and the water looks beautiful. Dave, the employee, gave me a map and explained the bouys and rope system. Dave H and I geared up and got ready. I should have known something was up when a couple of fellows came out of ahead of us and said the viz was 4 to 15 feet. In we went.
Problems started right away, the viz was 3 to 4 feet just off the dock. Dave H and I lost each other just going down. We surfaced and talked about staying closer to each other. We stayed close and went down together, then when I looked at my compass to start heading west, I lost him again. Up we went and found each other, discussing to stay close. Went down to about 15 feet and started west, we were together, took my eyes off him to check the depth and heading and when I looked back, he was gone again. Surfaced again. This went on another time or two and was very frustrating that you could lose each other that fast. We decided to call this dive as we needed a better plan.
During the surface interval, we discussed how the sites were connected by the rope system and planned to ride the ropes. To get started, we decided to surface swim out to the closest bouy off the entry, go down via the bouy rope, and take the interconnected ropes around the course. Good idea as we made the grand tour around and back for a 40 minute dive.
Downside: Not much to see, only Dave H and the rope most of the time. Got to a couple of boats, the alien/bug/whatever, and platforms. Depths ranged from 8 to 19 feet. Saw some catfish and tons of minnows over by the northeast boat.
Upside: Water temperature was 84 degrees. I was way too hot in my 7 mil and hood. Dave had a three mil and I saw people going in with shorties, farmer john, and swim suits.
Also upside, Dave the employee had a good customer service manner about him. Friendly guy. Coming out of the second dive, we talked to two gentlemen who were volunteers and helped place the structures. It sounded like they have some things they want to do to improve the viz. Nice guys, too.
Bottomline: I just got back from Grand Cayman three weeks ago with visibility so good , you could see Mars. What a shock to my system. I have dove in worse with no rope system. My advice, don't let go of those ropes. I will probably go back again as it is the closest quarry dive spot to me and the warmth was nice.
I just got back and got my gear washed off, so I can sit down and type. All these years, I have been driving three hours and 150 miles (sometimes six hours and over three hundred miles roundtrip) to the NW Ohio quarries. I was so glad to find out that North Quarry in Newark opened, a mere 77 miles and an hour and a half from home. Hooked up with Dave Humphrey and met at about 11:00.
The grounds are very neat and the water looks beautiful. Dave, the employee, gave me a map and explained the bouys and rope system. Dave H and I geared up and got ready. I should have known something was up when a couple of fellows came out of ahead of us and said the viz was 4 to 15 feet. In we went.
Problems started right away, the viz was 3 to 4 feet just off the dock. Dave H and I lost each other just going down. We surfaced and talked about staying closer to each other. We stayed close and went down together, then when I looked at my compass to start heading west, I lost him again. Up we went and found each other, discussing to stay close. Went down to about 15 feet and started west, we were together, took my eyes off him to check the depth and heading and when I looked back, he was gone again. Surfaced again. This went on another time or two and was very frustrating that you could lose each other that fast. We decided to call this dive as we needed a better plan.
During the surface interval, we discussed how the sites were connected by the rope system and planned to ride the ropes. To get started, we decided to surface swim out to the closest bouy off the entry, go down via the bouy rope, and take the interconnected ropes around the course. Good idea as we made the grand tour around and back for a 40 minute dive.
Downside: Not much to see, only Dave H and the rope most of the time. Got to a couple of boats, the alien/bug/whatever, and platforms. Depths ranged from 8 to 19 feet. Saw some catfish and tons of minnows over by the northeast boat.
Upside: Water temperature was 84 degrees. I was way too hot in my 7 mil and hood. Dave had a three mil and I saw people going in with shorties, farmer john, and swim suits.
Also upside, Dave the employee had a good customer service manner about him. Friendly guy. Coming out of the second dive, we talked to two gentlemen who were volunteers and helped place the structures. It sounded like they have some things they want to do to improve the viz. Nice guys, too.
Bottomline: I just got back from Grand Cayman three weeks ago with visibility so good , you could see Mars. What a shock to my system. I have dove in worse with no rope system. My advice, don't let go of those ropes. I will probably go back again as it is the closest quarry dive spot to me and the warmth was nice.
