First cold water dives

[TMHeimer]

Yes, that was my situation, getting OW in Nov. in NS. I later realized I could dive past that date if I don't mind being really cold. You do that if you don't want 3-6 months topside or empty the wallet to do Caribbean dives (or do 2-3 months here on the panhandle).

 

[Jack Hammer]

Maybe it's just me, but I have never heard of anyone practicing to dive so much and having actually dove so little.

Once the OW is attained, I think you just need to get out into the OW and experience.

All this discusion about buying tanks and ponys, etc. when the only dives have been in pools and quarries just seems so inverted to me.

Perhaps someone can help me to understand.

Perhaps you should look into the local Chicago area dive conditions and diving opportunities before judging?

 

[Marie13]

For those who need an education on local Chicago area diving:

Haigh Quarry, 1.5-2 hours away. Open beginning of April to end of October. $20/day, our home quarry.

There are several other quarries in WI or IN, 2-4 hours away, open pretty much the same as Haigh. Cost $20-30/day. At least one night away might be needed.

Lake Michigan, dive boats run from sometime in May to mid-October. DRIS boats cost $110-180 per 2 tank dive depending on trip.

Mermet Springs quarry in southern IL, 5.5 hours away. Open year round. $20/day. This trip requires at least one night in a hotel.

Gilboa Quarry, NW Ohio, 5.5 hours away. Open year round. $26/day, but has the Stairs of Death, the owner is a Nazi, running water shut off in bath house in winter plus no air fills in winter. Maintenance needed on water access. At least one night hotel stay required.

I have friends who will not dive Haigh until mid-late May due to dislike of cold water, don't dive dry, etc.

I just checked my log book. I have 13 dives now, more than I thought. I misremembered. ;-) I was certified in early October.

I will be on Lake Michigan often in the spring and summer. I will be at Haigh opening day. I've signed up for my Advanced course. I will be doing deep and wreck on Lake Michigan, in advance of my much anticipated wreck diving trip on Thunder Bay in Lake Huron in late July.

People bellyache about divers who don't know what they're doing, and then caterwaul even more when novice divers practice?

 

[Marie13]

I have friends who were diving Gilboa Saturday in 17F air temps with mid-30s water temps, and a really stiff wind. They reported their gear froze as soon as they were out of the water.

Hard core Midwestern divers.

 

[diver0008]

I guess, considering the inconveniences and expenses of diving in these, what to me see like unpleasant conditions, you don't just go to Cozumel for a week, for example?

For those who need an education on local Chicago area diving:

Haigh Quarry, 1.5-2 hours away. Open beginning of April to end of October. $20/day, our home quarry.

There are several other quarries in WI or IN, 2-4 hours away, open pretty much the same as Haigh. Cost $20-30/day. At least one night away might be needed.

Lake Michigan, dive boats run from sometime in May to mid-October. DRIS boats cost $110-180 per 2 tank dive depending on trip.

Mermet Springs quarry in southern IL, 5.5 hours away. Open year round. $20/day. This trip requires at least one night in a hotel.

Gilboa Quarry, NW Ohio, 5.5 hours away. Open year round. $26/day, but has the Stairs of Death, the owner is a Nazi, running water shut off in bath house in winter plus no air fills in winter. Maintenance needed on water access. At least one night hotel stay required.

I have friends who will not dive Haigh until mid-late May due to dislike of cold water, don't dive dry, etc.

I just checked my log book. I have 13 dives now, more than I thought. I misremembered. ;-) I was certified in early October.

I will be on Lake Michigan often in the spring and summer. I will be at Haigh opening day. I've signed up for my Advanced course. I will be doing deep and wreck on Lake Michigan, in advance of my much anticipated wreck diving trip on Thunder Bay in Lake Huron in late July.

People bellyache about divers who don't know what they're doing, and then caterwaul even more when novice divers practice?

 

[Marie13]

Do you think everyone just has the $$ to run off to Mexico or the Caribbean?

 

[diver0008]

Do you think everyone just has the $$ to run off to Mexico or the Caribbean?

Apparently not. I guess all that private training was expensive.Too bad. It's a wonderful place to dive.

 

[BreeAbyss]

If I recall, Marie13 has the goal of diving in the Great Lakes (awesome goal, I am going this summer for the first time), and isn't very interested in tropical diving. Spending money to go to Cozumel for a week to dive in conditions she doesn't care for, and won't give her more drysuit experience, doesn't sound like a bargain. She would be better off saving those bucks and diving locally when she is able to, which is what it sounds like she's doing.
I personally love cold water diving and feel her pain because all the beautiful lakes within an hour travel time of my house are frozen over.

 

[elgoog]

If I recall, Marie13 has the goal of diving in the Great Lakes (awesome goal, I am going this summer for the first time), and isn't very interested in tropical diving. Spending money to go to Cozumel for a week to dive in conditions she doesn't care for, and won't give her more drysuit experience, doesn't sound like a bargain. She would be better off saving those bucks and diving locally when she is able to, which is what it sounds like she's doing.

+1

I guess, considering the inconveniences and expenses of diving in these, what to me see like unpleasant conditions, you don't just go to Cozumel for a week, for example?

A day trip, overnight at the most, and $20-30/day for entry/parking/whatever is an inconvenience?
"Unpleasant conditions" is subjective but if it matches up with the diving you actually want to do then it's pretty much required, right?

 

[diver0008]

I personally love cold water diving

Why?