CheeseWhiz you should know there's nothing but high quality mud in Ohio! New Paris is no Gilboa, it's mostly 14-18 feet deep but there is a trench at the far side that goes to 30 feet. There are a couple of boats, 1 or 2 cars, an old desktop computer and several platforms. Not something I would drive a long way to see but a nice place to take students or to freshen up your skills before a trip. Can get quite warm by August, have seen it 80 degrees when the summer was hot. There's a nice campground there, a swimming area in the quarry that divers have to avoid--a little tricky since there's really no markings underwater! They also have a pool that you can use if you're camping there. They even have a little ice cream shop in the summer and are currently remodeling a little restaurant.
Most of the bottom topography is flat and muddy. The trench has large rocks and some trees you need to keep an eye out for. It's hard to navigate with a compass because there is a lot of metal in the bottom, cars, boats, cans (mostly), etc. and you end up about 45 degrees to the left of where you intended to go. We went to New Paris on Nov. 4th and had 56 degree water, no thermalclines so the fall overturn has already occurred. That screwed the visibility up, only had 10-15 feet but I've seen 40 feet there in warmer weather. CHEERS!
Hi Deepy! The class is a basic OW class so my environment lecture will cover regional differences like types of environments (lakes, quarries, ocean, springs, etc.) water temp, visibility, what to see (wrecks, reefs, mud flats, etc.) hazardous marine life, currents and tides, stuff like that. If anyone knows about any good articles/websites or even personal experiences pertaining to the above I'd be interested in hearing about them. I have to have the lecture ready before 11/13/01 but am always looking for new material to improve what I have.
Happy diving!
Ber
