mattaphore
Contributor
11 November 2012; Snorkeled at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery up in Golden River, CA (just downstream from Folsom). We went as part of an organized annual "Salmon Swim" with Pinnacles Dive Center in Novato and we got to experience what it feels like to be a salmon. Some years, they do a drift snorkel down the river, but this year, there were a lot of salmon already at the fish ladder, ready to spawn, so we just stayed in one place by the ladder.
Visibility was very low along the side of the river, probably 3-5 feet at best, current is quite strong, especially near the center of the channel. There is also a bit of undertow near the ladder, as all the water of the American River is spilling over a concrete wall. Water felt pretty warm by ocean standards, my computer was registering the low 60's at the surface, but I didn't hold it down long or deep enough to get a reliable temperature reading. We were suited up in standard freediving gear, but didn't carry any lead.
Before getting in we chatted with a DFG employee who thought it was a pretty cool idea and wanted to share our pictures/video at the visitor center afterwards.
We snorkel-crawled along the bank of the river near the hatchery and encountered many dead salmon carcasses along the way (the ones that got worn out or already decided to spawn in that section of the river). It was pretty eerie and every once in a while, you'd see a live salmon swim past on its way upstream. It was definitely a unique diving environment and experience. I came out of it with a much greater respect for salmon, their endurance and ability to swim so far upstream through ripping currents.
(I bought this song and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it in a video)
Enjoy!
Visibility was very low along the side of the river, probably 3-5 feet at best, current is quite strong, especially near the center of the channel. There is also a bit of undertow near the ladder, as all the water of the American River is spilling over a concrete wall. Water felt pretty warm by ocean standards, my computer was registering the low 60's at the surface, but I didn't hold it down long or deep enough to get a reliable temperature reading. We were suited up in standard freediving gear, but didn't carry any lead.
Before getting in we chatted with a DFG employee who thought it was a pretty cool idea and wanted to share our pictures/video at the visitor center afterwards.
We snorkel-crawled along the bank of the river near the hatchery and encountered many dead salmon carcasses along the way (the ones that got worn out or already decided to spawn in that section of the river). It was pretty eerie and every once in a while, you'd see a live salmon swim past on its way upstream. It was definitely a unique diving environment and experience. I came out of it with a much greater respect for salmon, their endurance and ability to swim so far upstream through ripping currents.
(I bought this song and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it in a video)
Enjoy!
