On February 5th I was to hold an Ice diving class, however there was no ice. Well that's not completely right. There was no ice on Saturday the 4th but a thin layer developed over night.

We meant at Whitestar quarry at 10:30 AM. There were 8 of us in our group as well as a couple other groups. We all got ready to enter the water. The temp was about 32 degrees.

The walk in entry did not have any ice but out about 50 feet and the south side of the quarry had some ice on it. I had just purchased a new mask and sent it out for lens to be installed in them so I can see. I received it back on Friday. Well I had some issues. 1st I did not shave this morning and this new mask leaked back in as fast as I cleared it, 2nd it fogged up so bad I could not see. With these issues and 38 degree water I figured that I just made a trip to the quarry for nothing. Dan Willis had a back up mask he said I could use, however it did not fit well, but his primary mask is the same type of mask my back up mask is so I tried it. While I could not see to read any of my gauges I could see the group so I figured lets go diving.

FYI for those who know me well may be asking why I did not have my back up mask with me, that's simple, its already packed as well as most my other gear for my Trip to Little Cayman on February 17th.

Dan lead the dive, we headed out the south wall, at the cannon Dan turned and headed back to the graveyard then over to the deep boat and finally to the exit. The vis was real bad today maybe 20 feet (yes that's bad for winter time), water temp varied between 37 and 38 degrees. I had 48 minutes of actual bottom time. I was very warm and my hands did not get cold, however many of the others got cold hands so that's why we called the dive at 48 minutes.

By the time we returned to the surface the ice that was there in the morning was now gone.

While some had talked about making two dives before the 1st dive everyone decided they were not interested in doing the 2nd dive after we got out from the 1st dive. I could not do a 2nd dive as I had to be at my GREAT GRAND daughters 1st birthday party at 2:00 PM, yes for those who's thinking it, I am that old.

Dale

FYI I will be leaving on February 17th for Little Cayman. The shop will be closed until February 28th when I return. I will update this blog after my trip.

The weather is still unbelievable: Today I did a fun dive at Whitestar quarry. Air temp was 32 degrees at 10:00 am. It was sunny with no wind. There were maybe 10 divers at the quarry this morning however with me was only Rick Hamman and Bob Vincent. We entered the water at 10:30am. The vis was a good 60 to 75 feet. We let Bob lead today but we had no real way points planned. The water temp was 40.4 degrees. Rick and Bob got out about 50 minutes later, I spent a few more minutes and exited at 61 minutes. We stood around after the dive as it was very nice and sunny. Once I finished breaking down my gear I left the quarry at about 1:00pm. I dropped the gear off at the dive shop and went home to rake the leaves out of my ditch line and around the snow fence in front of the pond. Can you believe it Diving and Yard work being done near mid January. 

With the forecast for the next week I'm going to try to get in one more dive before the ponds freeze over. Gilboa quarry will be open on January 15th which just happens to be my birthday. So I plan on one more dive in open water before the season for open water diving is truly done.

Sea Level Scuba has acquired a new product line. This will be exclusive to Sea Level Scuba and no other shop in the Mid West will be carrying this line. The supplies are limited as well as the sizes. However there is 4 colors available. Please check the link below and place your order early and be one the first to dive with this extraordinary new product:

 Sea Level Scuba New product Line:

Today I made my way to Gilboa quarry for my 13th annual New Years Day Dive. Back on January 1st 2000 I did my first New Years Day Dive here at Gilboa (FYI it was in a wetsuit). Over the last 12 years I have made a dive on January 1st. The last three years have been at Whitestar but this year I planned on Gilboa to show equal support to the two quarries that are open for the New Years Day Dive.

We meant at 10:00am, there were only 6 divers today. The air temp at 10:00am was 48 degrees with a strong wind from the west. We are talking white caps on the quarry. The water temp was a very balmy 43.1 degrees almost 1 degree warmer then Fridays dive at Whitestar (42.2 degrees). We got in on the deep side and headed toward the shallow end. The plan was to turn the dive at 20 minutes or when Craig got to 300 psi over half. Not picking on Craig but he was the only single cylinder diver. We was able to see lots of points of interest on the shallow side and actually made it clear to the jungle gym boat wreck. At 20 minutes I made the turn to head back to the start/entry. We got back to our exit at around 42 minutes. I played around the wall for a nice long safety stop and exited the water at 52 minutes. By this time the air temp was down to 43 degrees and the wind was blowing even harder and there was some light showers. I packed up my gear, went into the very nice and warm shower and bathroom area to chance to street cloths. We talked only for a short time on the surface as the weather was going down hill fast. I called Gerri to tell her I was leaving the quarry, she said that my great grand daughter Maci was still at the house and would be until 5:00pm. She spend New Years Eve with us. I left the quarry at 12:15pm. After a stop at the dive shop to drop off all my gear I headed home for some lunch and rest. We had a New Years Day dinner scheduled for 2:00pm with some friends but we decided baby-sitting was a better New Years Day activity. They understood as they also have grandchildren.

HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL MY DIVING FRIENDS.

I HOPE YOU ALL GET TO JOIN ME ON MANY DIVES IN 2012.

DALE

My Year End Blog:

2011 was a good year for diving.

The year started out with my normal New Years Day dive follow with two more dives later in January.

In February we did a two-day ice diver class and a trip to Cozumel at the end of the month.

March started with a dive in the almost ice covered quarry and a couple others by the end of the month.

April & May were mostly class dives.

June started with a trip to Alpena Mi, but the charter boat broke and we did no dives. I did get to Port Sanilac to do a couple wreck dives before the end of the month.

July was very busy with class dives when I was not on wreck trips. I was in Port Sanilac the first weekend, Harbor Beach the 2^nd weekend and Presque Isle from the 20^th to the 24^th.

Aug.. was again a very busy month with classes but I did get away on a few trips.

One day trip to Port Sanilac the 1^st weekend, two one day trips to Harbor Beach, one mid week and one on the 3^rd weekend and to end the month I was out to Whitefish Point Mi. Left on the 24^th and return on the 31^st.

September were almost all class dives with only a few fun dives.

In October I went to Curacao from the 5^th to the 11^th. Nice salt-water trip. When I returned I had a couple OWD classes to finish and a couple students finishing a tech class, so again a busy month.

November was all class dives, except the 1^st Saturday. On that day we did the last fun dive of the season. I had a solo student to finish & two tech students to finish.

In December I got out on 5 days to just have fun diving. Funny how it works, on these last minute dives it seams that I get more divers then well planned dives in the summer when its warm. Example Dec. 23^rd. Air temp was 27 degrees and very cloudy. At 10:00 am we had seven divers. It doesn't’t figure.

This summer I never lost a dive to weather. The Weather gods were very good to me on 2011.

Summary:

I did 152 dives in 2011 47 less then in 2010:

121 hours and 16 minutes underwater. (48min average dive time):

148 minutes was my longest dive of the season.

9 minutes was my shortest dive (major drysuit leak).

I had five dives over 90 minutes.

227ffw was the deepest dive of the year.

10 dives over 150ffw.

25 dives over 120ffw.

2 saltwater trips.

3 trips over 4 days.

3 trips 2 or 3 days.

4 overnight trips.

24 difference wrecks dove on the Great Lakes.

All in all not a bad season.

On Friday Morning December 30th seven divers showed up at Whitestar to dive. The air temp was 38 degrees. The sky was partly sunny. We hit the water at 10:30am. I lead todays dive. When we got in Jim M had a leak, so while he went to fix the problem the rest of us did a short ten minute dive over to the deep boat followed by the shallow boat and return to the entry. Jim was back in the water before we got back to the surface so we just turned and headed to the block house. Once we were out of the tunnel two divers gave me the turn around sign. I ran a 145 heading back to the exit. The vis was less then 50 foot today. This is when most of us headed to the exit, but two did a little longer dive. The dive today was a short dive with only 52 minutes with water temp of 42 degrees.

Once on the surface I proceeded to put my equipment away and chance into my work cloths. I left the quarry at 12:00, went to eat lunch before opening the dive shop.

Today the divers were Rick H, Tom B. Dan W, Jim M, Craig W. Jake Burgy & myself. Again this was a better turnout then many of my summer fun dives. It just don't figure.

Dale

On Friday Morning December 23rd seven divers showed up at Whitestar to dive. The air temp was 28 degrees with a little wind. The sky was very cloudy. We hit the water at 10:20am. I lead as no one else wished to. I headed on a 290 reading to the far side of the quarry. we went very slowly as we was in no hurry. Once at the far wall we headed along the rock piles until we got to the north wall. The vis was no less then 75 feet. I jumped up over the last rock pile before the block house and went over to the propane tanks. At this time we had spent 45 minutes so I headed on a 145 degree course back to the phone booth. There I started to make sweeps looking for the lens cap Bob V had lost last Sunday. This is when most of the others headed to the exit. I went to the motorcycle, deep boat and back to the west platform. At 65 minute I went into deco. I then headed back to do my deco stop. I exited the water at 72 minutes. Two divers were at the exit waiting for me with all the other back in the parking lot. The group run 65 minutes to 70 minutes of bottom time.

Once on the surface I proceeded to put my equipment away and chance into my work cloths. I left the quarry at 12:30, went to eat lunch before opening the dive shop.

Water temp was 43 degrees.

Today the divers were Rich S, Rick H, Bob V, Tom B. Dan W, Marty L & myself. This was a better turnout then may of my summer fun dives. It just don't figure.

Dale (next schedule dive will be Friday Dec. 30th at 10:00am.)

Today Rich, Ian, Bob and myself showed up at Whitestar quarry to make anther dive:

Surface temp was 34 degrees, cloudy and a little breezy. We hit the water at 11:30 am the plan was for Rick to lead a slow dive with no route in mind. We planned for one long dive rather then two shorter dives. Vis was more then 50 feet.

Dive specs:

In water at 11:30 am

Water temp was 44 degrees top to bottom.

Max depth I saw was 66 ffw.

Total bottom time was 69 minutes.

Rich from Diver Inc has won the concessions at Whitestar quarry for the next three years.

He has posted dates that the quarry will be open this winter:

Jan 7th & 8th

Feb. 4th & 5th

Feb. 11th & 12th

March 3rd & 4th

Please check my calendar for up coming dives on some of these dates.

I want to thank Lisa and Rich Spalding for hosting the Toledo Submariners Christmas party again in 2011. This year we meant at their new business as there was more room there and we was all in one large room with a table we could all sit at. The evening was very nice with good company. The talk around the table never stopped. Jack ( our new president Again) hosted a short meeting. Two items were talked about, the place we would meet for our Jan meeting and possible local summer dive trips. Please check the club forum for updates on times and places.

Again Thanks Lisa and Rich

It was raining heavy when I left home this morning. However it had quit by the time I got to Gilboa. Joining me today was Alan O, Bill S, Rich S, & Jake B. Our plan was to go completely around the quarry following the bottom. The planned bottom time was 30 minutes. After we all did our S-drill and bubble check we dropped to the bottom. On the bottom we did a quick check to see if everyone was a go. It was and I lead to the north wall and proceeded around the quarry. Bottom temp was 38 degrees. It was uneventful heading around the quarry. We got to the deepest spot in the quarry as our bottom time (30 minutes) expired. Being that we had a couple difference deco schedules, each diver did his own stops as we continued around the quarry. I was breathing 28/15 with 100% for deco, Alan was breathing 29% with 50% and 100% for deco. Rich, Bill & Jake was breathing 28% with 100% for deco. We got back to the deep side steps about the time we was to do our 20 ffw stop. I only had 5 mins on 100% before I cleared deco. Rich had the longest time on deco at 14 mins at 20 ffw. Jake and Alan got out when they were clear while Bill and I stayed with Rich until he cleared.

Total run time on this dive was 76 minutes.

I had a .41 breathing rate on bottom gas and .43 on deco gas.

By the time we got out it was raining again and fairly heavy. No one had any real issues with this dive, except Jake was a little light. He was wearing more undies then normal.

After breaking down my gear and loading the truck I left for home. It rained the rest of the day.

The dive was great and I keep very warm.

On Sunday November 27th Dan Willis  was finishing him solo class at Whitestar quarry. We meant at 9:00 am. Tom Bell and Scott Loch came out to tag along. Dan briefed us of his dive plan, which included all waypoints he would be hitting the time he would arrive and the psi he would have at each waypoint. Once in the water Dan lead with all others following. Waypoint one he was a little off to the left and a little ahead of the time table but right on his psi for that mark. The second waypoint was a little left also and still ahead of the time table but still on the psi used. The remaining 5 waypoints he hit on the mark, but we was running about 5 minutes ahead of schedule. He was on the mark for psi used at each mark. Between the last two marks he slowed down to get back on the time schedule. We got to the safety stop about 3 mins earlier then the schedule but he hit all marks and stayed right on pressure, exiting the water with a little more then 1/3 of the starting gas still available. He did a very good job. Please welcome our newest solo diver.

I was felling very good so I asked if anyone wanted to anther longer dive. Tom was wet and said he was calling it a day, but Dan and Scott said OK. Doing only a 15 min SI so they could change cylinders we were back in the water and ready to go. The plan was to do a 60 min dive. The route was not defined but included to at lease make it over to the police car and the far side rock piles. We got back to the exit at 55 minutes. I did a 6 min safety stop exiting the water at 61 minutes. I had a water temp of 50 degrees for both dives.

I was breathing a mix but both Dan and Scott was breathing 21% and were within a few minutes of deco.

It was a great day to dive. FYI it was raining and surface temp was mid 40s.   

I have been very busy for the last 2 weeks and have not entered the info for the dives I made on Oct. 30th,  Nov.. 5th and dive done on Nov.. 6th. Sorry I will try to keep everyone up to date with my diving.

On Nov.. 9th Rich and I meant at Whitestar quarry to run some skills for the Deco class Rich is working on. We had planned to make one long dive. The weather was raining and very windy up until about 12:30. It then clear up and the sun actually came out about the time we meant at the quarry. It was still very windy however. We hit the water about 2:15. The 1st skill Rich needed to work on was full shut downs. We ran a course of walk in to throne to chip truck to cabin cruiser to Nome island to police car to the tunnel. By the time we got to the tunnel Rich had done shut downs a couple times and looked pretty good at it. The next skill we was doing would be from the deep end of the tunnel Rich would be out of air and the two of us would make our way up the tunnel and exit the block house while sharing air. This trip was done with lights. Next we when back to the bottom of the tunnel. we purposely mucked up the bottom as we descended down the tunnel. At the bottom I gave Rich the I'm out of air sign. We then shared air with lights out while ascending the tunnel that was all mucked up. At the top we exited the block house. This skill was done almost picture perfect. Now we made our way back to Nome island to the throne to the American flag to graveyard to deep boat to Motorcycle then over to the area of the west platform. We arrived here at 78 minutes in the dive. Rich was to perform his last skill of the day, to deploy his lift bag. I deployed my bag and watched Rich try to deploy his. While get the reel from his D-ring he dropped it. After he retrieved it he hooked it to the bag and filled it with air. (not enough however). It did go to the surface but with any downward pressure the bag dropped below the surface. We slow did make our ascent with 2 min stop at 30ffw and at the 20ffw stop rich had 7 minutes of mandatory decompression. We slowly made our way toward the exit while hold the 15ffw stop. Once Rich cleared his decompression obligation we surfaced at 95 minutes of bottom time.

Rich started the dive with 2640psi and ended with 800psi.

I started the dive with 2640psi and ended with 1400psi.

Bottom temp was 55.2 degree and max depth was 74feet.

Total dive time was 95 minutes.

This was my first dive done in the last two weeks that I stayed completely dry. I found a hole in the shoulder area of my suit (due to ware) last Sunday and fixed it on Tuesday.

Rich wore wet gloves and leaked on the left but not to bad.

After packing up and finishing the paperwork we stopped at Subway for a sandwich.

It was a good dive and all skills went good.