Diving in AZ

[Pacific Taco]

I'm headed out tomorrow for a demo day/dive event just outside Phoenix. Weird! I'm gonna bronco ride a catfish.

http://www.academyofscuba.com/download/scuba-adventure-day-2009.pdf

I'll report in full when I get back Monday. Be safe!

[cactus]

say hello to my cactus brothers.

[jeff9062]

Fresh water? That will be interesting, take some pics!

[Pacific Taco]

Diving was pretty cool. I did a pair of short dives that were different and both very interesting.

First thing I noticed - when you dive in fresh water you don't feel like puking every time you get water in your mouth!

Our first dive was in shallow water, max depth was 25' and most of it was around 18'. It was on an area they called a "Fish crib". Basically a dumping grounds for tree branches, xmas trees etc. All natural structure that they pile up to make fish habitat. About 40' long and 10' wide it held bluegills, green sunfish and largemouth bass - some up to around 5#.

2nd dive was to a 65' and it was very cool and a little spooky. Vis was about the same as SD standard, 10' - 15' with some algae turning the water a familiar green. Surface temp was 63F, at depth it was 60F. The features of the deeper water were a rocky bottom with scattered dead trees. This is a manmade lake, of course, and was created by flooding a valley. So trees that were flooded die back and leave smaller versions of themselves behind. Most of the trees were 15' - 20' tall and several were covered in fishing lines that had snagged and broken off. Every branch and line was covered in a puffy sediment of algae and silt. The light combined with the green tint of the water gave them a spooky appearance as they'd slowly become visible and then tower in front of you. It was pretty rad and I'm excited to dive FW again and I see why those Florida guys like it so much. Rinse gear? Maybe...it's definitely cleaner now than before my dive. :D

[diverpoa]

good information,but,did you take some shots?

[jeff9062]

Yes, cool report... But give up the photo's
or we will egg your car!:smilielol5:

[Pacific Taco]

I don't have a camera!

I'll get a new one.

[cactus]

and that will show us pictures of your fresh water dives this past weekend? FOOL!

[Pacific Taco]

It might. There's the new Panasonic Lumix Quantum Leap Edition.
http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/q-photo-quantum-leap-handlink.jpg