Nice After work dive

[Fondueset]

On a whim we managed a dive a couple days ago (ahead of the latest snowstorm) after work. It was quite nice, with very clear water and spectacular late-day lighting. I took my monofin since this spot drops off quickly and I was thinking deeper dives. But I also wanted to get some pictures in the awesome lighting.

Water Temp was 36f and the air was probably low 40sF.

Immediately I encountered a Gizzard Shad in shallow water. It looked awesome against the textures of the surface and the rocky breakwall so I tried to get shots from below. Normally I can swim right along with the shad - they move fast and change direction often but don't generally bolt of you are right in with them. With the monofin it was impossible to swim and hold the camera steady at the same time. I was also weighted for neutral at about 25 ft and the depth was 12-15. The result of all that was that I had to stop swimming to take a picture - but hurry because I'd pop to the surface like a cork. I did most of the dives on half a lungful - to mitigate the weight problem - but would have to reposition myself frequently, with a lot of effort, after each shot - to do multiple shots per dive. After herding the poor shad around for awhile I was exhausted and nauseatingly hot. Got a couple nice shots though.

Next I headed out along the interesting bottom contours to a deeper area. I took a decent surface interval but it was fairly active. The water was clear enough, even in the late day lighting, that I could see bass resting on the bottom 40+ feet down. I did a few recon dives then a nice 1:20 dive to about 44 feet and crawled up on a big smallmouth sleeping there. It was a very easy dive. Next I spotted a burbot, one of my fav subjects, and did a series of three dives with irresponsible surface intervals trying to get pictures of it. I thought it was in maybe 35 feet of water. The burbot's response to my sticking a camera in it's face was to simply turn it's back. Got some good ones though. The dives all felt stupidly short.

On the way down to the burbot I spotted a good-sized northern pike laying on the bottom in deeper water. It's markings were interesting - head, back and tail yellow, but it's sides were starting to turn the darker adult grey with white spots. I made an attempt but after four dives with short intervals I was pushing it and turned back - inwardly admonishing myself for being pathetically out of shape.

Turns out the burbot dives were each over a minute at 53 feet. I turned back at that depth on the pike, so it must have been around 65.

I felt pretty good about those dives - since none of them was pushing the envelope and the intervals were all 2 minutes or under. The monofin is a crude tool for photography though. I have to use my hands much more for nuanced maneuvers and it is a nightmare for steady tracking while in motion, but I sure like how it gets me up and down.

[vali]

very beautyfull pictures....as allways....

[azapa]

great shots, nice story and super clear water. right now winter starting "down here" and water getting murked up

good points re stupidly short surface intervals, I try that too but they never pay off. I swear some dives of mine done like that last less than 30 seconds!

[shoutatthesky]

On a whim we managed a dive a couple days ago (ahead of the latest snowstorm) after work. It was quite nice, with very clear water and spectacular late-day lighting. I took my monofin since this spot drops off quickly and I was thinking deeper dives. But I also wanted to get some pictures in the awesome lighting.

Water Temp was 36f and the air was probably low 40sF.

I don't know what those temperatures mean in the rest of the worlds measurements but if there was a snowstorm on the way I'm guessing it was pretty cold.
Love the photos man. I guess you don't have too much worries with sharks eh?
You really inspire me to keep diving through the winter here. We get snow a couple of times a year on the hills above town - a couple hundred meters high - so not as cold as where you are but cold enough to stop most people diving but if you can go for a dive when there is big chunks of ice floating around you then I can swim here. At least I will when I get my 5mm Elios in about a month. Then it will be just reaching the start of the winter proper and the puddles may freeze the odd morning. Can't wait to see the looks on peoples faces!
(btw just kidding about the 'real temp' thing. That's about 4 degrees Celsius, Just above friggin cold!)

[Fondueset]

I dove in a 5 mil last winter - my buddy and daughter both have 5 mil elios. It's a blast - the water is really clear and no boats. I'm using a 6 mil this year.

[shoutatthesky]

Now now, that is just bragging

[Fondueset]

Just living in New Zealand is bragging.

[shoutatthesky]

Hey man - you're welcome anytime!!

[nostres]

Hi Foundeset!

As always, great pictures. That is great afterwork relief too. We live at the same lake, too bad I am at the other end.

I am just thinking why don't You use little more weight for the shallower, photo dives?


Shoutatthesky!

When You finally get Your 5mm Elios, You will be ready for any water temperature on this planet, You bought the right stuff, now You will have a big chance to impress girls by becoming cold water Macho, just like Foundy

[sanso]

Great to read that, and cheers for the pictures.
Do You always go out alone like that?

[joe123321]

Sounds like fun, good pictures.

I wish I could dive in winter.

[sanso]

Originally Posted by joe123321

...
I wish I could dive in winter.

You can! elios 5/6mm, maybe a chainsaw, and You're all set.

[Fondueset]

It's true. I think the barrier to winter diving is mostly just a conditioned attitude that you don't go in the water in winter. We all do just fine in 5 or 6 mil freediving suits (Elios). The two hardest things are your face and hands. I used to get nausea from the initial face hit - so I used a Henderson Ice mask - which conserves a tremendous amount of body heat. I don't need it any more. For my hands I ordered 3 finger mitts from elios. I wear little acrylic knit gloves under them and they work pretty well.

Sanso. I've been diving mostly alone for the past few years - but now I do have a dive buddy - which makes me more comfortable with going deeper.

Hi Nostres. This time I've year I generally plan on deeper dives - just happen to run into that shad in shallow. Later in the spring I'll switch to my 5 mil with relatively more weight to get pictures of the spectacular explosion of underwater life that happens here along the breakwalls.

[azapa]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

- but now I do have a dive buddy - which makes me more comfortable with going deeper.

No joke, I miss that part, not just for the safety, but the sheer "showing off" factor makes you push that little bit harder. Then there's the after session beers..

I have joined a local club to see if I can convince any pool based members to stray out to the beach at the weekends.

Have a great weekend, safe dives.

[Fondueset]

A few more from the same spot last friday.