Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:43 am Post subject: Sand Harbor, Sat. 22 March
I finally managed to get myself on a trip over here (my first time diving since I left)! The site was called Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe, popular with swimmers, boaters, and apparently divers as well. A decent site description is here: http://www.sierradive.com/dive.htm#Sand%20Harbor%20State%20Park
Today's dive was set up by the local dive shop as an Easter Egg Hunt. A handful of divers went down early in the morning and planted 30 hard-boiled eggs on the bottom and then we all went out to find them. My buddy was content to fin along slowly, picking up eggs and taking the odd picture (none of which turned out sadly). We had to wade beyond the swimmers area which is little more than knee deep for about 10 meters. We went under and finned east across a barren, sandy waste before turning north to a wall of boulders that rose to the surface. We then made our way back to shore. Our max depth was 6 m for about 30 min. Needless to say, deco was easy and I still had 170 bar in my tank. Not an incredibly interesting dive but it was relaxing if nothing else and I got a chance to play with my new toys (regs and BCD). The temperature was a nice change from Scottish waters, about 8 C. Several of the divers had the nerve to complain about the 12 meter vis. Apparently you can get 18 on a good day. Frankly, I thought the vis was too good to be true.
Our second dive was a bit more interesting. Only three of us had the inclination to go out again and this time my buddies were looking to push the envelope a bit more. Most of the easily accessible part of the site is a sandy cove no more than about 10 meters deep. Once you get beyond that, it quickly drops to about 500 meters. It's quite a swim though. We went in on fresh tanks and swam out around the point. In order to make it to the beginning of the drop-off, our leader set a pace that would make Gus proud. We went as far as we could until two of us had hit about 100 bar and then turned around. We had reached the drop off and could see the steep slope descending into the gloom below. On the way we ran into a big tree trunk about 100 feet long which I'm told is one of the features of the site. We also ran into a couple of crayfish under a board, the only life we saw all day. Bottom time: 32 minutes. Max depth: 21 meters.
All in all a fun day and a nice intro to diving in the US. My regs worked well with little adjustment, however my depth gauge was persistently reading 20 feet short. If I can't calibrate it I'll have to send it in.
Max _________________ Howdy Doody? Why would Howdy Doody be sending people mail bombs?
Always nice to try out new kit and at least there's no salt damage to worry about on this occasion!
Did you zero the depth gauge at the start of the dive (they usually have a knob to allow you to)?
Sounds like a typical freshwater dive: good if you're keen but not the most exciting. Viz sounds OK but you'll experience much better than that in your future diving I'm sure. Not sure waht you mean about the temp contrasting with Scotland... it's prob 8C in Scotland currently too.
I notice that you conducted a reverse profile. I blame whoever trained you! _________________ skål charlie
Nah, the depth gauge has no zeroing nob (apart from the orange dial that tells you how deep you went). I called the company I bought it from and they said they would do an even exchange.
I guess it was a bit of a reverse profile. Despite assurances that PADI is much more conservative about dive plans than just about every other club, they seemed pretty sloppy, and not just about dive plans. I think I prefer ScotSAC's system: somewhat more laborious and much safer. Both the dive leaders were tenured instructors so I figured they knew what they were doing. In retrospect, I'm not convinced.
Max _________________ Howdy Doody? Why would Howdy Doody be sending people mail bombs?
Don't really think that a reverse profile as minimal as that could have any risky physiological consequences. However, cheeky might like to contradict me on that... _________________ skål charlie
The biggest physiological consequences come from the drive home. 2000 foot elevation gain over a mountain pass (that said, the dive site is 20 min from my front door). In true diver style, we just sat around in the parking lot eating and trading diver stories for an hour or so. Someone brought warm beef fried rice. Yum. No cream eggs though. Cadbury hasn't quite found its way to the US yet.
Max _________________ Howdy Doody? Why would Howdy Doody be sending people mail bombs?
The biggest physiological consequences come from the drive home. 2000 foot elevation gain over a mountain pass (that said, the dive site is 20 min from my front door). In true diver style, we just sat around in the parking lot eating and trading diver stories for an hour or so. Someone brought warm beef fried rice. Yum. No cream eggs though. Cadbury hasn't quite found its way to the US yet.
Max
Now that could have a major physiological impact... I'm talking about post-dive Creme Egg deficiency obviously!
When do you start vet school, Maxy? _________________ skål charlie
Last edited by charlie on Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:21 am; edited 1 time in total
Yeah, it's a bit sad. I'll have to fly over just to buy a stash of creme eggs. I wonder if customs would frown on that. Hmmm...
I sent Kansas my deposit and signed away my soul. I believe they start 8 Aug so the date is fast approaching. Now I just have to find a mountain of cash and a place to live.
Max _________________ Howdy Doody? Why would Howdy Doody be sending people mail bombs?
I wish it was. Kansas is even further from the coast than Nevada. 12 hour drive according to Google. Of course, that 12 hour drive puts you right in the Gulf of Mexico so there's probably some nice dive sites. Maybe a weekend trip... Assuming I get weekends.
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The temperature was a nice change from Scottish waters, about 8 C. Several of the divers had the nerve to complain about the 12 meter vis. Apparently you can get 18 on a good day. Frankly, I thought the vis was too good to be true.
I blame whoever trained you!
