3 replies to this topic

[mechanical31]

It's probably not much of a trip to all of you lucky people living on the coast, but DiverDuck, myself, and my newly certified wife went diving in lake Norfork for her OW dives this weekend. We camped along a beautiful spring fed, trout filled river called Norfork River. The cool breeze coming off the river was perfect. We got in Friday, night set-up camp, and relaxed by the fire preparing my wife for her OW dives. We all beat the alarm clock and went right to the dive boat. While my wife was with her class, DiverDuck and I went diving. He brought his speargun and got a 3 pound flathead catfish right off the bat. After looking around all our six foot visability would allow (25 feet deep) we headed back to the boat after about an hour and ten. We relaxed, had some lunch and listened to how much the students enjoyed thier first OW dive then hit the water again. We stayed above 35 feet and the water was about 80 above 20 feet. Visability was still about 6 feet, but DD managed to get another flathead and two channel cats. We dove for about an hour again then went for the boat. After getting back to camp DD filleted his newly hunted trophies and we had a four course meal headlined by fresh catfish. After relaxing in the awesome cool breeze and enjoying the conversation we quickly fell asleep and woke up ready to dive. DD and I dove a rock formation called Devil's spine to sixty feet. Water was about 55, but in full suit it felt great and visability was about 20 feet. We stayed there for about forty minutes trying to locate the area tag(if you dive and collect all the area tags at Norfork you get your name on a plaque and the ever-important T-shirt). After exploring the other side of the spine, DD shot at the biggest walleye I have ever seen and missed (his only miss of the weekend). I made my fourth dive with the students so I could dive with my wife some and enjoyed it, but spent a lot of time just watching the students. I did get a chance to dive with my wife to a 30 foot cruiser wreck. A couple of huge largemouth bass were haning out in the boat. After hand feeding the bluegills we called it a dive, but how sweet it was to have a new dive buddy at home. While the students were doing paperwork DD and I made one more short dive looking for game. Now the bad part. While heading back to the marina we encounted two helecopters and numerous boats. We found out a diver (possibly untrained) was missing. We were met at the boat by a frantic wife of one of the students so we quickly called home and let everyone know none of us were involved. We said our goodbyes and headed for home. It was a spectacular weekend that we can't wait to do again, but I found out this morning a mid thirty year old diver drowned and it is kinda scary, not to mention I'm just sick for her family.

[DandyDon]

Rough ending to an otherwise nice outing. Good idea to call home and let 'em know it wasn't your body they were seeking. I wouldn't have thought of that, but I'm sure it was over the news all too soon.

Sad. Know what happened...

[Walter]

Thanks for sharing. It seems odd to hear about spearing in fresh water. It's not legal in Florida.

[mechanical31]

Not positive on what happened. The wife that showed up at the boat said it was an untrained diver using equipment her boyfried aquired, but who knows if that is true or not. Regardless, they found her body in 20 feet of water just about the time we left for home.




Spearfishing game fish isn't legal in Missouri either, but in Arkansas they can shoot about anything.........and it sure tasted good.


It was a great weekend and we would like some SD people join us, but it was a rude awakening for all of us especially the students.