6 replies to this topic

[dad+2(.5)]

I would like for anyone in the lake jocassie area to update me on the lake conditions,rumor has it that it's low & has poor vis.

[NJBerserker]

I would like for anyone in the lake jocassie area to update me on the lake conditions,rumor has it that it's low & has poor vis.[/color]

www.offthewalldiving.com

That is OTWDiver's site. He has conditions up for Jocassee, Keowee, and the Cooper River. Last update I saw was on 5/06.

[JimG]

I was up there a couple of weeks ago, teaching a Rescue class. Here's a trip report that I posted on a local mailing list:

We arrived at the diver's boat ramp about 9:30 AM - only a few other divers were there. I was expecting a larger crowd of student certification groups, but maybe it is a little too early in the season for that. We unloaded our gear down by the water's edge, and everyone
got set up.

Only one of the students had ever dove at Lake Jocassee before, so we gave them a quick tour of the immediate area, and located both of the training platforms (currently at depths of 6-8 and 20 feet, due to the low water levels). I set up a float ball on the deeper platform, which was to be the primary location for our first dive.

The water temp at the surface was about 70 degrees, and there was a noticeable thermocline at about 12 feet. Temp below this was in the mid-60s. The students were a little chilly in their 3mm wetsuits (which I had warned them about, but "oh well"). I was toasty in the drysuit, at least until it started to leak. :-(

Most of the first dive was spent practicing individual rescue skills. I had the students each perform a surface and tow of a simulated unconscious diver. Next I had them practice swimming horizontally with a simulated unconscious diver. For this second skill, I had them start at the deeper platform and swim the victim up to the shallow platform, and then to the surface. These were all skills that had been practiced extensively in the pool prior to the trip, so aside from dealing with the lack of visibility (and potential to silt up the bottom), things went pretty well.

Next we worked on accident scenarios. These are mostly shore-based exercises, where the students have to practice egressing a simulated victim, starting BLS (CPR, AED, etc), managing the scene, etc. We did two or three of these with various combinations of victims and rescuers. I don't want to give away too many of my training secrets, but suffice to say that the scenario practice always yields a few surprise moments.

We wrapped up with a simulated search and recovery. I told them a story about a boat having capsized nearby, taking an entire family and all of their lawn furniture to the bottom of the lake. The "mission" was to located the wreckage of the boat, send up an SMB, and see if there was anything that could be done for the victims. Of course the person who had dove there before knew exactly what I was talking about, but the other folks seemed a little puzzled. I had them start a line search over by the boat ramp, and it did not take them too long to locate the Bones family (which due to their advanced state of decomposition, there was nothing much we could do for them - we did tag the boat for future salvage, however).

After that, we packed up and headed home.

One somewhat disturbing note - as we were exiting the water after the search, we found someone parked in the dive ramp, unloading a JetSki. Nobody really said anything about it until some kid climbed on to start the motor, completely oblivious to the fact that there were divers right under him. We had a few words with the kid and his father, who asked "where is your diver's flag?" (to which I replied "where is the sign that says 'Boats Prohibited', and where are we in relation to that sign?". They kind of walked the JetSki around to the side (but still in the diver's area), started it and sped off.

I'm wasn't exactly sure of the rules and didn't want to make a scene, but I was under the impression that boaters were either (a) required to put in and take out on the right side, away from the diver's area, or (b) prohibited from using that ramp altogether. Anybody know for sure what they are supposed to do? I have never seen anyone using a dive flag up there, but I guess I will start taking one from now on.

-JimG

[Rocky_B]

The lake is down about 25'. Viz is dependent on depth and location. Cemetery can be about 15', the junk gets as low as 6' or so, over the wall it really opens but but there is a nice thermocline that will suprise you, this past weekend I dove "Jellyfish Hill" and got deep into the trees. That was a blast if you're into that kind of thing. Temp is in the mid 50's give or take a few degrees. Dry suit is advised or 9 mill suit, hood, gloves. Dont want to spoil the dive by being too cold.
The lake is a very clean lake and if you're certified for it, the viz gets really good below 100'.

Bill runs a charter Saturday and Sunday. Best deal on the lake and plenty of room on the "barge". Not like the cramped quarters on the other boats and a ladder that cant be beat unless you have an escalator.

[Rocky_B]

The lake is down about 25'. Viz is dependent on depth and location. Cemetery can be about 15', the junk gets as low as 6' or so, over the wall it really opens but but there is a nice thermocline that will suprise you, this past weekend I dove "Jellyfish Hill" and got deep into the trees. That was a blast if you're into that kind of thing. Temp is in the mid 50's give or take a few degrees. Dry suit is advised or 9 mill suit, hood, gloves. Dont want to spoil the dive by being too cold.
The lake is a very clean lake and if you're certified for it, the viz gets really good below 100'.

Bill runs a charter Saturday and Sunday. Best deal on the lake and plenty of room on the "barge". Not like the cramped quarters on the other boats and a ladder that cant be beat unless you have an escalator.

The lake is presently @ 50 degrees. OTW now has a fully enclosed and heated, yes it really is heated, boat. Makes the winter diving very enjoyable. Get out of the cold water and inside a fully heated boat. The water was beautiful this past weekend. All we need now is more divers to come out and make a pleasant cold water dive with warm boat waiting for your surface interval.

[OTWdiver]

One somewhat disturbing note - as we were exiting the water after the search, we found someone parked in the dive ramp, unloading a JetSki. Nobody really said anything about it until some kid climbed on to start the motor, completely oblivious to the fact that there were divers right under him. We had a few words with the kid and his father, who asked "where is your diver's flag?" (to which I replied "where is the sign that says 'Boats Prohibited', and where are we in relation to that sign?". They kind of walked the JetSki around to the side (but still in the diver's area), started it and sped off.

I'm wasn't exactly sure of the rules and didn't want to make a scene, but I was under the impression that boaters were either (a) required to put in and take out on the right side, away from the diver's area, or (b) prohibited from using that ramp altogether. Anybody know for sure what they are supposed to do? I have never seen anyone using a dive flag up there, but I guess I will start taking one from now on.

-JimG

The rules are:
We have three concrete ramps at the divers ramp. One is open for boat launch and two are closed. The area inside from a line extending from the edge of the open ramp out to the 'no boat buoy' and left across the cove is marked off with buoys and close to boats of all types, motored, paddled or sail. This area is an exclusion posted on navigational maps and is enforceable by fine. This does not mean we have the rite to do anything. You should inform the boat operator of his violation and/ or report the boat numbers to the Department of Natural Resources. Be sure to take note of the boat operators physical description and even his tag# on the vehicle if you see him launch or leave the parking area. This will help the officers with enforcing the fine to the operator of the boat. Keep in mind it might not be the owner of the boat. The operator is in violation not the boat.

[shadragon]

In a perfect world...

"Freeze! Lake Jocassie SCUBA Police! Turn off the boat and step away... Thank you sir. Now please help us load the vessel with our tanks. Easy... Easy... Thank you sir. May I have the keys? Good. We will just give you a warning this time. Thank you for your cooperation, we will have it back to you in a few hours. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...."