From: awpsys@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Re: diving in the Adirondacks?
Reply-To: awpsys@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 22:00:56 GMT

In article <RMAVILLA.92Sep1103726@rodan.syr.EDU>, rmavilla@rodan.syr.EDU (Martin Villarica) writes:
>Hi.
>I am planning on a trip to the Adirondacks over the Labor Day Weekend.  I
>think I will be in the hamlet of Long Lake (the only other reference point
>I have is Blue Mountain Lake about half an hour away).  Anyway, I would like
>to find out if anyone has any recommendations as to where I might be able to
>dive without breaking any laws and if there are any dive stores (or clubs)
>that I can contact for more information.  I tried searching the archives for
>some information on the Adirondacks but was unsuccessful.  I may not have
>been doing it correctly.
>Thank you.
>Martin Villarica
>rmavilla@mailbox.syr.edu

I frequently dive at my summer place which on a private lake near Long
Lake NY.  Adirondack lake diving is challenging both in finding good
sites and in finding dive services. Although I have not dove in anywhere
else in the Adirondacks,  The topology of the region is similar so the
hints I give should apply.

I believe that there are dive shops in Plattsburg and in Glens Falls
(both some distance from Long Lake).  I know of no dive shops inside the
blue line, although  you *may* be able to get fills from some of the
fire departments  I conjecture this because I have seen a sign posted
on the fire house in Old Forge offering scuba lessons.  I always bring
full tanks.   Information gave me the following shop names and numbers
from the yellow pages.

	Plattsburg		   Mels Dive         518-561-7138
	Plattsburg		   Top to Bottom     518-562-1698
	Lake George/Glens Falls    Lk. George Scuba  518-798-4486
	
Bigger lakes tend to have better visibility than small lakes.  Lakes
(like Long Lake) which have sizable inlets from other lakes and rivers
are likely to have less visibility (6 to 15 ft max). Deep headwater
lakes  (such as Blue Mountain Lake, Eighth lake) which are spring fed
typically have much better visibility.   Some lakes can approach 40 to 50
feet vis.  Smaller high altitude mountain ponds can have good visibility
(unfortunately thanks to acit rain).   In Long Lake, the Raquette River
(high volume of water) enters in the southwest and exits at the other
end in the northeast. 

I have heard that Lake George offers some really nice freshwater diving
with excellent visibility and some interesting and very old wrecks. The
dive shop in Glens Falls is likely to be your best bet on advise for
Lake George diving.

Your best bet for finding a site on your own is to use a topo map of the
area to find bodies of water where little or no inlets show. Lakes that
show steep contours down to the shores are likely to be deeper and hence
slower water turnover and hence be clearer.  Lakes and ponds with a
large amount of wetland surrounding them are likely to be of poorer
visibility due to the natural reddening action of the tannic acids that
flow in from the swamps.  Topographical maps are available in just
about any of the stores in the area.   If you find a lake with rocky
shoals, you can find interesting underwater topology and undisturbed
glacial errata and formations.

As far as I know, diving is allowed in any of the lakes on state land as
long as standard diving protocols are followed (Dive Flag, stay out of
boat channels, lights for night dives...etc).  Remember that most lakes
in the region  are between 1500 and 2000 feet in altitude. If you dive
deep remember to adjust your bottom times accordingly.

This summer the thermocline has not pushed very deep, so expect to find
*VERY* cold water below 30 to 40 feet.

Unless you find an area with good rock formations underwater, the bottom
is likely to be very silty and very boring.   Sediments do not break down
quickly in these cold waters, so on flat bottoms, you are likely to
encounter a bottomless expanse of very soft sediment. You can actually silt dive
into the bottoms and still not encounter terra-firma (I have stuck a
10 to 12 foot stick down into the silt and still buried it and my arm up to
my armpits.  As a result, shallow lakes with fast motorboats are likely
to offer very poor visibility.

If you are interested in seeing underwater life, my best recommendation is 
that you do a night dive.   Since finding a good site can be difficult,
I recommend revisiting a site you dove during the day.  If nothing else
you are likely to see enormous quantities of crawdads (some quite big).

If you find any good places (or any place that fills tanks) please post your
findings. 

- Andrew Potter

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