Scuba Divers roll call

[Jeremy]

Any fellow divers out there that know of good Oregon SW washington diving spots? I have dove the fingers twice and am looking for some other good spots. I want to dive smugglers cove but dont know if it has any currents or not or even how deep it is. Thanks for the info,
Jeremy

[Mr. Fisherman]

Well,

I'm a certified diver but I haven't braved the Pacific and it's bone chilling water yet.

My last dive was in warm old Mexico in the Sea of Cortez.

Diver down....

Mr. F.

[joru]

I also do not like the chilly waters of the Pacific. Taking the spouse to Tahiti the last two weeks of August for one of our annual diving adventures. Think of all the salmon that will pass by without my hook in the water; but beware when we return!!!

[birdhunter]

I've been diving in the NW for the past 5 years. PADI advanced open water. S&R, night diving, navigating, and all that other good stuff. Haven't been brave enough to try the Pacific around here. Got spoiled over spring break when I dove in Maui.

Around here I've hit old mining quarries, reservoirs and rivers. Vis is always a big issue and the temps can get a bit chilly too. North fork on the Clack is a good place to go. Detroit is a mud pit right now, but I was certified there and it can be geat. They are cold, but Timothy and Clear lakes are awesome for visability. Just not too much to see. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Lately I've taken to diving the Clack and the Sandy. August comes around and there isn't anyone in the river. Fishing sucks and its usually too low to drift. Silver season hasn't opened yet and the currents are at their lowest level. Visibility is usually great and this translates into a tackle bonanza. Thats right, we drift the river and dive the holes for lures and other goodies. Oars, anchors, and tons of plugs and divers. Those holes that aren't too deep or don't have a bad current we skin dive and for the bigger ones we strap on some tanks. Really really fun. Get to learn the river really well, see some monster fish and pick up enough tackle to last you for the next 10 years.

I remember last year during (spring break mind you) I was fishing the Sandy w/ a buddy and we weren't doing too awesome. Got down to the Rope Hole and there was this huge snag in it. Well the **** thing looked like a christmas tree it was so covered w/ takle. Water was somewhere in the mid 40's at the time but it was sunny out so I decided to take a swim. I know, I know, kids don't try this at home. Sunk the anchor into the snag and I followed the rope down to pick off my goodies. Came back after about 10 dives w/ 2 wiggle warts, 4 mag hot n' tots, 2 hot n' tots, 5 jet divers 5 kwikfish and a couple of spinners. Not a bad haul. Got down to the boat ramp and one of the boats in front of us had just lost a kwikfish in the snag. As is turns out we had it. Sold it back to him for $10. Very cool. That snag is gone now, but I know where a few more christmas trees are.

I also know where two kickers are in the Willamette. 17 ft of water, but the vis it terrible and a lot more boat traffic than I feel comfortable around. I wouldn't normally dive that cesspool, but if I can recover and restore those babys.....I might consider it.

Seriously though, diving is great way to learn the river and I mean really learn it. I wouldn't recomend skin diving as there have been a lot of drownings lately. Scuba is the way to go. Rent the gear for a day and go for it. They are all shallow, so you'll have air forever and never have to worry about nitrogen. Good luck.

[Pilar]

As you all well know go with someone who knows the spot the first time you try a new one. I'm a basic grunt diver, open water I. Most of my bottom time is in the Carribean. St Thomas and the Keys pretty much. The diving here is pretty challenging. Two places I really like are the jetties on the coastal bays like Netarts, Nehalem and Tillamook. The other is an easy beach dive in Newport. Yaquina bay by the Aquarium. Just follow the road to the turn around at the end. Swim out to the channel beyond the docks and check it out. Crabs and some fish.
Nice easy beach dive in 45' of water.

Main thing is to go on a day with minimal tides and plan for the dive during the slack tide. I prefer high because the water has more visibility and fish.

'Puffin' used to do this for a living, diving with hooka on a raft for clams. This was pretty lucrative until it got played out. He tells me stories of rock scallops on jetties and huge lings lurking.

We should get all the divers together for an expedition.

Yont to?

[birdhunter]

Aye!

[BUGLEMAN]

I am in!

I would enjoy going on some dives with ifishers. It would be fun! I am basic openwater but have all my own equipment except a wet or dry suit. I have dove Yaquina at 3 arches and in front of the coast guard station. That was 3 weeks ago. Do it on the incomming during a minimal exchange. I almost had 30' vis. It was cool. Some fish lots of crab and clams. I want to do some blue water diving. I would like to get some ifish dive buddies.

[Smily]

I have been certifiable for years now! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] But the problem I have is going into the cold and swift currents of the Northwest. I did the Sound before and that was my scariest dive ever. I did that in 94'.The currents are so swift and uncontrollable. I had done other drift dives before but experienced nothing like the Northwest!! Before that I did the Mollala once and did Kuai(sp)once, Bahama's Twice, Cozumel once and the Channel Island chain about a hundred times. Okay maybe not a hundred but do have countless boat trips and Beach dives logged and not logged.Maybe I do have a hundred!!! I use to love to spear fish and find Scallops and I'm getting hungry thinking about it. I'll stop now. It was better than going to a Seafood Market. It was all yours for the taking. As far as diving up here. Scary and very cold. I got up like Birdhunter in Education as far as Advanced and Diver rescue and wreck diving and night diving and so on.

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Smily [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[KrystalFlash]

I am a fairly new diver, but I am open water certified. I welcome the opportunity to brave the deep with fellow Ifishers. See ya there.

Better Lucky than Good
Team 'PILAR'
Team 'BAD Salmon'
Team 'Sail Bravely'
Team 'Slightly BENT'

[ 07-25-2001: Message edited by: KrystalFlash ]

[Jeremy]

Yeah that would be fun to get a big group together and go somewhere. I have done about 15 dives in the northwest mostly Puget Sound/Hoods Canal, a couple at newport and about 5 in the caribbean not counting the week i am going to be in the virgin islands next year

[Phish_on]

Come dive the upper Deschutes and find my fly rod ... and the legendary Zebco ... and if you find my vest there is an icy cold Sierra Nevada Pale Ale waiting for you.

Seriously you could probably collect $1000 in Rapalas up there. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[MetalHead]

I up for a dive, PADI (put another dollar in) open water diver so is my wife and son. I dive mostly the rivers around here also along the Wind boundry and Drano. Like birdhunter said it like an underwater tackle shop. One time did a stealth night dive with a couple of friends in front of the new powerhouse at Bonniville (Big fish on the bottom). Not the brightest thing I ever did but it was exciting. I purchased Stephen Fischnallers book Northwest Shore Dives it lists and details about 50 dive sights in Puget Sound area. I also have a dive book that details several Northwest boat dives. I havent gotten out much but would love to go diving with some ifishers. Lets try to put something together.

[Jeremy]

Looks like we have about 10 people interested in getting a dive together, and probably more that are out there. Anybody want to be the moderator of this little group? maybe we could get a board together on here just for diving. I could moderate if nobody else wants too. I will email jennie and see whats up. How many people have there own gear? just curious?

[Gizmo Man]

NAUI in '73. Dive a time or 2 a yr. Have my honey hole that stocks me up.

Haven't been going much as tough to find a good partner.

Anybody got a tank ready to go to get an 8 hp merc. that went overboard 2 months ago in a local river.

Also may have a tank to sell if anyone needs a steel tank or the old style backpack.

The Giz... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Jeremy]

Hey Gizmoman, im looking for a steel what is it? low pressure 80? has it been inspected lately, Hydro, Visual? email me, hruskajj at hotmail

[Steve]

The best dive I ever had was behind Chrome Pt. light house on the way up to Campbell River on the straights of Georgia lots of rocks ridges, sea cucumbers, urchins up the gazoo, more bottom fish, big lings, than I have ever seen...even a big basking shark that was as big as JAWS...he didn't like the yellow trail that I left. Need to watch the tides up to a 20 mph current at times...

[DF]

THIS IS COOL
My friend and I want to learn how to dive
It sounds really really fun
Info on lessons??

Thanks [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Jeremy]

Dustin, here is the info on getting trained $$$$$$$$$$, just kidding its pretty expensive but well worth it you can go through any of the shops in portland for training, you usually do about 4 or 5 pool dives and then five open water (ocean dives) email me for more info. hruskajj at homtail