Club Dive Trip

NeveSSL · Mar 24, 2014

Hi all,

I was wondering how many people would be interesting in doing a club dive trip one weekend this summer? I think it would be a fun trip and is something I've tried to do before, but wasn't able to personally attend.

Early June would probably be best as far as visibility and water temps go. I believe Pennyroyal would be best as they have all equipment on-site and do group rates. The last time I was there, I think it was only about $50 per person for rentals, entry, and two tanks of air. We could carpool, get a group rate, and then will probably let everyone choose their buddy and plan their own dives, or team up and dive in a larger group if you want.

This would be an event where you HAVE to be a certified diver to attend, so it would not be an official meeting, but would just be for fun. Non-divers are also welcome to come, but there will be an entry fee even if you're not diving. We may even be able to work something out with Pennyroyal for a treasure hunt type thing with the winners receiving corals. I'm not 100% sure they'd be able to, but from what I've seen they're a really great group of people and would likely love the idea of hiding stuff for us.

Also, if you guys wanted, we could make a weekend of it as they have camping facilities onsite, but I understand most would not be able to do two nights.

Who all would be interested?

Brandon

Rob.D · Mar 24, 2014

I'd be interested, there are 2 dive sites about 30-45 minutes south of Knoxville.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=eLz16PwlB2feVGe_bckEfg&bvm=bv.62922401,d.b2I

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...6xOf6ESXkR822awZA&sig2=8En_xL6wID_353ecR9aH6A

NeveSSL · Mar 24, 2014

You're confused about which club forum you're posting in, again, Rob.

Have you been to either of those? I've heard about them, but have never been.

Brandon

roadrashpaul · Mar 24, 2014

I would be down. I have all my own stuff anyway. What about going to Dale Hollow? I have dove there lots of times and have a boat we could use (depending on how many go). I have also dove pennyroyal. It is OK but I think the hollow is way better. Just my .02

NeveSSL · Mar 24, 2014

Awesome, Paul. I would prefer to go somewhere that is an all-in-one sort of place. I believe everyone in the club who is certified has varying degrees of experience and it would make it much easier to plan.

Having said that, though, I've always been interested in Dale Hollow. I've heard of a town underwater there with a few buildings remaining to be seen. Have you seen it? Where do you normally dive there?

Brandon

roadrashpaul · Mar 24, 2014

NeveSSL said:
Awesome, Paul. I would prefer to go somewhere that is an all-in-one sort of place. I believe everyone in the club who is certified has varying degrees of experience and it would make it much easier to plan.

Having said that, though, I've always been interested in Dale Hollow. I've heard of a town underwater there with a few buildings remaining to be seen. Have you seen it? Where do you normally dive there?

Brandon

Yep, I have dove the school house. It's nothing special. All that is left is the block foundation. There is a bridge (with vehicles under it) that I haven't gotten to see up close but have the wetsuit for it now. I got to see the top but couldn't take the cold any longer lol. My parents had a houseboat there for about 10 years so I dove it quite a bit. BIG catfish will scare the hell out of you. Visibility early in the year or the end of summer/fall is best. Less boat traffic so its not so stirred up. Generally the thermocline is 25ish with it varying depending on temp and time of year. I recommend it if you ever get the chance.

There used to be a shop on DH that rented equipment, filled tanks etc but they closed it. I "think" they still may fill tanks but most people would need their own gear to dive there. I fully understand the need for some people to be able to rent gear and it be an all in one.

Rob.D · Mar 24, 2014

NeveSSL said:
You're confused about which club forum you're posting in, again, Rob.

Have you been to either of those? I've heard about them, but have never been.

Brandon

I've been to the Philly quarry several times and I'm not confused ding dong!

fishdoc11 · Mar 24, 2014

I would be up for it assuming I'm off work (we will also be gone 3rd week on June on vacation). I have my silver star advanced YMCA cert FWIW. I like Martha's and it's close but most have probably dived that one a lot. I know we could dive Jeff's quarry as well in Murfreesboro for free but to be honest the thermocline is pretty shallow and vis stinks until late summer/fall.

jaybk5211 · Mar 24, 2014

I got certified at pennyroyal, the dive shop I got certified at goes out here a lot and actually sunk a boat out here a year or so ago for some structure.

NeveSSL · Mar 26, 2014

Rob.D said:
I've been to the Philly quarry several times and I'm not confused ding dong!

fishdoc11 said:
I would be up for it assuming I'm off work (we will also be gone 3rd week on June on vacation). I have my silver star advanced YMCA cert FWIW. I like Martha's and it's close but most have probably dived that one a lot. I know we could dive Jeff's quarry as well in Murfreesboro for free but to be honest the thermocline is pretty shallow and vis stinks until late summer/fall.

I like Jeff's, mainly because of the eel and the bus, but I think we need somewhere with a full service shop, unless we can talk one of the local scuba shops into taking us somewhere.  I actually think Jeff shut Cornerstone down, though, if I'm not mistaken.  Could be worth checking with a few, though.

jaybk5211 said:
I got certified at pennyroyal, the dive shop I got certified at goes out here a lot and actually sunk a boat out here a year or so ago for some structure.

Nice!  Which dive shop did you get certified through? 

Just for the fun of it, here's a video of one of my dives in Key Largo about 2 years ago:

[video=youtube;CRFQipKj4Go]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRFQipKj4Go[/video]

Make sure you watch it in 1080p.

Brandon

jaybk5211 · Mar 26, 2014

I got certified over at island hoppers. Rob is a great guy, and they have social get togethers once a month in the summer. Great group of folks, and they do group trips 3-4 times a year. Check the website out, the trips are nice and affordable.

I tried to upload my video of the shark dive I did 2 years ago but the video is too big.

NeveSSL · Mar 26, 2014

Sweet, I know exactly where those guys are.

Upload your video to YouTube (it will take a while... maybe do it overnight) and then you can share it.

Brandon

jaybk5211 · Mar 26, 2014

Yeah they are solid, no half butt training. They get you in a pool and go over all the what ifs. They will jerk masks off your face, pull out regulators so you have to find it and breath, learn to clear a mask if water gets in.

You are in a 10 ft deep pool so not that scary, but it teaches you to not freak out and stay calm. That is what gets most divers into trouble.

NeveSSL · Mar 26, 2014

Perfect! That is exactly what I went through at MTSU, also. That's the good stuff.

Some people think its picking on you, but it actually becomes kind of fun once you realize you can easily fix all of the stuff that they make go wrong, which as you said helps you stay calm and not freak out.

Brandon