Niagara River Dive 105

Sunday, July 29 - 2007
10:18 – 10:40
Dive Number 105
Start: 10:00
Roads: Dry / clear
Visibility: 24km
Temp: +25C
Water Temp: +18C
Area: Upper Niagara River
Vehicle: Black Sunfire
Weather: Sunny / Clear
Visibility: 2m
Divers: Wolf, Chuck
Maximum Depth: 2m
Shore Crew: Tori
Plan: Drift Dive

We met at the Gillmore road truck stop and Chuck took us to the exit point and then to the entry point by the Train Bridge.

We kitted up and went in near a small bay. Chuck noticed my male parts weren't properly connecting to my female parts and I was leaking air at my high pressure hose and 1st stage.

We decided to abort the dive and just dive in the bay for a bit. I spent some time admiring the abundance of fish: Goby, Bass, Striped bass, etc. I found a crayfish to play with who was hiding in some rocks.

I ended the dive and headed back to the car to go home and swap reg sets.

Downtown Welland Dive 106

Sunday, July 29 - 2007
15:00 – 16:30
Dive Number 106
Start: 14:30
Roads: Dry / clear
Visibility: 24km
Temp: +25C
Water Temp: +20C
Area: East Main Street Bridge, Welland
Vehicle: Chuck's Black Sunfire
Weather: Sunny / Clear
Visibility: 4m
Divers: Wolf, Chuck
Maximum Depth: 2m
Shore Crew: Tori, Christine
Plan: Exploration

As we were kitting up, we were approached by a local crack-whore who told us her entire life story, then the cops came and chased her away.

At the dive site there were lots of children who asked us if we were going to go scuba diving. We advised them we come here every few weeks to look for the bodies.

As we descended we saw so many bikes and even steel cables with large lead weights on the bottom. As we went toward the bridge Chuck found that ladder he saw at the end of the last dive but after uncovering it, he discovered it was only 3 rungs. We found dozens of bikes and shopping carts. Nearer to the big bridge I found a small two wheeled scooter. We found some gigantic gears from the bridge on the bottom. On one gear sprocket I found an old hammer. The hammer provided lots of amusement for smashing rocks and bottles and even attempts to hit some local fish. The thought was to hit the fish in the head with a hammer so Chuck could skewer the fish with his knife. As we suspected the fish were faster than our hammer swinging and stabbing hands. Chuck found a good sized bucket and breathed exhaust bubbles into it, turning it into a lift bucket, until it got too full and shot to the surface with Chuck attached.

The dive progressed with us seeing even more bikes. On our way back to the starting point we even found the dead salamander I squeezed a few dives back. There was so much to see on this dive. Bikes, giant sprockets, giant carp about 1m long! When we arrived back to the dock, Chuck finally got tied up instead of me all the time. To Chucks humor, I got tied up when trying to untie him. We stripped off our gear and headed over to our local Tim Horton's to relax and laugh. So much happened on this dive it was difficult to remember it all and write it down. While we were exiting the water we came across a young teenage girl standing in the water with pink painted toenails wearing only her bra and panties. She was falling out of her bra and her panties were quite revealing. Apparently she was nicely shaved.

It was a great dive with a very safe and experienced dive partner! Can't wait to visit this location again. Chuck found himself a chrome cigarette case, a fishing rod reel, and some carbiners which he found attached to some downed steel cable. This location is worthy of more diving.

Scuba Dive Number 104

Sunday, July 22 - 2007
11:00 – 12:15
Dive Number 104
Start: 11:00
Roads: Dry / clear
Visibility: 24km
Temp: +25C
Water Temp: +20C
Area: Ryerson Park, Lake Ontario Dive
Vehicle: Niva
Weather: Sunny / Clear
Visibility: 3m
Divers: Wolf, Chuck
Maximum Depth: 3m
Shore Crew: Tori
Plan: Attempt to find the Ryerson Park Shipwreck

Chuck arrived right on time! We left my house in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and headed for Ryerson Park. We parked on the street and got kitted up and entered in by the metal stairs. Chruch was a little underweight and needed some rocks in his BCD.

Shortly before Chuck started diving, a small middle-eastern man asked Chuck "So, are you going scuba diving?" after he was standing in the water all kitted up.

We headed out into the lake in seach of the wreck. The bottom controu has changed quite a lot since the last time I was here. The bottom was completely covered in algae and large rocks. We saw several large Bass and had some fun trying to lure them close enough to grab (which never actually works) Chuck grabed some large rocks and smashed off a zebra muscles. I joined in with the zebra mussel destruction festivities.

We reached a maximum depth of 3m. We tried hard to find the wreck but with visibility very low we could not see it. As with the last dive I got all bound up in the rope from the dive float again – this time it was because my Mares Volo fins are damaged and the rope got inside some of the jagged edges. This time I got free without chuck untying me!

At around 90bar I signaled to chick to head back to the shore. We collected our gear and returned to shore. We collected our gear and returned to the Niva to take everything off and sit on the benches for a bit to shoot the breeze.

Dive 103 - Lake Ontario

Sunday, July 15 - 2007
11:45 – 13:00
Dive Number 103
Start: 11:00
Roads: Dry / clear
Visibility: 24km
Temp: +25C
Water Temp: +10C
Area: Chuck's Secret Lake Ontario Dive
Vehicle: Niva
Weather: Sunny / Clear
Visibility: 3m
Divers: Wolf, Chuck
Maximum Depth: 4m
Shore Crew: Lise, Tori
Plan: Explore the Secret Location in search of shipwrecks.

Chuck arrived a little early at my place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and we started off by going up the QEW to casablanca blvd to a very bumpy and pot-hole filled role. Chuck showed us evidence of pottery and china which were scattered all over the beach. We got kitted up and headed to the water to find it was very, very cold. We swam out and did a large semi-circle. E saw lots of rocks, goby and found two steel pipes with pointed ends. Chuck's rod was bigger than my rod. We found some large dead fish to which I poked in the eye to be sure it was dead, and we found a toilet seat cover which provided some amusement. At one point I was kind of tied up in the dive flag rope, and tried to free myself. I ended up turning over, flipping around and other unusual things to find myself even more bound up. Chuck had to untie me. We headed back to shore to take of our kit. Sadly we did not find a shipwreck or debris field even in the 4m water. Today Lise and Tori were our shore crew. It was a fun dive at a cool location. The large bumpy road was irresistible for me with the Lada 4wd. I decided to drive down the road very fast and hard, Lise took some photographs. The niva flew up in the air on the bumps and really took a beating. It was great fun! Afterwards we went to a local coffee shop to relax and share stories.

Queenston Mines Expedition

Saturday, July 14 - 2007
10:00 – 13:50
Start: 10:00
Roads: Dry / clear
Visibility: 18km
Temp: +14C
Area: Queenston Mines
Vehicle: Niva
Weather: Overcast
Trail Conditions: Dry dirt
Hikers: Tori, Wolf, Lise
Plan: Explore the Queenston Caves

10:00 On-site, embark to the caves

10:20 Pass the crane and rock pile to take a rest and fill-out log sheets. It looks like it might rain.

10:40 We arrived at the mouth of the caves and suited-up with hard-hats, wet suits, and gloves. Heavy boots and torches. Sadly our main UK lamp was out of batteries so we were unable to use it.

11:00 We entered into the caverns. As always were confronted by knee-deep muck and lots of rocks. Th water did not seem as cold now as the last visit back in April. Lise had some difficulties navigating the water and thick silt. We went around counter-clockwise from the entrance.

11:25 Around 1/2hr after entering the caverns, Lise was having some troubles breathing and we decided to end the expedition. We headed back to the entrance and Lise left the caverns. Wolf stayed behind and waited for Tori, who was barefoot to enter the caves and make thier way to the grotto for some more photographs then headed out, and stripped to change.

12:00 We all left the caverns to relax and review the photos and enjoy the day as it is very peaceful and quiet here. There aren't any people here mostly because it looks like it may rain anytime. As we relaxed we took the time to take some nude photos of Wolf in the caverns.

12:57 We all packed up and headed back to the Niva and then home for lunch.

13:18 Tori sustained an injury to her right foot on a rock.

13:22 We reached the old crane and sat down to dress and clean her right injured foot. Brian called to notify me of a Niva for sale in Niagara Falls in great condition for around $1,000

13:30 Return to the trail and head for home.

13:44 We arrived back at the car, a little tired. Always saddened at the end of a hike. Wolf wore a brown mandarin collar shirt, camouflage pants, Tori wore black pants, and a camouflage t-shirt. List wore a pale green t-shirt and blue shorts with red shoes and a Canadian forces baseball hat. It was a great time for a hike an an excellent exploration.

13:50 Head for home.

Underwater Exploration #102

Sunday, July 08 - 2007
10:00 – 11:30
Dive Number 102
Start: 09:30
Roads: Dry / clear
Visibility: 24km
Temp: +25C
Area: East Main Street bridge
Vehicle: Suburban
Weather: Sunny / Clear
Visibility: 3m
Divers: Wolf, Chuck
Shore Crew: Lise, Tori
Plan: Explore the East Main Street Canal Area

Chuck arrived a little late, we had Lise and Tori as shore crew. We suited up and entered at the normal entry point under the Division Street bridge. We swam northbound along the river bed towards the steel lift bridge. We come across lots of shopping carts, bicycles, beer cans and debris. We saw the inside parts of a parking meter and towards the lift bridge large wooden piles under the bridge as well. Chuck started to run low on air and we headed back Chuck found an almost new purple bike and wanted to bring it back, but it was too much work for him as he was out of air. En-route back I found a gigantic dead salamander about 50cm long and brought it up to show chuck who seemed to be less than enthusiastic about my find as he later stated it was dripping white goo from tis mouth. It was a great dive, afterward we went to Tim Hortons to relax and exchange stories.