Buxmont Dive Club

Archive for April, 2010

It was a chilly morning in North East Pennsylvania. Divers from the area arrived, bundled in winter coats as the breath fogged in the air. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and even Delaware were represented. After processing through the gates, diver took over picnic tables and unloaded their piles of gear which had sat long in hibernation of the winter.

Old friends greeted each other and new divers wandered aimlessly, not sure what was happening. The clear sky and warm sun soon had divers dropping their heavy coats. Soon the conversations turned to the still clear waters of the quarry. “GEAR UP!” was heard and everyone started getting on their layers, base, fleece, and then dry-suit. Setting up BC’s and Reg’s, making sure everything was good. Sidelong glances were cast at the one brave, some say crazy, woman in a wet suit. Doesn’t she know the water is cold?

Six divers, five dry, one wet, enter the water together. Experienced divers and new get their weight checks handled, check their air, check the hoses and then it is a short surface swim to the platforms. This isn’t too bad they think. Out at the platforms and it is a short decent to the 25′ platforms. Some drop quickly, others slowly into the clear water. The quarry is never as clear as it is opening day, 50 foot viz, awesome! Small puffs of air are added to the dry-suits to keep divers warm in the 45° water. Fifteen minutes on the platforms, checking buoyancy, the body remembering the motions, add a little air, vent a little air, get comfortable.

Now to the school bus. Someone gets everyone’s attention and a signal to follow the line. Down to fifty feet, water temperature drops slightly to 42°. There is the bus, some divers go through a quick penetration – some pop out the holes in the roof, others go out the front door, others just swim along the top.

The first pair decides they’ve had enough. Not a big surprise, the women in the wet suit is half the pair. They others swim around, getting acclimated to the underwater life. Four divers back to the platform then another pair ascends. Two divers left, enjoying the serenity in the clear water. They decide to follow the line back to the entry point – no surface swim for these two. A few minutes at fifteen feet to off-gas and the divers are walking back onto dry land, no longer floating weightless.

The laughter can be heard as everyone decompresses, it was a good dive and not so cold. Everyone relaxes as the grills are fired and the food starts being deployed.

Dive season is back at Dutch Springs – It’s going to be another great year!