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Post by admin on May 25, 2004 9:19:00 GMT -8
I am planning a vintage scuba dive weekend at Lake Wazee (Quarry), near Black River Falls, Wisconsin, on the weekend of August 27-29. It is a very deep and clear lake, and there is a campground nearby, and hotel rooms. We plan on basing at the campground, and there should be enough spaces for everyone. Some spare tents and sleeping bags might also be available. We also have plenty of scuba tanks. Here is a link to a web site with more info about the lake: www.co.jackson.wi.us/html/forestry/scuba.htmBlack River Falls is about 3 hours drive from Minneapolis, and 3 1/2 hrs. from Milwaukee. A group of us "Inland Divers" will be car-pooling from Minneapolis, so transportation can be available for anyone that wants to fly into Minneapolis. Plans for the dive event are open to suggestion. We hope to have a barbecue and possibly show some 16mm diving related films, as well, in addition to diving. We could certainly have some sort of contest involving vintage gear or ? Thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Post by Bryan on May 25, 2004 13:41:50 GMT -8
Sounds like a great time Dan! Count me in for sure!
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Post by VintageDiverMN on May 29, 2004 7:03:19 GMT -8
The dive shop in Black River Falls is Wazee Sports Center. Web site is, www.wazeesports.com. The phone No. is 715-284-5181. Their is motels and a casino for good food in Black River Falls for those that don't camp. Hope to see all you vintage divers there. Frans
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Post by Linda on Jul 15, 2004 21:19:43 GMT -8
UPDATE! The schedule of events is progressing!-- Dan Barringer will be conducting a seminar on rebuilding U.S. Diver's two hose regulators on Saturday, Aug. 28th. Everyone is invited to bring their own USD regulator to rebuild during the seminar. Tools and replacement parts will be available as well.
-- Ryan Spence is coming all the way from Colorado! He is offering a presentation to vintage divers regarding the evolution of Jacques Cousteau equipment and will also be exhibiting his reproduction Cousteau tank shroud and helmet. These high quality reproduction pieces may soon be available for sale.
-- We are also having a vintage gear "Show, Swap, and Sell", so if you have any gear to display, trade, or sell, bring it along!
-- Everyone who participates in two hose regulator diving will automatically be entered in a random drawing for a pair of brand new Voit UDT Duck Feet! [/size] We will continue to provide event updates as the date draws near... Keep checking back! Or visit our web page by clicking this link... Wisconsin Vintage Dive Weekend Aug. 28-29
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Post by pearldiver on Jul 17, 2004 13:02:28 GMT -8
can you tell me the name of the campground? I may go, not sure yet. Let me know. Gayle
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Post by Linda on Jul 17, 2004 20:45:08 GMT -8
Gayle, there is apparently only one campground right on Lake Wazee, and we can't find a name for it (other than Wazee). It has 12 primitive sites and I think the fee is $10/per night. From looking at the map of the lake, it looks like you drive into the park entrance and then turn left.
Dive fees are $10.00/day. Admission fees are also required which are $3.00/vehicle/day. I THINK if you are a paid camper (having paid the $10.00), you don't have to pay the $3.00 vehicle fee. The $3.00 is kind of a day use thing, from what I understand.
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Post by Linda on Jul 17, 2004 20:47:51 GMT -8
Here are some local hotels/motels for those who don't want to camp--
I got these online, so I hope the phone numbers are still current.
Super 8 Motel 800-284-3320
Motel 95 715-963-4311
Days Inn 715-284-4333
Best Western Arrowhead Lodge 715-284-9471
Falls Motel 715-284-9919
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Post by bigdave on Aug 4, 2004 16:42:39 GMT -8
Drat, I will be in California on TDY that weekend. Why don't we move it to Santa Barbara! ;D ;D
Everybody have fun, BD
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Post by VintageDiverMN on Aug 5, 2004 7:06:20 GMT -8
My wife and I will be staying at the Best Western Arrowhead Lodge on the 27th, 28th, and 29th. The rate is $72.21 per night, senior rate, 55 or older. Frans Carlson
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Post by Bryan on Aug 5, 2004 13:12:46 GMT -8
I just booked my flight and Rob is meeting me in Minneapolis. We are staying at the Days Inn on I-94 and 54 Hwy 27th-30th. A big Thank You to Frans Carlson and the Inland Divers Club for helping us out with cylinders and weights! The airlines take a dim view of those items these days. Looking forward to meeting and diving with eveyone!!
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Post by 1969ivan1 on Aug 5, 2004 18:11:48 GMT -8
That's right Bryan! I can't wait to dive into the lake with all you experts . I look forward to seeing all of the neat dive gear and the seminar. See u all there.
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Post by pearldiver on Aug 6, 2004 18:50:40 GMT -8
Ok folks. I am in on this. Don't know what to expect, but...hey. Do I need a C card to show anyone at the park. I'll have to find it if so. I will be camping at a campground not far away. I hope no one minds, but I will bring my ten yr old boy who loves to dive, and I will have the old motorhome with the power ranger on the door. I'll make coffee. Anyone need cream or sugar? I may have a movie myself for all of you. You may like it. Gayle
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Post by VintageDiverMN on Aug 7, 2004 6:54:28 GMT -8
I've never been asked for a C card at Wazee, all they want from SCUBA divers is their $10.00.
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Post by pearldiver on Aug 7, 2004 18:17:34 GMT -8
That is so funny. Thanks. I'll still try and find my C card. Gayle
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Post by admin on Aug 16, 2004 21:13:37 GMT -8
Dave Krafft dives Wazee regularly and he sent me all of the following fantastic information:
Diving: The fees for diving are $10.00 per person per day. They pass out a colored coded arm/equipment band that needs to be displayed each day. They do come around and check but are nice about it. These need to be picked up each day before you dive. If they aren't in the hut at the entrance you can deposit your fee and keep the slip as proof.
Cars: Each car in the park has to have a day use pass that costs $3.00 per day. They give you a sticker to place on your window or you can pay by envelope, like the dive fees, and place it on your dash. You can buy these for multiple days if wanted, just multiply days in park X $3.00.
Camping: Each campsite has a little board next to it and needs to be paid for at the rate of $10.00 per day. The fee slip gets hung on the board to reserve it. Each one has a fire ring and table and has room for 4-6 tents and cars. Each campsite has one car sticker with it so those that pay for a campsite don't have to pay a car fee - it is included in the cost of the site. All others will have to pay day car fees but won't have to pay a campsite fee.
Dive Sites: All the official dive sites on the map are accessible by car and have parking areas and bathrooms or porta-potties at them. It is too far to haul gear to any of them on foot except #2 closest to the campground. A description of each dive site follows:
#2 The Wall: This site has a paved ramp that runs down about 40 ft to a small sand beach for entry. If you stay off in front of the ramp there is a gradual slope down to some fish cribs and a training platform at about 20 ft. If you go further then this you hit some underwater trees and then a cliff drop that goes down to 200 ft. If you go directly to the left of the ramp when you first get in you hit the drop within about 10 ft from shore but the first level is at 100 ft just at the bottom of the buoy out from the site. Neat area to dive but the easily diveable area is a little small, unless you are prepared to wall dive or go deep.
#4 Sherwood Forest: This area also has a paved ramp to the water but you can park within about 10 ft of the entry. There is a sand bar that extends out from shore and if you go to the left of it you stay shallow and hit first some fish cribs and then a training platform, some old pipes to swim through and a few other odds and ends. Great area with a max depth of about 25-30 ft. If you go to the right of the sandbar it gets deep quickly and you head into Sherwood forest. This is a flooded forest of trees that almost make the surface from 60 ft at the first level. These grew on one of the mine roads and if you go past it, it drops off to over 120 ft. Fun to swim through, bring a flashlight, and not for the beginner or the claustrophobic. Lots of fish in and around the base of the trees.
#5 The Swimming Beach: This is truly the swimming beach for the park and all the non-divers go there. It is also a nice dive entry with a very gentle sand bottom and a pretty good sized area to dive in without going much past 20 ft. Great place for beginners. Long swim out to reasonable depths and a long walk from the parking area to the beach but OK with light equipment.
#7 The Boat Ramp: Most people that are going to use boats on the lake start from here (only electric or paddle boats allowed). Parking is about a 75 yard walk down to the entry. This is actually one of the nicest sites with a good hard bottom. The bottom slopes down to a large number of fish cribs and then a training platform at about 20 ft again. Then it gently lopes down to about 60 ft. You can follow the contour either right or left and it is very tough to get lost. Nice dive site.
Visibility: about 20-25 ft at the surface and on down to about 20 ft. There was a layer of silt/particulate matter suspended in the water that looked like a cloud that was about 40 ft deep. No more then 3-4 ft of vis in this cloud. Below cleared nicely to 50-75 ft vis but you had to get down to 60 ft past the 2nd thermocline to get into it. Ranger stated that there has been quite a bit of runoff this year and that the rains have been heavy. Not sure if this will change at all in the next two weeks. Will provide a nice stopping point for most people making sure that those who aren't ready to go deep know exactly where to stop even without a depth gauge. Below this layer it is quite dark and flashlights would be suggested.
Temps: Air temps from 60 at night to 80's during the day. Water: 74 at the surface, 65 at 20 ft, 60 at 60 ft, and 43 at 90 ft, 40 at 110 ft. Seems to be thermocline layers at about 20 ft, and 60-65 ft.
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