During the warmer months the schedule for the open-water
dives does not change. Divers should meet at Deep-Six at 0930 sharp. Don't
come early or late! Weather is usually not a factor. We dive in the rain
unless it is too cold or thundering. For special notes about diving in the
colder months see the last information on this page.
Bring a lunch (2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are
ideal) and plenty to drink. Bring warm clothes and gloves if the weather
is cool or cold. Bring your bathing suit and a towel.
For the first dive of the year in Minnewaska all divers
are required to pay an annual $20 diving fee.
Be sure to bring that fee in the form of cash or a check! Also, the State
of NY requires that divers sign a liability form each year.
On every dive we carry 635 liters of oxygen and a first
aid kit. The first aid kit is specifically for diving. On the top of the
kit are the emergency numbers for that dive site. There is a set of decompression
tables below the numbers. There are first aid books for use in non-emergency
situations. The rest of the kit consists of bandages, Benedryl, rubber gloves,
hypodermic syringes, adrenalin, decongestants, antiseptics, water purifier
tablets, alcohol, Q-tips, aspirin, matches, bug spray, Kotex, Tampex, fruit
juice, sun screen, etc. The location of the first aid kit is made known to
all divers.
The emergency numbers and information are to be prepared
by each diver in the Open Water 1 class. They must be done on a 3x5" Index
card. There are NO exceptions.
Directions to Deep-Six:
From New Paltz: Go down Main Street (toward
the west) and cross the bridge over the Wallkill River. After the bridge
take a right on to Springtown Road. Take the next left on to Mtn. Rest Road.
Go to the stop sign and take a right on to Canaan Road. Go 1.2 miles (passing
the Dead End sign) and Deerpath Drive will be on the left. We are 14 Deerpath
Drive.
From Kingston: Leave Kingston going south
on Route 32. In Tillson take a right at the Postage Inn on to Tillson Road.
Go to the end and take a left on to Springtown Road. Go 4.2 miles to Dug
road and take a right. Go to the stop sign and take a sharp right on to Canaan
Road. Pass the dead end sign to Deerpath Drive and take a left. We are 14
Deerpath Drive.
For all diver's safety, it is extremely
important to do a buddy check before going on any scuba dive! There are a
minimum of 4 checks that must be done:
-
Make sure your buddy's tank is turned on.
-
If there is a reserve valve ("J" valve) on the tank,
the lever must be in the down position - reserve off.
-
Have them put their hand on the weight belt buckle
and/or integrated weight handles. This insures they have put the weights
on, and they can find the quick-release for them in an emergency.
-
Most important: Look at the tank pressure gauge and
press the BCD inflator button. If the pressure drops, the tank is not on!
If the BCD does not get air the connection is not proper. This is the most
important of the four checks!!!!
SCUBA DIVE I
EMERGENCY CARD: This will be collected from each
diver.
-
Suiting Up/Entry/Buoyancy Check
-
Do a skin dive after the buoyancy check and the weights are correct. There
must be at least 5 breath-holds with submergence.
-
Exit and Donn SCUBA
-
Buddy Equipment Check
-
Write on the slate the 2 Entry Numbers: Tank pressure and Time
-
Maintenance of Buoyancy During Descent
-
Regulator Clear
-
Spare Air Use
-
Alternate Air Use
-
Partial Mask Clear
-
Buoyancy to the Surface
-
SCUBA Dive
-
Drop the weight belt on a shallow, solid bottom and carry ashore
-
Write on the slate the 4 Exit Numbers: Tank Pressure, Time, Bottom Time,
and Maximum Depth
SCUBA DIVE II (Same day)
Buddy Equipment Check
-
Write on the slate the 2 Entry Numbers: Tank pressure and Time
-
Surface Oral Neutral Buoyancy
-
Eliminate a Leg Cramp
-
Tired Diver Carry
-
Rear Approach and Oral Inflation
-
Underwater Approach and Vest Pull
-
Float Rescue
-
Clear 3/4 Mask
-
Alternate Air Ascent with surface oral inflation of the BCD
-
Emergency Ascent with surface oral inflation of the BCD
-
SCUBA Dive
-
Write on the slate the 4 Exit Numbers: Tank Pressure, Time, Bottom Time,
and Maximum Depth
SCUBA DIVE III
(Another day and usually a different
location.)
EMERGENCY CARD: An emergency card for this lake will be collected from
each diver.
-
Buddy Equipment Check
-
Write on the slate the 2 Entry Numbers: Tank pressure and Time
-
50-Meter Compass Swim
-
Eliminate Buddy’s Leg Cramp
-
Snorkel/Regulator Exchange
-
Ditch & Donn SCUBA on Surface in standing-depth water
-
Alternate Air (Diver A Donor)
-
Alternate Air Ascent with surface oral inflation of the BCD (Diver B Donor)
-
Oral inflation of BC underwater
-
Fin Pivot
-
SCUBA Dive
-
Write on the slate the 4 Exit Numbers: Tank Pressure, Time, Bottom Time,
and Maximum Depth
SCUBA DIVE IV (Same location
as dive III. This will be the last dive.)
Buddy Equipment Check
-
Write on the slate the 2 Entry Numbers: Tank pressure and Time
-
25-Kick Reciprocal Compass Swim
-
Remove and Clear Face Mask
-
Hovering Neutral Buoyancy
-
Remove Weights, Flair Ascent
-
Donn Weight Belt
-
SCUBA Dive
-
Write on the slate the 4 Exit Numbers: Tank Pressure, Time, Bottom Time,
and Maximum Depth
Information for diving from October through May:
In addition,
if the water and/or air temperatures are below
normal it is important to do the following
to avoid becoming chilled:
Eat
a calorie-loaded breakfast
Bring
a calorie-loaded lunch such as 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (with
hot soup.)
Bring
a Thermos filled with hot water to put in parts of your wet suit, in your
boots, and gloves.
Bring
warm clothes, hat, and gloves.
The following 2 sonar maps are the locations of your
open-water scuba dives. The first map is Mohonk. We dive from Open Camp (middle
of the east side of the lake). The depth line intervals are 5 feet apart.
The altitude of the lake is 1223' so it is a high altitude dive.
Download a PDF Image of
the Mohonk sonar map above.
The following map is the sonar findings for Lake Minnewaska:
Download a PDF image
of the Minnewaska Sonar map above.
