Nebraska Divers - questions about Sandy Channel

[Scubagal]

My hubby and I are planning to dive Sandy Channel this Sunday. Neither of us has dove this site. The last muck dive we did was last fall at West Lake Okoboji, IA. I expect the same visibility, 5-8 ft. Have to say I much prefer the visibility in Cozumel! :D Just wondered if all the objects placed underwater were easy to find. The lake doesn't appear that large from the pictures I've seen. Here are the links I've found, if there are any others, please advise.
http://www.dtmag.com/dive-usa/SandyChannelNE.html
http://www.heartlandscuba.com/schannel.htm

Also, we're planning 2 dives. Should we do one dive at Sandy Channel and the other at Bassways? Or both at Sandy Channel? Haven't found much info on Bassways. Thanks in advance!

[Wkndbum]

My hubby and I are planning to dive Sandy Channel this Sunday. Neither of us has dove this site. The last muck dive we did was last fall at West Lake Okoboji, IA. I expect the same visibility, 5-8 ft. Have to say I much prefer the visibility in Cozumel! :D Just wondered if all the objects placed underwater were easy to find. The lake doesn't appear that large from the pictures I've seen. Here are the links I've found, if there are any others, please advise.
http://www.dtmag.com/dive-usa/SandyChannelNE.html
http://www.heartlandscuba.com/schannel.htm

Also, we're planning 2 dives. Should we do one dive at Sandy Channel and the other at Bassways? Or both at Sandy Channel? Haven't found much info on Bassways. Thanks in advance!

If you stop @ Heartland Scuba in Kearney http://www.scubaheartland.com/default.html

They have a map that shows where the boats & statues are. It's not a big lake & if you go thru 2 tanks then you'll probably find most everything on your own anyway. Vis will vary from 2' to 20'. I don't know how bad the algae bloom is yet. There may be a lot of weeds in the water also.

Have you ever dove Underwater World's quarry by Milvern Ia? They let you dive it when they are out there doing classes. They charge $10. We're going Sunday.

I've never dove the Bassway pit.

Terry

[Scubagal]

Thanks Terry! I was certified in a lake near Rodney, IA. Haven't dove the quarry in Malvern, IA, we'll have to check out that. Hope you'll post how the diving was. We hope to take some uw pictures, although I'm sure they'll be mostly green. Thanks again!

[Atlaua]

although I'm sure they'll be mostly green

IMHO green beats brown any day!

[Wkndbum]

Thanks Terry! I was certified in a lake near Rodney, IA. Haven't dove the quarry in Malvern, IA, we'll have to check out that. Hope you'll post how the diving was. We hope to take some uw pictures, although I'm sure they'll be mostly green. Thanks again!

Vis was around 20' above the thermocline (18'). Saw lots of fish, Bass, Bluegill (BIG), Crappie & a BIG ole snapping turtle.

Nice morning dive, was back in Omaha by 12:30 pm.

How was the Sandy Channel trip? We're scheduled to finish up a rescue class there next weekend.

Terry

[Scubagal]

Vis was around 20' above the thermocline (18'). Saw lots of fish, Bass, Bluegill (BIG), Crappie & a BIG ole snapping turtle.

Nice morning dive, was back in Omaha by 12:30 pm.

How was the Sandy Channel trip? We're scheduled to finish up a rescue class there next weekend.

Terry

20' visibility, that's pretty good!

We did 2 dives at Sandy Channel. Glad we figured out which lake to dive, I didn't realize there were so many there! Didn't find everything, but we did find 2 boats, a gargoyle, a cement toad, a statue of Mary, a small lighthouse, a satellite dish and a console TV. The water was pretty warm, but we ran into the thermocline a few times. Visibility was good in some parts of the lake, poor (5' or less) in others.

Saw some blue gill and striped bass. Long day though, we left Omaha at 6AM, got home about 5PM. It was fun, I'd like to do it again. UW pictures didn't turn out, here is a topside shot.

http://www.midwestdive.com/gallery/files//3/SandyChannel.jpg

[nauifins73]

Connie thanks for the report. I saw Sandy Channel listed in a dive magazine and we have thought about checking it out. You mentioned several lakes - there in the Sandy Channel area?

Needing some help for my shrinking gills - St Lucia 12 days away.

[Scubagal]

Connie thanks for the report. I saw Sandy Channel listed in a dive magazine and we have thought about checking it out. You mentioned several lakes - there in the Sandy Channel area?

Needing some help for my shrinking gills - St Lucia 12 days away.

Sandy Channel Recreation Area is comprised of quite a few lakes. The one to dive is the lake to the left as you enter the area, closest to the highway where you enter the park. Here's a link with a little more info: http://www.dtmag.com/dive-usa/SandyChannelNE.html

12 days to St. Lucia, you must be so excited! Be sure to tell us all about it when you get back.