Winter 2010-2011

As someone who despises the cold there is no better way to describe the winter of 2010-2011 than to alter the famous quote from Shakespeare’s Richard the Third; Now is the discontent of our winter.

A dive trip to warmer climes not withstanding there is no tougher time of the year to be a diver than January and February. December has the opportunity of a late season shore dive and March brings with it the early bloom of Spring and promise of April diving. But January only brings with it the realization that diving has come to an end for at least 2-3 months and February only serves to rub that point in.

Glenn Ice Diving in Lake George

The shop that I dive with (Ocean Explorers) holds a February Ice Dive under the frozen waters of Lake George. I have dove that lake in the late summer months and with chilly 59 degree temps numbing your fingers and toes at 40 feet I can only imagine what temperatures must feel like in February. These shots of Rich Steuernagel and Glenn Rogers sum up perfectly why January and February will always be the dive doldrums for me unless in some exotic and tropical destination. Not only do you have to be out of your mind to do this but I don’t believe there is any amount of hot chocolate that could warm me up after spending time in 32 degree water.

Rich under the cold ice of Lake George

As for exotic destinations I will be in beautiful Baja California during the first week of March and plan on doing some diving with my wife in the Sea of Cortez. Vendors there have advised that the temperatures are “cold” during March but a little investigative work revealed that bottom temperatures tend to be in the mid to upper 60s that time of year. This of course is considered warm for Jersey waters but I am concerned for my wife who wasn’t blessed with the warm layer of fat that I have been given.

The trip will hopefully allow us to interact with Sea Lions that are residents of Cabo San Lucas/Sea of Cortez during the Winter months. Marta has never interacted with large Marine animals before on any of her dives so this will be a new experience for her.

This trip will also mark the first time that I am flying with my dive gear as well as using my upgraded camera and strobe system. It is funny because I am in my third year of diving now and have yet to fly anywhere with my gear. Most diving that has been done is either done in New Jersey or North Carolina with the odd dive here or there in either Florida or New York.

            I am looking forward to casting off the icy veil of winter and enjoying the warm winds of spring. Diving season is just around the corner now and with a trip to Baja California and some early season diving in North Carolina for Megalodon teeth the forecast for dive season is sunny with lots of good times.