Calling all scuba divers..

[Ghosth]

All you really need for most smaller lakes & ponds is a good set of flippers and a mask.

All the action is in the top 15 - 20 feet, which is easily reachable with snorkel gear.

[Obie303]

I used to be a diving instructor in my late teens to early 20's.  (YMCA Instructor)  Tac is right on the money.  Very boring and can be dangerous.  Especially when you have people who thing a dive flag is a marker for doing power slides on a jet ski.  From my experience, lake dives can be interesting.  Myself and several other volunteers assisted with some research on the red bellied turtle.  These were ice dives in Worcester, Massachusetts ponds.  http://www.jstor.org/pss/1565004

If you are not sure of yourself, you can tie a safety line to your gear.  BUT, I would recommend that you get acclimated in shallow water before doing this.  Your safety line can be a hazard if you don't pay attention to what your doing.  Safety line training was an additional class we used to teach.  The most reliable safety precaution is a dive buddy.  In low visibility, don't be afraid to hold hands. 

In our classes we used to teach "Plan your dive and dive your plan."  Re-certification isn't required, but there might be refresher courses available. 

Good luck and have fun.

[Shuffler]

I used to live in Startzville until I moved to San Antonio 3 years ago. Actually, I lived in Turkey Cove. You from around there Shuffler?

The Hill Country is our playground. I am east of Houston... Baytown area.

[Buzzard7]

We had a great dive flag set up for classes in the finger lakes. It was especially for those morons that like to run over dive flags. Large tube with a good size basket in it. Fill the basket with as many large rocks as you can without sinking it. Let your divemaster drag it along.

 

[Rash]

I started scuba in spring creeks when I was 8.  You didn't need certs back then to re-fill tanks.  I did my first lake dive about 4 years later and it sucked when you got near the bottom.  I couldn't see, sticks poking me and I was worried about getting caught in fishing line.  The first scuba gear I used was the old double hose with the regulator on the tank.  When you rolled over on your back, it was hard to breath.  I got certified when I was 14, then went to Hawaii and had a blast.  For some reason, I stopped diving when I was about 18.

Rash

[Sonicblu]

Watch your altitude. We live a mile up. Back in the day it changed how long you could stay down for.

Funny how we think alike  First thing I thought of when I saw the post.

Yay for the bends...........

On a second note You cant believe what youll find right at the docks.......... Watchs, jewelry, lots of fishing lures, wallets. Helps to have a metal detector.

Or right at the bottom of the boat ramp. Have to have some one watch for ya though. All the stuff that falls out of the boats and trucks slides right to the end of the ramp. Just scoop it up with a net