Anyone build their own scuba park?

[ColdPass]

Just wondering if anyone has set up their own stuff to dive around. I live on a lake with a flat, clay bottom about 25 feet deep and have considered putting in some structure that might hold fish, as well as just be fun to dive around. I've been looking for life sized statues, but they're not cheap enough to sink on a whim.

We put in a few Christmas trees, which I haven't been back down to see, but I was wondering what types of things you guys may have added to lake habitat.

Oh, and it's a private man-made lake, so putting in something - as long as it doesn't pollute - wouldn't run afoul of any dumping laws.

[MLenyo]

how did you secure the christmas trees? i haven't done anything of the sort, but i used to live on a man-made pond, and would NEVER want to dive in there. ew.. it's full of stunted fish, that's creepy!

[Super-Duper Scubasteve]

You know, you kind of remind me of this guy I know who lives in the Houston area near a man-made lake in a town called Pearland. But anyways, I think you should create an entire Atlantis with towering statues, dead mermaids, and weir structures made from concrete . Seriously, I've heard of people making underwater "Jungle gyms" to swim around and look at. Maybe you could create some piece of modern art made of twisted metal rebar and concrete and sink that. It might be kind of neat if there are any fish that take shelter there or something.

[Foo2]

I'm interested in any responses to this. My parents are going to build a lake on their property for diving. I'm curious what people may have sunk.

[mwhities]

What's the viz like? If there isn't a lot (fresh water spring) of water moving through the pond/lake, I'd think viz isn't going to be good at all. I'm not a professional, so I don't know.

[terrillja]

I can't sink anything since it's a drinking water supply lake, but I'm planning on using lift bags and lots of rock to make underwater cairns marking underwater trails this summer. My plan to make them stand out is to spray paint the top few rocks out of water then palace them, or use granite if I can get my hands on enough. If anyone wants to help out and lives near Sunapee, NH, shoot me a PM.

[hoobascooba]

i can draw up plans for your structures...

even a dome/igloo type structure to enclose over a koi pond, only scaled up 10x. Put some koi and other large goldfish, along with kelp or freshwater seaweed.

that'd be cool to look at. even do deep dives. along the walls goin down, have some cool things to read and/or write....

man i could go on and on with a buttload of ideas...

[ColdPass]

Originally Posted by Super-Duper Scubasteve

You know, you kind of remind me of this guy I know who lives in the Houston area near a man-made lake in a town called Pearland.

I live in Pearland, maybe we're on the same lake.


The visibility gets up to about 8 foot. It's currently around 6, but will get down to three. It depends on the amount of runnoff we get.


As far as the Christmas trees, I've cemented their bases int 5 gallon buckets. Some of the other residents just tied them to cinder blocks, but once the tree becomes water logged it will no longer float upright, and provide a lot less cover.

[TX1Chica]

When I did my OW up in a lake in Ark around Hot Springs (can't remeber the name, I just call it lake "O"). A dive shop sunk a bunch of stuff by the damn. I think it was shown in a dive mag one time. Their is a mail box, boat, golf cart, signs.... Its kinda of neat to dive around.

[NitroWill]

Im helping supervise a project here right now where they are making a local lake more "dive friendly" We have ran several lines for different courses and navigational work. We are putting in several platforms this weekend for training and plan to sink some boats and other "scenery"