Lake Ouachita

[Don Wray]

I took a group of open water students and rescue to Lake Ouachita this weekend.  Beautiful lake but lots of plankton growth reduced the viz to 3 feet above 20 feet where the first thermocline was.  83 degrees above the thermocline and 63 below it.  Some of the experienced folks went to 40 and said viz was great.  One guy went to 60 and said temp was 48.

[mulefeathers]

Where is this lake located?

[Blotto]

Where is this lake located?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Lake+Ouachita&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=43.528905,90.703125&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11&iwloc=addr

[Don Wray]

Moutain Pine, Ark. just north of Hot Springs

[degray]

I did most of my open water work at Ouachita.  If you go to the dam, and tie up about in the middle, 20 feet or so off of the rocks, there is an underwater course setup.  The depth ranges for most of the objects is 25 feet to 60 feet.  There use to be a flock of pink flamingos 180 degrees from the dam at about 60 to 70 feet.  The water gets real cold below 40 feet.  There is a rope line that connect most of the underwater objects.

[frankc420]

I did most of my open water work at Ouachita.  If you go to the dam, and tie up about in the middle, 20 feet or so off of the rocks, there is an underwater course setup.  The depth ranges for most of the objects is 25 feet to 60 feet.  There use to be a flock of pink flamingos 180 degrees from the dam at about 60 to 70 feet.  The water gets real cold below 40 feet.  There is a rope line that connect most of the underwater objects.

How is the visibility below the 20-40' range.  Since Don didn't go below 20' he isn't a good source =)

[mwhities]

That'd be a long trip to only get 10+- feet of viz.

We could goto Hattiesburg (Gary's place) for 10 - 15.

[degray]

Depends on the time of year, summer/fall viz at best is 20 ft at 5 to 40 ft depth.  Once you get below 40 it improves to 30 or more, but damn it is cold.  You need at least 5 mil on the body core and hood.