Oxford Charter Township issued the following announcement on Feb 28.
Ice divers take the plunge in Stony Lake!
Oxford Township’s parks offer a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities year-round. Over the weekend, a group of scuba divers from Michigan Scuba Sports plunged into the icy waters at Stony Lake Township Park.
It was all part of an ice diving class conducted by Michigan Scuba Sports and offered through the Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Department. The class was for Advanced Open Water Divers.
In addition to allowing scuba divers the opportunity to enjoy their sport or hobby year-round, ice diving is an excellent way to see and experience more while exploring the underwater world.
“The water, under these conditions, is considerably clearer,” said Mario Lepore II, Michigan Scuba Sports owner, operator and instructor. “Colder water is, generally, clearer water.”
Frigid temperatures combined with a lack of lake activities, such as swimming and boating, help make the water “crystal clear,” according to Lepore.
“Everything that was floating in this water – all that sediment (and organic matter) that make the water a little cloudy – has sunk to the bottom and there hasn’t been anything to disturb it,” he explained. “In the spring, the visibility in this particular lake is better than most (lakes) in the area. It’s probably 20 feet. Today, it will be double that.”
Joining Lepore at Stony Lake were Bob McGahey, of Oakland Township; Michael Leo, of Brandon Township; and Jamie Coleman, of Rochester Hills.
“If I’m going to live in Michigan for the rest of my life, I’m going to find something to do when the weather turns cold,” McGahey said.
“(Ice diving is) something that’s unique,” Leo said. “Not a lot of people do it. It gives you bragging rights.”
Coleman noted ice diving allows a person to experience “the clearest water you’ll ever see.”
“It’s just like diving in gin,” he said.
Original source can be found here.
