Lake Phalen

[jleech]

I was able to get a dive this evening into Lake Phalan as well.  I went in at the boat ramp at the N end.  I was trying for the deep hole again somewhere at the north end of the lake.

I swam out 150 ft until I was beyond the weed line in about 15 ft of water.  I ran a line so I could find my way back, and headed out.  I followed what looked to be a natural depression on the bottom, and it seemed to drop off a little faster than before.  I was in 45 ft of water when I hit the end of my first reel at about 400ft.  I hooked up the second and kept going.  It was pretty dark below 45 ft, with the angle of the sun, and the limited vis, I could see about 6 ft to the end of my 10 watt HID light.  It was a bit spooky out there with nothing to see but algae and mud bottom.

I hit 80 ft just before I ran out of line on my second reel.  I decided to turn the dive at that point.  I reeled up all the line, and I could feel the nice thermocline at about 30 ft. 

Max depth: 80 ft (theoretical max is 90ft on the maps I've seen)
Min Temp: 41 degrees
Visibility:  12-15 ft above 30ft, 5-8 below 45 ft.

No real reason to swim out to the hole, other than to say you've done it.  Not much to see, but still nice to get out and dive.

Jeff