TRINITY'S 2nd Annual 2011-2012 Icing Challenge

[Hydro]

Wonderful day for some great diving, jumped the hopkins, the hercules, and then a 3rd tight hole for the trifecta ! 

Vis was great on the wrecks, it was a little dark but id say it was up near 25-30 feet at times, and depending on depth.  as soon as I get on my computer ill try to work on videos, I didn't get many pictures today.... nice long ice ridge in the center of minnnetonka.... 17 inches if ice but open water on the crack... I don't think anyone has been on the wrecks all winter. It was pretty desolate out there today  :-\

 

[grumpie]

I have a very nice sonar Pic. of the Herc. if you would like to see it.

[popolarbear]

several nice smallies 2-4 lbs size and one priceless gianormous smallie that too my breath away! was relay nice to see that big girl dominating that wreck. unfortunately on the second dive my fingers couldn't get the camera on. ...
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once again another fish story. .. unless Joes got a pic.

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would love to see a picture on side scan....hey got any fish filled structures on the side scan that can be shared

[scubafreek864]

It was a wonderful day for diving.  Had a great time with everyone.  Too bad I had to bolt, before the last dive.

I did get some short video of that huge smallmouth, but don't know how to load it.  I have never uploaded a video yet.  That smallmouth had some very unusual colors to it.

Where to next?   ;D

I think that I figured it out.  LOL!

[Terry]

              We dove the Hopkins and Hercules yesterday,  GPS numbers good enough to drop Joe's camera down right onto the Hopkins to be able to see the upright window supports. The Hercules wasn't so easy, camera just came down in muck, had to go down and find her then measure the distance under the ice cut a camera hole to ferify we were right on top, seems we were off 5 thousandths of a min. North. Correcting the GPS numbers on the ice sure makes finding them in the wind and waves and poorer vis of the summer easier. Did have to cross a large pressure ridge ( the size more like you'd see on Millacs) on foot pulling the sled while Robert drove around with the 4 wheeler and trailer, it runs No. and So. between the wrecks, and has 4-6" of open water in it, but areas one individual can break away enough to easily drop thru. Ice away from the pressure ridge was just over 16" thick on both wrecks, and clear, vis on the wrecks was 25' or so, decent enough you didn't need a light. A real nice day, with no wind at all and bright sunny skies.

[Hydro]

finally re-encoded some diving videos into something youtube is ok with:

quick clip of the crystal clear ice on medicine lake (surface)


video of an anchor looter (little squeaky audio for a few seconds) OW


the city of crosby van and the dump truck in the mines OW


the hopkins we ice dove 2-18-12


the herculeswe ice dove 2-18-12


I got kind of lazy and didnt add any audio tracks, but it would have taken me more time.

[12jason]

Hello, I'm ice certified now and I would really like to dive on one of these Minnetonka wrecks next weekend. All your posts look really interesting and I would like to squeeze in at least one dive on these boat. So if you are going to head out next weekend I would appreciate a opportunity to tag along. It goes without saying i would be more than willing to help out with all the prep work.  (maybe Sunday?)
Thanks.

[popolarbear]

hydro that lights so bright i can hardly see any fish.

[Hydro]

Yeah, it actually vaporizes them....  :-\

Plus I'm using a hd hero, the pinhole size lens really sucks in bad lighting, I think its more my camera, as roberts video gets better color

[mcdiver]

Terry,

How about you come south this summer and we will try to dive one of these oil rigs out in the gulf?

Ice diving, walk in the park, done it in my sleep.