How do you get used to diving into/through the thermocline layer/sizable temperature drop? I'm talking on the mental side of it.
I have two lakes that I frequently dive. They are separated by a mountain, err I live 10 minutes from each dive location.
Lake Sunapee is spring fed and is significantly larger than Gunnison Lake(Goshen Ocean as the locals call it). Lake Sunapee is the fourth or fifth largest lake in New Hampshire, depending on who you talk to. Goshen Ocean is a man-made flood control lake, that is fed by streams running off Mount Sunapee.
The surface temperature on Lake Sunapee, being larger, takes longer to warm up than Goshen Ocean. As of today I would say their is probably a 3-4 degree temperature difference at the surface between the two lakes.
The real difference lies when you get beneath the surface. The water temperature on Lake Sunapee is fairly constant until you hit thermocline, at least that is what I noticed last fall and is what I'm noticing again this spring. Their is no real temperature difference between the surface and 20-25 feet down, last fall down even as much as 30-35 feet there was no real difference in temperature.
Right now on Goshen Ocean you get around 20 feet and you really notice the temperature drop. Generally down to the lower 50's or colder, surface temperature in the mid 60s...at least. Right now I would say the notice in temperature drop occurs around 18-20 feet beneath the surface.
Last fall I was diving on Lake Sunapee and making it down to 30-35 feet without even thinking about it. I would go to Goshen Ocean and bail everytime before I got down to 27 feet. I would always bail about the time I hit the temperature change. Today while diving at Goshen Ocean I was bailing around 18-20 feet down. It's not an equalizing issue or anything like that. It is definitely from the change in water temperature. Today I noticed it big time. I have questioned the situation ever since last fall when I first noticed it.
Without changing gear, is their an easy way to condition yourself to accept the temperature drop without caving in and heading back for the surface? How do you mentally condition yourself to accept the condition when freediving. Scuba diving would be easy but when you are holding your breath I see there being more to it than just toughening it out.
I know...this is easier said than done, but I figure I might as well try.
Ryan
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