Illinois Divers! Haigh Quarry, Kankakee, IL, second week in August

[twentytwomonk]

Hey guys, I'm coming home that week, and I just found out that they allow diving in the quarry, so I'm looking to see if anyone wants to join me. I'll be out there with a buddy that's just getting interested in the sport, so come on out and join us!

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David Deman

 

[ILDiver]

hopefully the guys in Chicago see this thread. If you go on a weekend, I have a better chance to make it. I'm getting home from Florida Aug 9th, so it will be sketchy for me. Mention it in the WI forum too. There are guys in Madison that might be able to show up.

 

[twentytwomonk]

I hope so. It'd be nice to meet up with some of the guys. The fiancee and I are thinking about moving to Michigan after I get out of the military, so hopefully, I'll be able to start making the freedive-a-paloozas and getting to know some of the guys.

 

[ILDiver]

Michigan? Why would you want to go there? Sheesh don't tell Fondueset I said that.

 

[twentytwomonk]

Oh, Chris already knows I'm coming.

 

[nostres]

If Saturday or Sunday, I'm in

 

[twentytwomonk]

I might try and do it on the 9th, but it'd be nice to get clear of the dive traffic during the week...

 

[piekaar]

...any place for beginner??? illinois, wisconsin or michigan, any nice place, not so dip... thanks

 

[twentytwomonk]

The quarry was awesome. A little something for everyone. When you go out from the launch, the left side gets down to about 30 feet max. This is also where they have their SCUBA training course. There was a lot to see, and the fish were very plentiful.

If you go off to the right, it gets deeper quicker. I was doing drops down to 50 feet 20 yards off the sandbar. And if you go all the way out to the far corner on the right hand side, theres a hole that goes down to about 80 feet. Viz was about 20 feet in most places, and gets better in the deeper water.

All in all, I thought it was a great place to dive. Staff could have been a little friendlier, but you don't have to deal with them too much as a freediver. It's definitely worth the trip.

 

[ILDiver]

Sorry I was not around to meet you dude. A dive buddy of mine and I are meeting there next weekend to do some diving. It will probably be busy with Scuba classes and Rec divers, but they will be on "the things to see", we will be out in the open areas.

Glad you enjoyed it, maybe your next trip we can meet up for a dive.

 

[ILDiver]

...any place for beginner??? illinois, wisconsin or michigan, any nice place, not so dip... thanks

There are several divers in there Chicago area. Most stuff is not very deep in the Illinois/Wisconsin areas. Problem with Illinois is actually finding access to the water.

Go to the main forum list and check out the Wisconsin Section towards the bottom too.

 

[twentytwomonk]

I'm looking forward to it, Chris. I was looking at the thread about you guys bringing up Martin, and if I wasn't getting married the month before, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

 

[twentytwomonk]

I have pictures and a few short videos from there, if anyone wants to see them. I have a few of the 2 paddlefish that are in there. Those things are cool!

 

[Trident]

Monk! I just saw this thread now, I am out there all the time with my bro. I usually dive there in the spring and fall the summer gets too green sometimes. I have never had a problem out there with the staff.

I bring with my video camera and housing along with a couple of high speed scooters and we dive the whole quarry all day.

Hit me up the next time you go. We would love to have some more buddies in the quarry!:martial

 

[twentytwomonk]

I'm not there very often. I live in California, but come back every so often to visit family. But now that I know that I have a place to dive there, I'll always bring my stuff with me. I'll let you know next time I can make it!

 

[twentytwomonk]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EveOlzXh6M8]YouTube - Haigh Quarry Freediving[/ame]

 

[ILDiver]

Nice vid Monk. I have not seen a paddle fish up there yet. Just the pics in the office.

 

[twentytwomonk]

As far as I know, there are 2 of them in there, and we saw them pretty consistently over the course of the day. I was stoked that they let us get close enough to swim with them for a while. Super cool fish.