It seems like every day now I see divers at the public dock getting ready to challenge a chilly Lock 23! We’ve had some cold days, some really, really hot ones, and the water just keeps moving on its own warming schedule. Current water temperature is 13C/55F. Still too chilly for me!

Water level is sitting just shy of the bottom of the dock boards, perhaps 12-18 inches higher than last season. It has not changed in the last several weeks.

My early-summer dive friends tell me that everything looks as expected, with visibility in the 10-foot range. Approach drift current is mild, approximately 18 minutes from entry to locks. The current picks up a bit in the locks themselves, then drastically so at the ferry dock road as you swim toward the exit. This is always the case at this time of year with the lack of plant life.

It also always feels a bit surreal swimming over open ground on the way out and back in. All lines are intact.

The underwater portion of the beach sustained moderate damage in the storms this winter, with most of its sand dragged away from shore. Hopefully it can be restored this summer.

Enjoy the season – I’m certainly looking forward to it!

Sydney