Diving the "Hot Hole"

1/14/07 - Dove the "Hot Hole" at Lake Keowee today. So named because this is the outflow from the cooling water from the Oconee Nuclear Reactor. In the winter this spot is popular due to the warmer water conditions (at least 15 degrees) compared to other upstate lakes. We loaded the boat at Warpath Landing, then took the short ride over to the structure. After mooring the boat, the group got ready and splashed in. We navigated around to the edge of the headwall structure underwater, and then literally climbed our way to the middle of the spillway over the rocks at a depth of about 35' in the face of the current.

Water was blasting out of the structure, and this will literally rip the mask off your face if you do not face up current as you are moving to the center of the structure. After you are in the middle of the current, it is simply a matter of letting go, putting a shot or two of air in the BC to get slightly higher in the water column, and turning 180 degrees to let the current take you downstream for the ride!

After a couple minutes, a noticeable thermocline confronts you, where you take a 90 degree turn to the right (150 to 180 degree compass heading) and the eddy currents will take you back around for another ride.

Dive profile/conditions:

Max Depth - 44 feet
Avg Depth - 33 feet
Air Temperature - 70 degrees F
Water Temperature - 68 degrees F
Dive time - 31 minutes (for 3 circuits) - (Also did a second dive of 15 minutes)
Air used - 52 Cubic Feet

Equipment:

SS Backplate & Deep Outdoors 34# wing
100cf HP steel Tank
7 mm Bare Arctic Fullsuit + 3mm Bare Thermal vest with 7mm hood
5mm Instadry Gloves
ScubaPro Jet Fins

Great dive - highly recommended.