Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 20, 1994 TAG: 9403220099
SECTION: BOAT SHOW PAGE: BS-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRUCE STANTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This stretch of the New River, accessible from Virginia 114 between Blacksburg and Radford, has a rocky, pebbly bottom and a better level of clarity than any other body of water in the area, many scuba divers say. Plus, it's a lot closer drive than the Bahamas.
"It's the best around here as far as I'm concerned," said Mickey Owens, a part-time diving instructor for Diving Enterprises, Inc. in Roanoke, and a science teacher for the Roanoke City Schools. "The only better place in this area is three-and-half to four hours away in Raleigh [N.C.]."
Gary Joyce, a diving instructor at Diving Enterprises, said "It's the most accessible local site. It's 50 minutes from door to door [from Roanoke]. Anything else that close is not as good because of visibility."
Joyce has been scuba diving in the New River since 1985 and makes about 35 to 50 dives per year there. On a good day, the visibility is between 12 and 15 feet, he said.
And there's lots to see under water, said Owens, who trains his students to dive at the Peppers Ferry bridge area.
"You can see where they've dynamited to put in bridges and blue rocks like they have in the mountains," he said of the river bed which is regarded as one of the oldest on Earth. "There's also some interesting rock formations.
"Fishermen always ask us if we see any fish around Peppers Ferry. We run into a lot of catfish, smallmouth bass, sunfish and muskellenge. That tends to get the students in a tizzy if they see [a muskie]. I've seen some 15 to 20 inches long, but under water it looks like they're 4-feet long. And if you'd have asked one of the students, they'd have said 6 feet."
Another reason the Peppers Ferry bridge location is popular for divers is the depth of the river there. In places, it's as deep as 45 feet, said Linton Leary, a diving instructor at Diver's Corner in Radford.
"If not for the depth, it would not be as popular," said Leary, who has been diving there for more than 25 years. "The thing that makes it stand out is its depth."
Leary also dives in other New River locations, including Eggleston, where the river is 72 feet deep. There are many good diving locations on the New River, but none is as accessible as Peppers Ferry, he said.
"During the warmer season, you'll find divers [at Peppers Ferry bridge] every day," he said. "[The New River] is a limestone base river, and the water gets very clear. As far as fresh water goes, it's about like a spring."
There's one catch: if Claytor Lake dam is running water, you can't dive because of the poor water clarity and higher water flow. There is a phone number at Claytor Dam that divers can call for information on water releases, which can make or break a scuba trip, said Cindy Creamer, co-owner of Diving Enterprises.
But even if a diver is in the water when the dam begins to release water, there is no immediate danger, Joyce said.
"You feel a change in the current, and you notice a visibility change," he said. "But it's not like you have a wall of water and you end up in West Virginia. There's always current. You just have to be aware of where you are."
Besides the New River, Smith Mountain Lake, Claytor Lake and several private lakes are used by scuba divers, but not with frequency.
Out of state, Fantasy Lake near Raleigh, N.C., is a popular destination. It's actually a rock quarry that's treated for water clarity and warmth.
Anyone interested in learning more about scuba diving can do so at the Southwest Virginia Boat Show. Diving Enterprises will have a booth displaying several types of scuba equipment, and Creamer will be on hand to answer questions.
by CNB