Ft.
McMurray Annual Underwater Dive RodeoFt.
McMurray Annual Underwater Dive Rodeo
What:
It’s a fun dive competition. There are various competitions that help develop diving skills, including:
-orienteering
-search and recovery
-navigation in zero visibility
-fine motor co-ordination after 40 minutes in cold water
-underwater navigation with limited visibility
-target practice
-diving off-shore in a silt environment
-swimming with correct buoyancy while negotiating underwater items
-diving with differently skilled dive buddies
-diving in varying weather conditions
-underwater clean-up
-learning about a unique underwater ecosystem
All certified scuba divers are welcome. Snorkelers are also welcome. If you are a newer or less confident diver, you can be paired with a more experienced diver if you like. It’s a great chance to practice skills, and talk with other divers, who willingly share their experiences and knowledge. Families are welcome. Non-divers are welcome, and can help out with on shore activities.
When:
usually the mid-August weekend.
Where:
Public Campsite
Stay tuned for directions.
English Bay Campsite
on Cold Lake
This is our preferred location, but it's currently being renovated.
English Bay on Cold
Lake. It’s about a 5 hour drive from Fort McMurray.
Drive east on highway 55 toward Cold Lake.
Before Cold Lake (10 min?), turn north (left) at the sign to English Bay.
Go north 16.5 km
Turn east (right) at the Fish Hatchery sign.
Go east 1.5 km.
Turn south, (right) at the camping sign.
Go 1.5 km.
Turn left, (east) at the camp sign. Drive to the lake.
Cost: Cost is $10, $20 for non AUC members (and that will buy you a membership). Camping on site is lovely, quiet, and right by the small beach. Or Cold Lake/Grand Center is about 20 minutes away, and there are motel/hotel options there. The Club supplies KFC lunch on Saturday, and pancake breakfast on Sunday. There are prizes for all the different categories.
What to bring:
1. Diving equipment (we will bring weights)
2. Full tanks with up to date visual checks. We will bring our 2 portable air compressors to provide free air fills and 12 club tanks.
3. Scuba Diving Certification cards
4. Camping gear
5. Food. There will be a campfire on Saturday night for those wanting to bar-b-que. Usually there is a KFC lunch on Saturday, and a pancake breakfast one day.
People will be asked to help with whichever of the below you are confident and trained (so review your training course materials!):
a. Operating the boat to pick up and drop off divers
b. Running the air compressors to fill tanks
c. First Aid and Dan 02 for emergency situations
d. Manning the play-offs
e. Registrations and memberships
f. Cooking breakfast
g. Set up and take down of activities
h. Photographer
i. Writing article about the event for Alberta Underwater Council newsletter, and the Fort McMurray Today Paper.
j. Setting up underwater course before event and taking it out at the end.
As always,
More experienced divers will be available to help young and newer divers with their equipment assembly and checks, water entry and exit procedures, diving procedures, safety procedures, and buoyancy practice. The Wet and Wild Diving Society is not responsible for your safe diving, but we are all available to support each other with our skill and confidence development.
To the team of people who are organizing this event! Many volunteer hours go into purchasing and organizing equipment and awards, advertising, organizing transportation, etc. Thank you to all.