Pond swimming

[urbpan]

I'm planning on snorkeling in Ward's Pond in a little while. You have seen Ward's Pond here before. The link above leads to posts tagged "ward's pond," but a great many other posts have pictures taken there--basically, anything with pond life in it.

I'm a little nervous. I don't really like to swim, but I love to wade. I wade in Ward's Pond every chance I get. I can swim fine with fins on, and the pond is supposedly only 4 feet deep. I'm worried I'll get in there and scare myself peering into the murk. There's nothing dangerous there, in terms of animal life, but the imagination is more powerful than reason. I want to take Charlie with me, but will it be a problem supervising him (off-leash, a no-no, but one I can live with) while I'm snorkeling? Will his swimming make the water so cloudy that I won't see anything at all? Can I leave my bike on the shore and not be constantly worrying that someone steal it? Will some fisherman show up and cast a line onto me?

Here's a serious question: Is there some kind of waterproof wrapper I can put my digital camera in to get some underwater pictures? I could just buy an underwater disposable, but then I'd be stuck with paper photographs that I'd have to scan, and store, and they aren't vegetarian anyway. (That's not really a major concern, I just thought I'd mention it.)

Has anyone on the list done any fresh water snorkeling? Urban fresh water snorkeling? What's it like?

EDITED TO ADD: More helpful links!

Cottonmanifesto's posts about Ward's Pond

Charlie Swimming, me wading

Charlie Swimming

Video of Charlie Swimming

Comments

[wakarusa.livejournal.com]

not to completely freak you out - but to freak you out - but one of B's co-workers died diving in an urban environment, and he had scads of search and rescue training and experience. Just don't get stuck in anything, they think that may have been what happened to him. They were using the buddy system but the water was so murky it just didn't work like it does in clearer water - I think that was what I heard.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Do you know what he got stuck on? I did think of this, in light of recent news.

[wakarusa.livejournal.com]

they've never figured it out. It happened during a training incident, actually - they had like 10 divers all in there at the same time, and no one saw it happen, and it took them hours to find him - even though they were all there already and knew where he had been to within a few feet. There's just gobs of mysterious snags in urban waters, because often folks have dumped stuff in there. As well as tree branches, etc.

They were in deeper water than you would be - more like the river scene in the article you linked to. You know, you should google for diving self-rescue techniques in urban diving, or other diving - I'd think there'd be something posted...

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

I've used a ziplock to temporarily make an underwater camera out of a film SLR. I had to rubber-band the plastic tight across the lens opening, and I evacuated as much air as I could (suuuuuck it out!) so it wouldn't bob to the surface.

Worked fairly well, as I recall.

[pipu.livejournal.com]

Depending on the camera, you can get waterproof cases, but they aren't cheap. The one for my ($450) camera costs $240.

[ankhanu.livejournal.com]

Snorkelling with Charlie may be less than pleasant. I've snorkeled in marine systems with my old dog and I usually came out with some pretty nasty scrapes.
Also the issue of possible increased turbidity may be a real concern if you want to see anything. Sediments in ponds don't settle out as quickly as in lotic systems.

I'd say the best idea is to go with Cottonmanifesto if you can; she can occupy the dogs and watch you and your bike for safety.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

he already left!

the best thing about this pond is it has an intake and output stream so it's much less cloudy than a completely stagnant body of water would be.

[ex-wellread.livejournal.com]

I'm worried I'll get in there and scare myself peering into the murk. There's nothing dangerous there, in terms of animal life, but the imagination is more powerful than reason.

I remember going to the beach and the water was Lake Huron. I thought I could feel something nibbling at my toes one day but I couldn't see anything. I couldn't get myself to go back in there. Ever!

[roaming.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you know this, but check out the bacteria levels first. My neighbor (Arlington) told me today that many places are putting out warning signs, because of high bac levels. Her dog got a skin condition from swimming in a lake in Maine.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

hmmm, this is interesting. we take our dog to swim in that pond all the time and he has incredibly sensitive skin so i'm sure he'd get infected or whatever if the water was nasty.

[punkydolly.livejournal.com]

I've done it in Hampstead ladies bathing pond in London. Its lovely! The water was a strong peaty colour but you could see well enough for a short distance - shoals of minnows and coot feet, mainly :) Its not too scary, I'm a wuss so if I can do it, you can too!