Scuba anyone? Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache was placed by the instructor of the SCUBA rangers
program, in a popular diving area of West Hawk Lake.
You are looking for a black and yellow toolbox covered with yellow
reflective tape. The cache contains a writing slate which can be
used underwater and some swag.
It is placed at a depth of approximately 6 meters.
Congratulations to grnbrg for being FTF on the first SCUBA cache
in Manitoba
West Hawk Lake is one of the most popular sport diving sites in
Manitoba. It is known for it's tremendous maximum depth. The West
Hawk Lake basin is in fact a metorite impact structure.
The lake today covers a total area of 3,685 acres, with a maximum
length and width of 7.2 kilometers and 4.8 kilometers respectively.
The maximum depth of the lake is approximately 110 meters in the
sediment-water interface. The lake basin was formed approximately
150 million years ago, during a period of geoological time known as
the Jurassic Period, by the impact of a meteorite. The meteorite
itself was approximately 150 meters in diameter and was probably
composed of iron. The tremendous explosion force of the impact has
been estimated as being equivalent to that of 25 Megaton
blast.
The resulting crater was subsequently eroded and modified by the
scouring action of glacial ice, which retreated from South-Eastern
Manitoba approximately 11,000 years ago. Meltwater from the
retreating ice filled the crater forming what we now know as West
Hawk Lake.
Remember, West Hawk Lake is often dark and ALWAYS cold;
weather conditions can change water conditions dramatically.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable dive, it is suggested that
the diver observe the following precautions:
- 1. Always mark your dive site with a diver down flag.
- 2. Be alert for boat traffic when surfacing and
snorkelling.
- 3. Never dive alone and always do a buddy check before
descending.
- 4. After a long snorkel, rest at the surface prior to
descent.
- 5. Do not dive beyond your comfort zone.
- 6. Watch depth and bottom time carefully.
- 7. Practice good buoyancy control. Much of the bottom the lake
is silty. Bottom floundering can drastically reduce visibility
creating a hazard for you and for those following.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)