Scuba and Fishing

I'm a scuba diver, and one of the things I enjoy about diving, even in midwestern sandpits and quarries, is watching the fish.  Fish that are used to divers will come close to us, but sometimes, when we dive a new lake, the fish are super skittish. 

If you're an avid angler, I highly recommend learning to scuba dive to enhance your fishing.  Why? Because when you're a diver, you're right in the fishes' home.  You can see what they use for structure and habitat, how they behave in various seasons of the year, where they go when the water's cold and where they go when it's warm.  You can see what sounds they ignore and which ones startle them, how they behave around other fish, both those of their own species and other species, genders, and sizes. 

Even aside from angling, it's just plain cool to see a fish swimming in its natural habitat.  When the sun is shining into the water, the colors of fish are brought out plainly.  The orange under a bluegill's chin, a bass' lateral line, and a walleye's white fin tips all stand out pretty clearly underwater, especially in bright sunlight.  You can see a catfish lurking in a log or carp hitting the surface. 

Other underwater life in midwestern waters is fun to watch, too.  Once, on a night dive, a puff of silt on the bottom marked a snapping turtle's departure from his hiding spot.  He swam across the bottom beneath us, then went straight up to the surface over our heads, where he hung with just his snout out of the water in the moonlight.  One lake we dive has a ton of clams, and you can see their grooved paths through the sand all over the lake.  When you approach, you can watch their "mouth" open and close, very slowly.  Gently tap one and the shell snaps shut tightly.  Wait, and before long the shell opens again. 

Scuba diving is accessible to many more people than most people think.  It's not difficult to learn, although the safety procedures taught in class must be mastered before you can be certified to dive.  You don't have to be athletic or a great swimmer; you just need to be comfortable in the water and should be in reasonable physical condition.  There are female divers in their 70s and early 80s still traveling, diving, and exploring the underwater world.