HELENA-After a diver died in an accident on Canyon Ferry Reservoir Monday MTN wanted to know more about the conditions in Lake.
Glen and Karen McKinnon have owned and operated Helena Scuba for 14 years.
McKinnon has logged over 5,000 dives. He dives around the world and has extensive experience in Canyon Ferry. Canyon Ferry is one of the local lakes he uses to train new divers.
He says visibility under the water can be one of the biggest issues in the reservoir.
“Visibility can from a foot to twenty feet,” says McKinnon, “it just depends on how much water is flowing, how much algae we have going on. Right now it’s about eight to 12 feet.”
McKinnon says scuba is a rewarding and exciting hobby but without proper training, certification and understanding of where you are diving it can be dangerous.
“Here, where the water’s colder, you know, you’re going to have to have wetsuits or drysuits. hoods and gloves. It does make a lot more equipment to deal with.”
According to McKinnon, the best time of the year to dive in Montana is September or beginning of fall when the water is not as clouded.
