First of Kind Navigation Course Launched at Portage Quarry

Next Major Event

HSA Barbeque
September 12-14, 2008

Employment Opportunities

Diving Dream Job
Immediate openings for Dive Instructors in the Bahamas. Contact the Quarryman for more information. Send resume and references.

New Legend
New Writer

The Legends extends internationally to Grand Bahama Island and International Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO) with its newest author, Keith G. Cooper. Catch his first article, The History of Diving on Grand Bahama Island � The Pioneers, posted January 30, 2008. The History of Diving on Grand Bahama Island � The Pioneers, Part Two, was posted February 16, 2008. Keith G. Cooper is responsible for all sales and marketing efforts for UNEXSO.

Keith G. Cooper

Keith Cooper will be at Portage Quarry supporting the International Legends of Diving and answering any questions about diving there in April of 2009. Also with him will be members of the Bahama Department of Tourism and the Bahama Diving Association.

Legends Weekends

Past Legends Events
2006, 2007, 2008

Future Legends Events
UNEXSO, April 2009

Free Parking for all Quarry Events

New Course is project of Great Lakes Wrecking Crew

A new underwater navigation project was announced by owner Jeff Rice at the Third Annual Legends Festival, touted as the first of its kind. The course is the project by the Great Lakes Wrecking Crew Dive Club of Milan, MI. While visiting ask about the project. The project highlights various submerged locations with headings and distances. Test out your navigational skills through the use of the map. Arrive through your GPS, then navigate underwater with the use of a compass and count your kicks. More information will be posted on this major new project at the quarry.

Legends Gather for Third Year: Honored this year were legends Nick Icorn, "Keeper of the Flame" and Robert Croft, legendary breath holder (freediver). A new spirit also was in attendance as Keith Cooper of UNEXSO promoted the next Legends of Diving episode on Grand Bahama Island in April 2009. Read the personal account.

Next year expect two Legends Festivals. The Legends move to UNEXSO on Grand Bahama Island, April 2-6, 2009 as a special edition of the Legends Annual series, before returning to Portage Quarry in August.

Since the Dive Legends Festival first appeared on August 9, 2006 when four countries were represented, the interest has been high from the worldwide community. This year we

expect a higher international interest when the Legends Festival opens up for its third year on August 8-10.

Before attending any Legends Festival, pick up a history book on diving to read about the legends you will meet there. They are also writing the dive history articles.

2008 Prime Events

Legends Festival
Friday, August 8
Saturday, August 9
Sunday, August 10

HSA Barbeque
Friday, September 12
Saturday, September 13
Sunday, September 14

2009 Prime Events

ScubaFest 2009
50th Anniversary of OCSSDI
March 20-22

UNEXSO Legends Festival
March 30 to April 6

Parrots of the Caribbean
Saturday, August 1

Legends Festival
Friday, August 7
Saturday, August 8
Sunday, August 9

Conveniences added for 2008

New Showers and Toilets with Running Water

Need a shower in the morning? We have added hot showers for your convenience. Flush toilets are also available for campers. To gain entrance get a key at the front gate. There is a $5.00 fee for non-campers.

Concrete Pier Added to Southwest Corner

A concrete pier was constructed in the southwest corner of the quarry to aid entry into the water. Each 5-foot block weighs one ton. Another concrete pier was built on the back wall next to the Beech craft airplane, also in the southwest corner of the quarry.

Latest in Dive Rescue Training

Hansa HFB 320 Jet Information

This Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH manufactured HANSA jet will be at the heart of a training program for local rescue agencies including the Toledo Water Rescue team. Last in service with Grand Aire, with headquarters at Toledo (OH) Express airport, this HANSA jet was transported from the airport to Portage Quarry on August 24, 2006. Plans are to place the jet in 50 feet of water with the tail assembly starting at the 30-foot level. Look for more announcements on the sinking of this training jet in an area between Mike's rock and the bus. Click here for more information on this jet as it heads to its final resting place, 16 feet off Mike's Rock in 45 feet of water. Click here for more information on this jet as similar Hansa HFB 320s were manufactured in Germany. Click here for the September 25, 2006 press release. Click here for photos as the Hansa Jet is sunk in its final rest on September 30 and October 1.

Articles From the Legends

Deep Diving Records: For Science or Ego by Samuel G. Lecocq and Debborah Lecocq is a look at the successes and tragedies of

Samuel G. Lecocq
some deep water diving events by the pioneers, posted July 17, 2007. The next article in the series was posted on May 21, 2007, Trust�But Verify. Not only did the early inventors create some of the dive equipment whose principles still exist, they also created the means to test the equipment. Sacrebleu!!! describes the beginning of the U.S. Divers Corp. with its simple garage start, posted Jan. 18, 2007. Other articles in the series, SCUBA's Last Dive, The Diver Who Walked Back and Simone Cousteau, the Soul of the Calypso recreate some of the early days in this sport.

The development of hand signals used by divers today was

developed in a swimming pool. This is the next article in a series by historian Dr. Samuel Miller, Sea Sabres Signaling System. Dr. Sam Miller, historian, relives the early days of diving spent at Diver�s Cove in Laguna Beach, the fountainhead of American sport diving. His recent return visit to Diver's Cove is corroboration for Thomas Wolfe's book, You Can't Go Home Again. Read the article, You Can't Go Home Again, by Dr. Sam Miller who is a regular at the annual International Legends of Diving festival each August.

Dr. Sam Miller

Another contributing legends of diving author includes Keith G. Cooper of UNEXSO in the Bahamas. The History of Diving on Grand Bahama Island � The Pioneers is the first in the series of diving with our friends in the Bahamas. Leon Lyons has written the Vintage Helmet: Classic Film. They appear with other articles in the archives, an exclusive for Portage Quarry.

Inaugural Events Highlight 2006

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Divers from 17 different states gathered at the edge of Portage Quarry to set the world record for most divers in one location in the first Legends of Diving Festival at the Portage Quarry over the August 9-11, 2006 weekend. Get the results of that attempt and Legends of Diving surface pictures from the meet and greet on Friday, to all the events on Saturday, and the finale on Sunday. Enjoy these few selected dive photos and order commemorative shirts with these Legends of Diving and Record Dive Attempt underwater photos. Watch a short video of the Record Dive Attempt with a small number of divers on the silo.

The Mid-Ohio Divers sponsored its first club fundraiser for the HSA International (Handicap Scuba Association) in 2006. There were raffles with entertainment for kids and adults alike. Both of these events continue as annual festivities.

Portage Quarry Recreation Club

Located just one mile south of Bowling Green in Northwest Ohio, the Portage Quarry Recreation Club is a complete recreation facility that caters to the Scuba diver enthusiast. The Scuba diver will experience some of the best recreational diving in Ohio with clear water visibility, wreck diving, and plenty of fish. The Scuba dive shop includes tank rentals, nitrox fills, equipment, and PADI instruction.

Scuba Diving

The Portage Quarry Recreation Club is a complete recreation facility that caters to the Scuba diver enthusiast. The Scuba diver will experience some of the best recreational diving in Ohio with clear water visibility, wreck diving, and plenty of fish. The Scuba dive shop includes tank rentals, nitrox fills, equipment, and PADI instruction.

Recreation

For the recreation enthusiast, there are camp sites, swimming with combed sand beach, sand volleyball, and hydro bikes for rent. Portage Quarry is the home of the annual events , July 4th BlowOut, and HotSand Volleyball tournament. We are also close to the Slippery Elm Trail which provides a relaxing opportunity for leisurely walking, jogging, biking, or roller blading.

Group Events

Plan your next party at Portage Quarry or just come out for a day of relaxation. Summer passes are also available. We welcome Scuba dive clubs and Scuba groups encourage you to contact us for your next event. Your Scuba group will enjoy some of the best diving in the Midwest.

Order Passes and Apparel Online

Stuck without transportation to the dive shop? Think about ordering your Portage Quarry apparel on-line and have it shipped directly to your door. Check out our new online store through the Online Orders.

NEW - Glass holders

PQ Dive News

Photo of the Week
Click image for photo

International Legends Weekend Schedule Released - Schedule

New Map of the quarry including emergency numbers and legends for location of dive sites

Portrait: Dr. Sam Miller, IV, A Diver story of Dr. Miller IV who will be speaking this summer, By Dr. Sam Miller

Spring Open Hours

Open Sat and Sun, 9 to 5 Now until Memorial Day

Portage Quarry and UNEXSO 2009 Legends Double Date press release

IMPORTANT 2008 NOTICE FOR INSTRUCTORS
New insurance information requirement for Portage Quarry Dive Instructors, Assistant Instructors and Dive Masters. Remember, Instructors dive for free if they are with students and teaching a class. More Info

Salute to Jimmy Buffett: Prizes will be given away
to the best outfits on August 2 for the Parrots
of the Caribbean concert. So dig out your Parrothead attire. Concert starts at 3.

Sea Hunt Turns 50 and is celebrated at Portage Quarry during Legends Weekend: Diving had a big boost through the experiences and heroics of Mike Nelson. We celebrate the legend with prizes this summer August 8-10.

Legendary Diver Passes Away: Daring diver Jack Prodanovich opened doors for sport diving and spear fishing. He died February 7, 2008 at the age of 94, posted February 13, 2008.

See the Toledo
FoxNews Video Now

Read the Toledo Blade article from Erica Blake

Continued below Calendar

2008 Calendar

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Summer Passes Good until September 15

News Continued

For Women Divers Only!: Just in time for the Legends Weekend, Dr. Sam Miller features some of the famous and upcoming women in diving. Among his favorites, Zale Parry, of course. Read his article, For Women Divers Only!, posted July 23, 07.

Special Wood County Crisis Team Formed: Twenty three members were sworn in as special deputies with the Wood County Sheriff's Department on Oct. 4, 2007 at Portage Quarry. Read about this quick response team, posted Oct. 2, 2007.

Triple Special Day: A special day of articles by Sam Lecocq and Dr. Sam Miller was posted on July 17, 2007. The Sam and Sam articles start with Deep Diving Records: For Science or Ego by Samuel G. Lecocq and Debborah Lecocq. It is a look at the successes and tragedies of some deep water diving events by the pioneers.

The Mask, submitted by Dr. Sam Miller, is an amusing and historical look at the Sturgil Mask.

Dr. Miller submitted an epilogue to the Sea Sabres Signaling System, a humorous look at the legendary Bob Retherford.

Open Hours through Memorial Weekend: Diving is good now so weather permitting the quarry will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and until 8 p.m. on weekends. Memorial holiday begins regular Summer hours. Read the QuarryMan's posting in the bulletin board. More Info

Sea Sabres Signaling System: The development of hand signals used by divers today was developed in a swimming pool. The next article in a series by historian Dr. Samuel Miller. More Info

Portage Quarry Goes Mobile on WAP: The home page is now updated with news on your WAP device. Bookmark the page portagequarry.com/wap or click here.

Press Release (4-16-07): Zale Parry, arguably the most famous female scuba diver in the world today, will headline the Aug. weekend of activities. More Info

In Memory of Dr. Joe A. Bauer, Jr: Dive historian and notable surgeon, dies April 3, 2007. More Info

Weeki Wachee Weekend: Underwater exploration and vintage equipment at Weeki Wachee Springs. More Info

Vintage Helmet: Classic Film: Leon Lyons presents his first Legends article on the history of this 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea helmet. More Info

Lyons Maritime Museum: Leon Lyons, the leading authority and collector of diving helmets joins the Portage Quarry online museum. More Info

Sacrebleu!!! describes the beginning of the U.S. Divers Corp. with its simple garage start. Posted Jan. 18, 2007. More Info

Latest in Dive Training, The HANSA HFB 320 is sunk for the benefit of rescue training exercises, Sept. 25, 2006 Press Release. More Info

Pirate Night, swashbuckling pirates have their night in the PQ port Sept 15.
Photos Added Oct. 9

SCUBA's Last Dive, a legendary series article by Samuel G. Lecocq and Debborah Lecocq.
More Info

You Can't Go Home Again, Article by Dr. Sam Miller: July 25, 2006. More Info

A new map to the underwater treasures is released: July 6, 2006. More Info

2007 Current Conditions Now Online. More Info

Portage Quarry on DAN's Scuba-Opoly, 3rd Edition, pay $170. More Info

Double Hose Quarry Queens make their debut 2005 - More Info

Bus Sent to the Depths - Fish Habitat - More Info

New PQ Dive Club Started - Get the details - More Info

Navy Returns Weekend
of Sept 9-11, 2005

Legendary Diver, Friend, and Innovator, Andreas "Andy" Rechnitzer, Obit - Aug 22, 05 More Info