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Open for
Summer 2009
First of Kind
Navigation Course Launched at Portage Quarry
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Next Event
Country Blowout
July 4, 2009
Tim Omark
and
Southern Justice |
Both #1s for
Legends Festival
At Portage Next
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The
International Legends of Diving,
with its inaugural in 2006 at Portage Quarry, has announced
its featured legends for the Fourth Annual event.
Bob Meistrell and Dottie Frazier, both male and female
Number One instructors respectively will appear this year for the
festival August 7-9.
Meistrell founded Body Glove with his twin brother Bill in
1953 and produced the first practical dive suit. In their teens they
moved to Manhattan Beach in California before founding Body
Glove. Body Glove currently produces a line of swim wear,
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) and wet suits, as well as many
other products for surfers and divers. Following an
illustrious career for both, they were inducted into the surfing
and diving Hall of Fame. Bill passed away in June of 2006.
The spry Frazier
joins Meistrell for the duet recognition. It is her second
appearance at the Legends Festival having first appeared in the
Bahamas this Spring.
In 1940 Dottie
started teaching skin diving classes and became the World's
first female Scuba Instructor in the United States in 1955.
Expanding to new
adventures, Dottie became owner of her own dive shop called the
Penguin. She was the first woman in the world to own and operate
a dive shop! Dottie then began manufacturing her own line of
wetsuits as well as making suits for US Divers, Healthways, and
Navy UDT teams.
Robert Croft returns
for his Third Legends. |
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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 new project at the quarry.
Legends
Gather for Fourth Year:
Expect
two Legends Festivals in 2009. The Legends move to
UNEXSO on
Grand Bahama Island,
April 2-6, 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 7-9.
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.
Free Parking
for all Quarry Events
2009 Prime Events
Quarry Opens Weekends
Saturday, April 11
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 19
Quarry Breakdown
Get all the info through this link
Saturday, May 9
Sunday, May 10
Summer Schedule Begins
Saturday, May 23
Country Blowout
Tim Omark and Southern Justice
Saturday, July 4
DAN Barbeque
sponsored by the TA Club
Saturday, July 18
Advanced
Aquatics Steak Fry
and Treasure hunt
Chris Guglielmo Photo Workshop
Saturday, July 25
Sunday, July 26
Parrots of the Caribbean
Saturday, August 1
Legends Festival
Number One is Coming
Friday, August 7
Saturday, August 8
Sunday, August 9
Experience Deep Sea Diving in Brass Helmets at the
Legends of Diving, August 8.
HSA Diver Benefit Weekend
Saturday, September 5
Looking Forward to a Great Summer Dive and Recreation Season
Charles
Fellows of Toledo, OH during the 2008 Portage Quarry
Legends Festival.
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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 to use the showers.
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
The development
of hand signals used by divers today was
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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
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 and skin 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. Annual
events include the DAN Barbecue, Country Blowout, HSA Barbecue
weekend, and International Legends of Diving. Recreation includes
concerts, beach swimming and beach volleyball.
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Scuba Diving |
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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. |
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Recreation |
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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. |
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Group Events |
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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. |
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Order Passes and Apparel Online |
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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 |
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PQ Dive News |
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Photo of the Week
Click image for
photo
Underwater
Photo Workshop
A Workshop Developed for the
Beginner to Advanced Photographer
July 25-26, 2009, at Portage Quarry
Press Release from the Legends of
Diving Event
Scuba Radio
Interviews at Legends in the
Bahamas
The
History of Portage Quarry as written by
owner Jeff Rice.
Download the New
Vintage Diver Liability Release
New Map
of the quarry including emergency numbers and legends
for location of dive sites
Welcome our New
International Legends of Diving sponsor
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
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Where is the 2009 Calendar?
It has been replaced with a newer interactive calendar
Click here to access
the new calendar
Here are some of the advantages
Most of the
advantages can be
found in the options section at the bottom of the calendar
view.
Options for Calendar:
Display a printable view of the
calendar
Search for Events: Find events by text or category
Event
Filter: Only display events that match text or are
in certain categories
Export Events:
Export event data to ASCII
iCalendar
Subscription:
Subscribe via desktop calendar, e.g.
Apple's iCal
Time Zone: Set your time zone
Click here to access
the new calendar |
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
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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
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Aug 22, 05
More Info
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