Dunnill's Diving Services

🌊 Cold Lake Dive Log — “The DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) Black Tip Run”

Taking the DPV Black Tip out today was the right call. That little scooter just eats distance, and it turned a simple dive into a full Cold Lake tour.

Dropped in at the water treatment plant and the visibility was unreal — just sand stretching out forever until the intake pipe slowly materialized out of the haze. As we pushed deeper, the light faded, and at 59 feet we hit the line toward the clay formation zone. Not much clay today, just the quiet dark and that feeling of being somewhere most people never see.

So we swung back to the intake pipe and climbed up to 29 feet to run the legendary toilet line. And yep — it delivered. Toilet. Bathtub. Air conditioner. Hot water tank. Then the line drags on for about 200 feet… all the way to a single beer bottle. Truly the most Cold Lake punchline possible.

Turned around with the DPV humming like a champ and headed back toward the water treatment intake. A burbot was perched right on the pipe like it owned the place, then casually swam off as we approached — just part of the scenery out here.

Scootered back to shore with tons of air left, because the DPV is an absolute weapon. Smooth, fast, efficient. Makes the whole dive feel effortless.

Cold Lake doing what Cold Lake does: weird, beautiful, surprising, and always worth the drop.

Today was one of those days that just felt right.
Started early at the humane society helping with lawn care, then headed to the provincial park for a solo dive. Spent some time with Tammy, cut the grass, grabbed a quick nap, and wrapped the night with a dive alongside Alex.

Pike everywhere, clouds of bait fish, a lake trout, a burbot, and what I’m pretty sure was a sucker. The kind of underwater parade that reminds you why we dive in the first place.

Giving and taking.
Helping a cause that matters, then feeding the part of myself that comes alive underwater. That’s balance. That’s life.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to step up for something meaningful — and for yourself — this is it.
What’s holding you back?

Went out on a solo search‑and‑find mission today and Cold Lake delivered more than I expected. Dropped down and immediately met snowmobile #1, followed seconds later by a tire filled with concrete sitting beside a bathtub cut in half. A few feet away, a bulldog statue stood guard at 29’ like it owned the place.

Not long after, I came across the submerged jungle gym — complete with a turtle and rocking horse tucked inside. There are ropes draped over the top, and if you’re not paying attention, they’ll grab you faster than you think. One of those ropes leads straight to a garden wishing well because apparently someone wanted to try their green thumb 37’ underwater.

Followed another line and hit a snowmobile hood at 56’, now serving as a fully occupied burbot condo. Nice to see it getting repurposed.

Farther on, I reached the 12–14’ sailboat sitting in 60’ of water, then traced the lines to a collection of anchors, scaffolding, a Canadian flag, and a burbot tube. On top of the cage is a fall‑hazard sign, so don’t climb it unless you want to test gravity underwater.

Heading back toward the shallows, I passed a No ATVs in the Water sign, then snowmobile #2, the 40’ depth marker, and finally the northwest buoy anchor line — the cue to begin the ascent and knock out a 3‑minute safety stop to let the nitrogen work its way out.

So what’s holding you back from getting off the couch and experiencing something like this? Cold Lake isn’t just a lake — it’s an underwater museum, a training ground, and a playground for anyone willing to drop beneath the surface. The only thing missing is you.

Cold Lake reminded us today why it’s one of the most underrated dive spots in Alberta.
Insane depth. Really good visibility. Minimal silt. And currents that keep you humble.

Four of us Cold Lake Divers hit English Bay Campground to run the outside nav course. The current was wild — pushed us off the route more than once — but we still tagged quite a few markers.

Then came the burbot surprise. The dive bell was loaded. Like… “is this a burbot apartment complex?” loaded. The video explains why we couldn’t cut it shorter. Too much awesome in one dive so we ended up doing 2.

If you’ve been thinking about diving here, consider this your sign. Cold Lake is calling. Scuba diving within your reach.

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