Michael Eversmier

Oyster Toadfish are found throughout the middle and lower portion of the Chesapeake Bay. They can be found on oyster reefs, rocky bottom and among debris. Toadfish usually allow photographers to approach closely. Males attract a mate by making a distinctive “foghorn” sound.

Reef balls like the one pictured here from Cook Point Oyster Sanctuary are used around the bay. These 3-D structures create habitat for oysters, mussels and fish.

Reef balls like the one pictured here from Cook Point Oyster Sanctuary are used around the bay. These 3-D structures create habitat for oysters, mussels and fish.

Oyster Toadfish are found throughout the middle and lower portion of the Chesapeake Bay. They can be found on oyster reefs, rocky bottom and among debris. Toadfish usually allow photographers to approach closely. Males attract a mate by making a distinctive “foghorn” sound.

Oyster Toadfish are found throughout the middle and lower portion of the Chesapeake Bay. They can be found on oyster reefs, rocky bottom and among debris. Toadfish usually allow photographers to approach closely. Males attract a mate by making a distinctive “foghorn” sound.

Two kinds of benny are common in the bay, striped blenny and feather blenny. The feather blenny, pictured here, are named after the feathery appendage found on the top of their head. Both kind are commonly found hiding within empty oyster shells.

Going diving in Lake Marburg at Codorus State Park. Remember to bring your divers down flag and float. Due to the volume of boat traffic on Lake Marburg, recreational scuba diving is only permitted in Sinsheim Cove, in the east side of the park. Divers must register and show their certification at the park office before diving, then sign out at the park office after diving. Divers must use the buddy system and a diving flag for safety. Click here for Codorus State Park info

Sinsheim Cove entry point by Sinsheim Road

Panorama view of Sinsheim Cove from Sinsheim Road

View of Sinsheim Cove from Sinsheim Road

Sinsheim Cove entry point near bird blind by the band shell.

View of Sinsheim Cove from entry point near bird blind by the band shell.

Panorama view of Sinsheim Cove from entry point near the bird blind by the band shell.

View of mouth of Sinsheim cove by the band shell.

Map of Codorus State Park. Recreational scuba diving is only permitted in Sinsheim Cove.

Click here for park map

Diving along the edge of the submerged aquatic vegetation in the summer.

The most commonly spotted fish - large mouth bass, bluegill sunfish, yellow perch and catfish.

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, aka SAVs line the edges of the cove in the summer from a depth of 5’ to 15’.

The SAVs look like a freshwater version of a kelp forest.

The SAVs look like a freshwater version of a kelp forest.

The SAVs look like a freshwater version of a kelp forest.

Catfish spawning boxes are typically seen between 5’ to 10’ deep.

If a box is occupied, the catfish’s head can usually be seen at the opening of the spawning box.

The spawning boxes are usually occupied from June to July.

Tree stumps are commonly seen when diving along the edges of the cove from 15’ to 25’ deep..

FADs - Fish Aggregating Devices (aka cement filled 5 gallon buckets with sticks poking out) are commonly seen on dives. Although they rarely have fish attracted to them, they are great for attracting fishing line and lures.

FADs - Fish Aggregating Devices (aka cement filled 5 gallon buckets with sticks poking out) are commonly seen on dives. Although they rarely have fish attracted to them, they are great for attracting fishing line and lures.

FADs - Fish Aggregating Devices (aka cement filled 5 gallon buckets with sticks poking out) are commonly seen on dives. Although they rarely have fish attracted to them, they are great for attracting fishing line and lures.

Bluegills are a member of the sunfish family and are commonly encountered during a dive. Male in spawning colors.

Large male bluegills build nests with their tails exposing the gravel bottom.

Nest are typically 12” to 18” around.

Nest are typically 12” to 18” around.

When a female bluegill comes to a nest to spawn, the male will pin her to the gravel bottom as she expels her eggs. The male fertilizes the eggs as they emerge and she swims away a minute or two later.

More than one female may mate with a male bluegill on his nest.

Female bluegills are generally smaller and less colorful than the males.

It is very common to see multiple nests in an area.

It is very common to see multiple nests in an area. This is referred to as a spawning bed.

The male bluegill will guard his nest until the eggs have hatched and the fry are able to swim off.

Bluegills will aggressively defend their nest and scare off fish much larger than them if they approach too close.

Bluegills will aggressively defend their nest and scare off fish much larger than them if they approach too close.

Once the young have gone, the nest is abandoned until nest spring. However, the nests will remain visible through the year, sometimes leaving the bottom looking like craters on the moon.

Many other fish inhabit the lake like this 2” to 3” long tessellated darter which can be seen darting around on the bottom.

During a dive, it is not uncommon to swim into a silted up area. This is commonly caused by the non-native carp sucking up food off the bottom of the lake.

Fishing lures are the most commonly found treasure on a dive but other treasures include: propellers, golfballs, fishing rods, clothes, anchors, sunglasses and the occasional plastic trash.

Fishing lures are the most commonly found treasure on a dive but other treasures include: propellers, golfballs, fishing rods, clothes, anchors, sunglasses and the occasional plastic trash.

Visibility at Lake Marburg rarely tops 10’ to 15’. Especially if there are carp in the area. Luckily, the lake has a health population of freshwater mussels which help filter and clear the water. Please do not remove live mussels.

Freshwater mussels are the incredible unsung heroes of our lakes, rivers, and streams. Please do not remove live mussels.

Freshwater mussels are nature’s great living water purifiers. They feed by using a siphon to filter small organic particles, such as bacteria, algae, and detritus, out of the water column and into their gill chambers.

An exhalent aperture is used to expel filtered water, fecal material, and undigestible particles back into the habitat.

A single mussel can filter up to 15 to 20 gallons of water per day, removing nutrients and other harmful pollutants from the water.

In one year, a single freshwater mussel can filter over 5,000 to 7,000 gallons of water.

Mussels are the longest lived invertebrates; with some reported to live more than 100 years. Depending on the species, most live for 10 to 50 years. Mussels have growth lines on the outside of the shell, like rings on a tree.

September 9, 2020 12:51 PM “I am the last diver in the water and possibly the last person to scuba dive in Hydes Quarry”

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American Toads

Wood Frog

Coopers Hawk

Coopers Hawk

Coopers Hawk

Coopers Hawk

Sharp-shinned hawk

Sharp-shinned hawk

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad

Hickory Shad