If you've made an unwilling sacrifice to the Crystal Shores Lake Monster, one Okotoks resident may be able to help you get it back!

Certified Diver Ian McLeod says he just wanted to dust off his scuba diving equipment and practice somewhere safe, he ended up finding a way to give back to the Beach House and help the community while he was at it.

"Quite honestly, it was just a matter of getting back into it, and getting re-acquainted with my gear as I've been out of the water for quite a while now. I just wanted to find a nice safe place with clean water that I could splash around in and just get back into diving."

McLeod has been taking all sorts of requests from residents looking to reclaim what they once have lost, and he says this is just his way of saying thank you for letting him dive in the lake.

"Typically divers as a community will return the favour by picking up some of the garbage and debris on the bottom." He says, items that were discovered will be returned to the Beach House. "A lot of stuff I've found is pretty old and that will go into the garbage, but some of the newer stuff I've been finding, I'll turn into the lost and found."

You may expect a few sunglasses but some things that McLeod has found like bikini bottoms, and bathing suits, he shares, have really thrown him off guard.

"Articles of clothing like that are strange, they really catch you off guard." McLeod says "there's so many hockey pucks down there, but I've also found fishing lures and hemp style jewelry."

Many residents of Okotoks may not have known, but you are allowed to scuba dive in Crystal Shores as long as you are a certified diver, a member or guest of a member and follow a list of rules.

One of the most important rules, is that you must dive with a buddy.

McLeod is looking for diving partners to dive with, and says he can be reached on Facebook or through the Beach House for those who are interested in joining him.

He shares that he would like to thank the Beach House for letting him practice there, and says it's a great facility for divers who are just looking for experience.

 

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