Big bay point diving regulated in 2011

[DT]

Damb

Diving Big Bay Point will be a hassle next summer thanks to a few "local" dive shop owners who have in the past and are still doing it showing up at this site in the early weekend mornings disturbing the peace with to many students and cars all in one big scuba class check out dives. A bylaw passed by council Wednesday night, outlines new rules including the need for divers to obtain a permit before going on dives.

http://www.simcoe.com/news/cityhall/article/848663--town-will-regulate-scuba-divers

 

[ScubaSteve]

Diving there will not be a hassle but parking sure will be . I have only dove there once but never touched the dock anyways and can not see any reason to so my style of diving would not change. Does anybody know the area well enough to know how far away you will have to park in order to dive there?

 

[DT]

Parking is not permitted on any of the side roads in or around BIG BAY POINT.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I could have sworn I read on Ontario Diving that you could park away from the dock......I just checked and could not find it so I guess I was mistaken. That sucks. Well, BBP was not convenient for me but I had hoped to get to dive it more. Maybe I will meet a local resident .

 

[DT]

More than Likely this will mean the local dive shops that frequently use the Government docks/beaches around Simcoe will have to purchase a season permit that allows them to hold a open water event with some restrictions. The parking problem can be solved with a simple pay for parking meter. In Toronto you are required to file a application with the harbor master and provide a copy of your commercial insurance before you charter or dive on any wrecks. Let the show begin

 

[Michael_Lambert]

Speaking with Dan Davidson this is how it appears it will work out.

- Diving from the physical dock will be prohibited from may 15th - October 15th.
- Diving from the beach will be allowed as will swimming however they do request that a dive flag be floated and that we are to enter and exit in a manor that does not interrupt boat traffic using the dock ( Not that any ever do )
- Parking in that lot will be by town Permit only ( only available to residents of the town of innisfil )

So as it stands now, if you are a resident of the town or have a friend who is then you can park and dive off the beach all you wish.

- Apparently parking will be allowed on the 30th side road on the one side of the road, this i guess will be something that we will have to see what gets posted.

The town is working out a process to issue permits at a cost for shops / instructors to use the dock and parking area for training however this is something being worked out, they are trying to ensure the area does not get overwhelmed at any given time like it currently does.


All in all, The town is not looking to stop "Scuba Diving" per-say, however trying to meet the demand of its residents. The two major concerns have been 1 no parking ( Divers and fisherman alike ) and 2 the dock full of crap ( again Divers, Fisherman and swimmers ).

 

[Michael_Lambert]

More than Likely this will mean the local dive shops that frequently use the Government docks/beaches around Simcoe will have to purchase a season permit that allows them to hold a open water event with some restrictions. The parking problem can be solved with a simple pay for parking meter. In Toronto you are required to file a application with the harbor master and provide a copy of your commercial insurance before you charter or dive on any wrecks. Let the show begin

Most of the beaches in Innisfil are permit only, Or the beaches with larger areas for parking have pay meters or pay to enter. Most beaches where there is permit only parking does have free parking however it's not always convenient and typically a long walk.

To my understanding the permits will be issued for particular days, they are trying to ensure they don't have too many people at the location at one time. Currently any given weekend we can see 2-3 dive shops and as many as 30 students littering the area.

This way, One dive shop on site when a complaint comes in from bylaw about issues, or from residents the town knows who the offenders where.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I cannot imagine using the dock for anythig when I can walk in from the beach area so that is OK with me. And walkfrom from just outside of the parking "lot" would be OK as well assuming you can get there early enough to get a spot that close. On a busy day though, Cedar Hill would be far more convenient and not much farther. Hopefully evenings will be OK at BBP.....that is when I can see diving there.

 

[ScubaSteve]

To my understanding the permits will be issued for particular days, they are trying to ensure they don't have too many people at the location at one time. Currently any given weekend we can see 2-3 dive shops and as many as 30 students littering the area.

This way, One dive shop on site when a complaint comes in from bylaw about issues, or from residents the town knows who the offenders where.

So it will likely boil down to which shop has the quickest dialing fingers and is willing to commit the farthest out.

 

[DT]

25 years of diving at BBP I've never used the dock anyways I always walk out from the beach to avoid getting a fish hook in the head. I guess over all this is nothing more than crowd control.