Blue Hole closing next month for dredging

[robint]

hey everybody,
Just wanted to let you know that Blue Hole is going to be closed from Nov 7-19th approx for cleaning-dredging. We just found out the other day when a diver came into the shop and told us there are signs posted. We e-mailed and found out it is true - no warning, no oops, no sorry for *******ing up our class schedules or anything. I guess we are taking OW and Rescue students to Perch unless they decide to open up for the weekend. (they said in the e-mail they MIGHT open for that weekend if they can. Right.) What a bunch of crap. Thank you Santa Rosa.

robint

 

[Divedoggie]

Well, thanks to you, we now have the info!

 

[DandyDon]

Oooops...! I guess my Nov12, 13 dive trip is out? I'll call Stella closer to the date.

They do have some really big plans for the development there. Got a copy of the newspaper article, but I don't think it's availabel online. Maybe I can scan it...?

 

[ddavies]

Thanks for posting. I was planning on being there November 12th. Better to know now, then to drive all the way down there and then be turned away.

 

[ABQdiver]

The city of Santa Rosa got a large grant and is planning on doing quite of few things to make the Blue Hole the regional dive location that is should be. Plans are for a thorough cleaning on the dates mentioned above. Will take more, but that is the starting place.

Modifications to the entry place to include a pool type entry area at the water exit point of the existing overflow.

They will be tearing down the existing building that Stella has her fill station in. A new building with showers, changing rooms, a concession area, new fill station and more are planned. Security to control the swimming and other problems.

There is even talk of opening up the grate into the caves below and open it up to cave divers with the proper training.

 

[robint]

yeah, lots and lots of talk about improvements but very slow in coming. They have told us for the past few years (since they started charging) that the money was going for renovations to bathrooms, platforms, parking lot, etc. None has happened yet. We have seen the drawings of the new Convention Center/Restaurant/Dive Center that is planned for across the street from the Hole.... and from what they plan to do and how much they estimate it will cost, don't expect to see it for years........

I love Blue Hole, I love chatting with Stella, but I feel that the City of Santa Rosa isn't doing what it should be doing to KEEP divers coming back. There are too many issues that aren't being addressed (like all the swimmers jumping off cliff and standing on stairs and not paying when divers have to pay), dirty restrooms, no concession stand for selling food and drinks.......... I could go on but you all know what I mean. By the time they get around to fixing all those issues, people will be going elsewhere to get certified.....

robint

 

[DandyDon]

I don't know where else around here to go? Balmorhea is too far for you, and while a better OW site at only 20 feet deep, it gets boring for additional practice. Btw, $8 for 2 days is a small price compared to say - Hunstville TX and the Blue Hole there: $15 a day. And I have more problems with Instructors blocking the stairs than anyone else.

Stella said that one of the Albuquerque shops fixed the ladders at Perch Lake and for lake diving - it's okay. 50 feet deep at the springs, I think. I wonder how the road down to the lot is?

 

[ABQdiver]

yeah, lots and lots of talk about improvements but very slow in coming. ...snip.....

By the time they get around to fixing all those issues, people will be going elsewhere to get certified.....

robint

My, you're are feeling cynical aren't you??

From what I've heard this is a go now. Might take a few years to get it all done, (kind of like the road to the hole) but it's a step in the right direction!!

 

[DandyDon]

My, you're are feeling cynical aren't you??

From what I've heard this is a go now. Might take a few years to get it all done, (kind of like the road to the hole) but it's a step in the right direction!!

Yep - the road work was a hassle, but the road there is nice now. The projects they have planned are much bigger in comparison, but - I guess they did need to rebuild the road and bridge first.

One really important objective is to reinforce the walls of Blue Hole so it won't keep falling in - a nice idea I think, along with cleaning out the bottom. Wonder how much lead they'll find in the dredge?

Santa Rosa city knows well that Scuba divers pay a lot of the city bills thru hotel taxes and more, so if we can count on good management - maybe it'll end up well. I noticed in the local county newspaper from late September that they had a new mayoral candidate - pictured on the front page in a T-shirt, but that's a small town for you, and it was a colored T-shirt.

Ever try to dive in Bottomless Lakes? Make sure it hasn't rained in weeks before you go. I thought we may still go to SR the weekend of Nov 12 and do some navigation practice in Perch, but I just got off the phone with Stella and she says the temp reports from Perch were close to 50 already last weekend.

Stella doesn't plan to be open the weekend of Nov 12-13, but can provide fills and tanks with new o-rings. :cheering: Call her at 505-472-3370 to make arrangements.

 

[robint]

I don't know where else around here to go?

Well, lets just say that a dive shop in CO is working with a place in CO where there is a hot spring........ they think in the next year or so they will have a "warm water" dive spot. If it goes as planned, it will take away a good portion of Santa Rosa's business permanently.

robint