Blue Hole Memorial Day weekend lifeguards..

[toddthecat]

Just came back from taking my class down to Blue Hole. Not nearly as many divers as I expected. About 100+ spectators blocking both entrances yelling and screaming like idiots. But what is the gig with these lifeguards? We were getting ready to get in the water for Dive 2 and all of a sudden they claim that there was a lightning strike and everyone had to get out.

There was a storm forming but I certainly saw no lightning and heard no thunder...An hour or more passes and apparently people can get back in. I get my students to the platform and right then have my DM brings us up. Apparently we are all kicked out again.

In the end we waited for several hours until these "haiskool dropouts" left because the end of their shift was at 5. They think they have been commissioned as police officers but they aren't remotely close. Needless to say, we made it a hard few hours...

The haiskool dropouts were certainly over the top for an already semi-uninviting place (I was at the gas station east of the overpass for 7 minutes and counted 11 patrol cars from three jurisdictions pulling over anyone in sight). I must say Blue Hole has certainly become low on the list.

In addition for those who haven't been there in a while and other things that came up:

-The Jersey barriers have been removed and replaced by wood poles coming out of the ground. The wood poles are closer to the hole than the barriers so that was nice...

-I'm told that once the large building opens, the parking lot will be shut down. All divers will have to park on the west side of the building and carry all of their gear through the building to get to the hole...

-It seems there has been a significant cleanup as many items left by people have been removed. I did not see it myself although one of my staff reports the venus statue is now at the bottom again

-Bert with Sandia is somehow still at it! His little SUV was packed so full he and a student were shoving against the back hatch with their asses to close it on Saturday afternoon. It actually worked. *Barely....*

Anyway, if there were a soapbox icon I would have used it :blinking:

 

[robint]

sounds pretty typical for BH these days.:cool2:
my husband was teaching there last weekend and the place was packed with divers. He and Stella agreed that it was the most divers they have seen there in many years. They think it was divers trying to avoid Memorial Day weekend.

as far as the bldg goes - that has been the plan for the past few years, only problem is that they ran out of money last year so no one knows when construction will continue. By the time they start again it will need repair!

we'll probably still go this summer for at least a day to do a few dives, but we won't spend too much time there until fall when all the "dropouts" leave.

robin

 

[DandyDon]

Anyway, if there were a soapbox icon I would have used it :blinking:

Isn't this the weekend of the Softball Tournament? I would have expected a large number of tourists, swimmers and jumpers - not many divers.

Got to wonder about the lifeguards? You might phone the city tomorrow, ask for whoever oversees the hole and ask about this. I'd hate to think they're going to be there every weekend. Maybe the swimmers and jumpers need the oversight, but not scuba instructors - gawd.

So who is Bert with Sandia? I remember the name but don't remember which ones. I get irritated by the shop that has their students lay out tarps and gear all across between the parking lot and the hole as if they were staking claim to the land as theirs, but I get irritated easily.

 

[robint]

Don - people spread out tarps in an attempt to keep gear clean, it has nothing to do with staking a claim on Blue Hole. Since 99% of students use rental gear and have no regard for the cost, it is important for instructors to try to keep all the students together, the gear off the concrete/grass/dirt.

Bert is the owner of Sandia Snorkel and Dive Center in Albuquerque. He goes to Blue Hole about once per month with students.

Lifeguards are there at Blue Hole all summer on weekends, for the jumpers and swimmers. They are paid by the city and rarely do anything to earn their pay. Most of the time they sit on their cell phones talking or texting. I have never once seen one get wet. You can complain about them to Stella and she can call, but as she has told us on numerous occasions, it rarely does any good.


robin

 

[toddthecat]

Yeah I talked to someone there who said the week before saw the hole packed with divers like sardines in a can. I certainly expected a lot more this weekend. The softball tournament filled up the Super 8, Comfort Inn, and Travelodge. One of my students said the Super 8 was like a madhouse at night. I was at the Travelodge and it was actually quiet for being full.

 

[DandyDon]

I never noticed any lifeguards there, but it sounds like they are usually easy to miss - and I only go once a year anymore I suppose.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Todd,

Regarding the increased presence of police, it is a state wide thing all summer long. I found out the hard way with a $90 ticket outside of Logan this weekend. Just as I was pointing out the 4th police car in 50 miles to my wife, the lights came on (pun intended, boy was I slow...mentally). Too late.

 

[RonFrank]

BH really has not changed much over the years. I've not seen the lifeguards there in the past, but I generally do BH a couple times a summer. I guess if I am at 80', they are not going to be telling me to get out!

Lots of swimmers is common for summer time, and I am sure the softball tournament did not help the situation.

I am honestly thankful that they ran out of money in true Santa Rosa fashion. IMO the longer that building sits empty, the better.

Perch lake is generally a nice break on a crowded weekend at BH.

 

[toddthecat]

Rock Lake is the one across the street from Perch isn't it? What's it like over there?

 

[knotical]

Rock Lake is the one across the street from Perch isn't it? What's it like over there?

The one across the street is Twin Lake.

This thread:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/rocky-mountain-oysters/217564-santa-rosa-nm-points-interest.html

should help you find Rock Lake.

And here are some other threads with more info about Rock Lake, including restrictions, etc.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/rocky-mountain-oysters/208560-rock-lake-agua-negra-n-m.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/rocky-mountain-oysters/153612-who-bought-rock-lake.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/rocky-mountain-oysters/61541-rock-lake-diving-santa-rosa-nm.html