Blue Springs Flood Photos and Story

[ScubaGypsy]

Personally I would recommend taking a northerly route and hitting Gilboa Quarry instead of Circleville. You can get a room in Findlay which is about half an hour from the quarry.
Ber :lilbunny:

Yes if my return route/schedule had allowed I would have considered just that! I have dove both Gilboa and Portage in the past and both were fun but this trip didn't allow it. I didn't think that Gilboa allows solo diving but perhaps they do?

Personally I love dive sites that are open 24/7 without scuba police although I fully understand why the more popular sites need to enact their rules. There is just something very tranquil to having a dive site to ones self. This is exactly why I have been so appreciate and supportive of Blue Springs.

I left Bloomington on Friday (September 12th) and did a morning dive at Blue Springs. There was some light showers but I had the quarry to myself. This time I wore my heavier gloves and hood and went deeper. At around 35' the viz does open up to 10-15' though it is rather dark and cold. I saw the cabin cruiser and armored car and explored the rocks. Lots of heavy silt on and in all of these attractions. The low temperature was 46 F.

After my 70 minute dive I continued east as the rain became heavier and the drive even more stressful. As I approached Columbus I thought what the heck as I decided to do a dive at Circleville Twin Quarries just to try and relax before continuing east. Viz was lousy here too as it was raining throughout. After the dive I continued east to St. Clairsville for the evening.

My reasons for wanting to stay on I-70 east is I planned to do a Sunday morning dive with my oldest son. He is attending a commercial dive school in New Jersey so I picked him up Saturday afternoon and we went diving with East Coast Diving Services out of Atlantic City for two dives on the "Flour wreck." We had a wonderful visit and dive but I didn't end up getting back to Rhode Island until 10:30 pm last night.

Anyway, it is the diving and new sites/experiences that make what is typically very routine business travel as a new adventure. Now that I'm back in New England it is time to gather some lobsters!

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Gilboa doesn't allow solo that I know of, it would really surprise me if they did. The insurance guy would probably faint if Mike proposed allowing solo divers.

From what I've heard vis is almost always lousy at Circleville. Have you been to Natural Springs in New Paris, OH. That's right outside Richmond IN just across the Ohio line and really close to the highway. Visibility isn't much better than Circleville if at all though.

Glad you made it home safe, you sure didn't want to be around here on Sunday with the wind that blew through from Ike.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[robohips77]

Your first time to Blue Springs I see.

Been Diving Blue Springs since 1986 and have over 400 dives logged both as an instructor and just to have fun. I hope he can get it cleaned up but the damage above and U/W will be years before it can return to 'normal'. I have watched it go through three ownerships (if Ray was really an owner) so here's hoping it can be resurrected. FRP for me for now or up to the cold white north. :depressed:

 

[Diver Lori]

(if Ray was really an owner)

Ray was a caretaker, according to Rick Sandefur, he kept him on when he bought the place from the previous owner. Rick then let him go because Ray was taking the profits and heading to the casinos and not doing any of the work on the grounds.

 

[Divingdispatcher]

I realize it has been awhile since anyone has posted this thread, but does anyone have any current info on this site?

 

[UWDoc]

Couple weeks ago...

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/great-lakes-wrecking-crew/277829-blue-springs-conditions.html

 

[crpntr133]

Damn, I was hoping for some video. I know you got some Ross.

 

[UWDoc]

I'll see if I can figure out how to post it. I probably have to upload it somewhere else and then post the link here, right?

 

[crpntr133]

Upload it to Youtube or such and link to here. Or copy the link and paste it here. There is a way to embed Youtube here but not sure how that works.