Day Island Wall Lovers - Please Read

[badgirldivin']

Bob, this dive night you're talking about was the combination of 3 different dive shops all choosing the same spot to dive that night. I understand the cops were called. Overcrowding and all.

A big part of the problem is crowds ... some of the local dive shops host shop or club dives there, and it's just not the proper site for it. A few weeks back, Kalvyn, OE2X, TBone, and myself were there and a very large group ... perhaps 40 or more divers ... showed up. They were from a local shop that hosts dives there regularly.

I don't want to get down on the shop for doing it ... that's their right. However, I think some care has to go into where to choose your dive sites when you have a group like that. One with limited parking, no facilities, and known issues with neighbors should not even be considered (IMO).

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[DoubleDip]

I also enjoy diving Day Island, I've also had many nice chat's with local resident's, most just want divers to be careful and are interested in what we see down there, some resident's however seem to feel that that Island is their own little country club and well in some aspects I can't blame them, most have paid a princely sum for their homes and let's face it it's a small community except when the diving invaders come to town, for instance ...
1. Divers who use the access path for cover while reliving oneself "make water" and G_d knows what else. I always stop before the dive and take care of nature.
2. Divers who park in front of driveway's or in the access road, it's narrow so someone who does a poor job of parking can cause major headaches. I always ask for permission when its possible and while parking do so carefully, heck, I may want to come back some day.
3. Divers who enter or surface the water from private tideland's.
The local homeowners have {had} wonderfull property rights that should be respected.
4. Divers who litter. How many times have you seen divers drive away from a dive site covered with plastic water bottles or cigarette butts or fast food type trash, or worse seen a diver littering. I'm not perfect in this regard but I always double check my parking area to make sure I havent left anything behind.

...Im sure I could add the noise caused by divers accessing the path at night or early in the morning, the homeowner to the north has that bloody dog who bark's up a storm morning noon and night whenever anyone walks the access trail.
Concerning public access I'm under the belief that the access path and the shoreline property is state land, so it would be interesting to see how homeowners could limit access. One way would be a local parking ordinance. Let's be good neighbors and not spoil a good thing, Regards

 

[badgirldivin']

You know, as often as our little group dives that site, except for a few of the offenses that I've previously listed, we are not litterers, and I've not seen trash spewn about when I've been there. All in all, the divers that dive that site are pretty conscientious about cleaning up after themselves.

The "taking care of nature's call" on the pathway, however, is extremely disgusting. In the summertime, I swear I'm in Pioneer Square or something. It reeks of pee.

A lot of the residents are very interested in what we see and stop to chat. The guy to the north of the entrance is blatantly rude, as is his lovely Mrs. But we all make it a point to chat with the neighbors and play with their dogs. It's a good time to bring up the fact that just outside their backdoors is probably one of the top five spots to dive in this state and all the cool stuff to see. They become very interested at that point and are really curious as to what we see. So chat with them...they're not all bad...

Since that accessway down to the beach is an extension of 19th Street and is public, I'd be interested in seeing how they're going to accomplish this gate and lock thing. However, in the meantime, let's not give the residents more fuel for their fire. Stop and think: Would you like someone out in front of your house at 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday, just chatting up a storm, maybe peeing in your bushes? I think not.

 

[OE2X]

Thanks everyone for your concern and input. Anyone wanting to help me further should PM me so that we can figure out what the best course of action is.

I've only had the pleasure of diving there 3 times so far, but this is a site that we cannot allow ourselves to ruin.

 

[kalvyn]

And since I live in University Place, I'd love to have Dave Swindale's info. This is an awesome dive site that I'd hate to see go to boat access only.

Hey Connie, I'm still in Tuscon (well, Green Valley to be exact) AZ, but when I get back tomorrow evening I'll PM you his info. I could do it now I guess, but my mother-in-law's computer is dialup and it's DOG slow.

Also, if you could start up a conversation at USW in Lakewood that would be good. I really only ever get my fills there (it's close to my house) so I don't know everyone there all that well. I'll still mention it when I pick up my tanks there next week, though.

Jimmie

P.S. It's rained pretty much the entire time we've been down here.

 

[Harle]

Hey Connie... How did I know you would find this conversation? That was a REALLY bad picture that you just emailed!

 

[badgirldivin']

I've started the ball rolling at the shop already. I've e'd the guy that does the shop dives, but he only has computer access on the workdays. So I'll get his response Monday.
A lot of the divers that I've spoken with are very interested in this topic and will participate in helping. Thanks for providing the info...when you do, that is...

 

[badgirldivin']

Darren, I can't remember which picture I sent you that you said is really bad. Oh, well, par for today's course. I accidentally sent my mom and dad some semi-porn today. I'm emailly losing it, man!!
And this thread was brought to my attention by Fritz. I never even knew this stuff was going on at Day Island. I just knew it was crowded when a bunch of us showed up and that Mr. !@#$% to the north is a jerk.
Oh, a great suggestion I had today was, when we are diving Day Island, if we see the neighbors out and about, walking around, and we start to chat, tell them we have heard about the petition but would like to know what it is you, the neighbor with whom you are speaking, would like of the divers.
Hey, it's a start anyway.......

 

[Harle]

It was the picture of the military guys in Kilts...

I think it was a good suggestion to not hold shop dives at this site especially knowing the impact it is having on the neighborhood. There is not much that can be done though when many divers decide to dive the site on their own.

 

[badgirldivin']

Ah, the kilt picture...yeah, that was the one I accidentally sent to my parents... OOops.
Well, I've already opted not to dive there a couple of times last week when I could have -- actually, I think it was just Friday night, but that's one less vehicle. Another suggestion has been that if we are going to dive this as a SMALL group, meet somewhere and carpool. That's less vehicular impact on the islanders. Then the usual, no peeing, not gathering like the 'hood is a pub, NO BIRTHDAY PARTIES (I didn't even know about that! No wonder the Islanders are fedup with us!!!)