Dive Gear at Mid-Atlantic Quarries

[Rand]

The drysuit is in and I'm going to start diving locally.

I was wondering how/where you gear up at the local spots. Is the parking area close enough to the water that you just gear up at the car, or is theft not a problem and can you can leave a gear trunk under a canopy or something and it will still be there when you surface?

I'm specifically interested in the situation at Rawlings, Millbrook, Mt. Storm, and Dutch Springs.

 

[SelkieDVM]

Not sure about the other places but I can help you out with Rawlings. A lot of folks just leave their stuff on the ground near the dock/entry area. Parking may be some distance from the lake (a few hundred yards) depending on how crowded it is. You can drive down to drop your stuff off and then park your car. I've done this numerous times and have yet to have my stuff messed with. BUT - I am careful not to leave anything valuable. I have heard of people having cameras and things stolen out of their bags. If it's not too crowded then it might be possible to gear up at the car. Also just finding a good spot near the water to leave your gear can be problematic when it's very crowded. Some people do set up canopies. I would recommend a tarp or dive mat or something to put on the ground at the very least.

Cheers,
Lilla

 

[pir8]

Usually no problems with theft at Dutch.

 

[ScubaCrow]

I've never had a problem at Millbrook. Everyone leaves their cars/SUVs open and gear spread out on tarps.

 

[emcbride81]

Mt. Storm is pretty secluded, I have never seen more than 20 people there at once, but I have only dove there 7 times. I still lock up and dive with the key in my BC pocket. Millbrook is pretty crowded during the summer. Neither place are you more than 20-30 yards from the water when you park. I would say that most divers would leave your stuff alone, but there are always a few that are idiots, so better safe than sorry.

 

[Nismo]

Dutch is safe. If you are there on a weekday, you can park at the tables on the Peninsula. A rescue diver is stationed there. There's usually so few people that they can hear what's going on around them. Been there a few times and never worried. You can always lock things away and keep your key off the key ring with you at all times. We don't usually bring much with us, but never worried about my Sirius radio walking away.

 

[tfsails]

At Rawlings while I was training for my DM/AI class in 2005, I left my scuba unit at the water's edge between dives. Some time later I noticed that my safety sausage was missing. I guess somebody wanted it more than I did. From then on I don't leave my stuff at water's edge unless somebody I trust is watching it. This usually only happens when I'm a "victim" in a rescue class.

I personally have a really hard time wondering how a petty thief can look at himself in the mirror after he steals stuff. I guess that's my upbringing speaking to me.

 

[pir8]

I have left stuff(weights& such) on the gear up docks at Dutch for hours on end with no problems, actually several instructors have left things there and we 've sorted them out.