Gilboa Cost??

[RPanick]

If he were to number the spots, no reason Mike couldn't also take reservations for them in advance. Kind of like camping spots at RV parks. Regulars could reserve particualr spots ahead of time because they know where they like.

I would also suggest numbering them starting at 1 for the most desireable spots and working up for the less desireable spots.

I do think block reservations should be discouraged, that or he needs to setup a few class marshalling spots, perhaps a few of the bigger areas.

 

[diver_paula]

Bob - Carpooling really wouldn't work. I think part of the problem is groups or instructors paying to camp and then setting up tents for students to warm up in, space for several students to set their gear up, and the like.

All - I hope this does'nt last long. I didn't know about the 'non-campers are supposed to put their gear on the benches' until a similar thread was started a few weeks ago. Perhaps we need to let Mike know that the rule wasn't really known. I'd think communicating the rule either verbally or with signs in the office & the camping area would help immensely. If people knew where their gear was supposed to be they probably comply.

Paula - another person that has paid to camp and couldn't find a place for my vehicle let
alone my tent!

 

[RPanick]

I would disagree on the car pooling. Everyone of them uses more space than four or more students ground tarps. The number of cars on a busy weekend gets to be a real problem. Every car you keep out increases the amount of space and the more people and their gear that can be accomidated. If you and your buddy drove separately you would use much more space than two divers that car pooled.

Instructors pretty much have to setup staging areas and tents for the students. I've worked enough classes to know that the biggest problem is trying to round up all the students. There's lots of waiting around just trying to get the students organized. Its like hearding catfish (blatant diving theme). Having one area for them to setup in makes life much easier for the instructors, and if done well likely increases the density of divers in an area, effectively saving space.

Lets face it the benches won't handle that many classes at one time, there isn't enough room to put all the gear. Dont' get me wrong they help, but it isn't enough.

During busy weekends its going to have to come down to a reservation system or higher fees. Lets face it, Mike could probably raise the rates even higher and not loose money during busy weekends, he would probably make even more.

My solution is a bit simpler, I dive Gilboa during the quiet times early spring, late fall. I dive other places that are less of a hassle during the summer months. I just wish that was more lake dives, unfortunately it wasn't this summer.

 

[mbsdiver]

Don’t take this the wrong way. Ok I have dove there a lot but this is getting crazy. If you are not there at 7am on most weekends you won’t find an inch of dive table left. I end up throwing a tarp. As 4 camping is there not suppose to be camping space left of the ramp that has not been finished 4 over 2 years. And as 4 the ramp why is it not open (the big rocks) well move them. Now the office is being added on 2. Was told 3years ago the bunk houses were going to get a/c it gets over 100 in there in the summer. I think he has to many projects going at 1 time and need to finish 1 before u start the next one. Now this is just my opinion. So don’t take this the wrong way. I like mike & what he has done with the place. P.S. as 4 the camping spaces put # on them mark them off.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Mike was planning to build a large platform near the ramp for easy (and non-silting) access to the water from there. I don't know what the status of those plans is. You do remember what that area used to look like right? It was a giant hill until he took roughly 3000 dump truck loads of dirt out of there. The ramp is closed as much as possible because divers wading in there screws the visibility up REALLY bad and destroys fish nests in the area. Mike's doing the best he can with what he has to work with and he's taken the quality of that quarry WAY beyond what it was before he bought it but it's still a work in progress. He's trying to make things better for US; maybe some of the stuff he tries doesn't always work as well in real life as it does on paper but if you know Mike at all he won't quit trying until he gets it right. There's no way in the world to make everyone happy, why put the pressure on him to be the one to accomplish that. Have an idea about how to make the system work so everyone is happy including Mike's insurance company and lawyers? Then present it to him on a slow day at the quarry when he has time to give you his full attention.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[wb416]

Mike was planning to build a large platform near the ramp for easy (and non-silting) access to the water from there. I don't know what the status of those plans is. You do remember what that area used to look like right? It was a giant hill until he took roughly 3000 dump truck loads of dirt out of there. The ramp is closed as much as possible because divers wading in there screws the visibility up REALLY bad and destroys fish nests in the area. Mike's doing the best he can with what he has to work with and he's taken the quality of that quarry WAY beyond what it was before he bought it but it's still a work in progress. He's trying to make things better for US; maybe some of the stuff he tries doesn't always work as well in real life as it does on paper but if you know Mike at all he won't quit trying until he gets it right. There's no way in the world to make everyone happy, why put the pressure on him to be the one to accomplish that. Have an idea about how to make the system work so everyone is happy including Mike's insurance company and lawyers? Then present it to him on a slow day at the quarry when he has time to give you his full attention.
Ber :lilbunny:

Well said Ber.... he has the best of intentions, and an incredible work ethic trying to make things better for everyone.

Perhaps someone could point out another Midwest dive/training location that's been improved as much as Gilboa has since he took things over in 2001.

 

[Randy43068]

Ber, that was very well said and I couldn't agree more. The reason I 'need' to park close is because it's easy for me to dress out from the back of my vehicle. All of my support stuff is in my car and it's a very long walk back to the main parking lot so I'm willing to pay the extra 4 dollars. To be honest, I don't mind paying it either. It's a nice dive site and I've got no problem supporting it. Maybe some kind of shuttle running from the parking lot to the back of the quarry hauling all the dive gear would work. For that to work for me, I'd need to know there was space for me to dress and get my tanks on with ease. So, maybe more table space and a shuttle (Gator) could work. Keeping in mind that a shuttle kind of thing at the quarry would cost money, too.

All in all, as it is at the moment, I pay a nineteen dollars for a whole day and evening of diving... That is a pretty good deal actually. I'm only paying for me so the per person charge really doesn't affect me.

Next year will be even better............ I got a season pass!!

 

[shoredivr]

I stopped in at Gilboa last month and was astounded at how close a call Mike had regarding the river flooding this summer. All that rainfall in a short time backed up the river overnight. Did anyone notice on the drive through Ottawa how many businesses were ruined and houses needed work due to flooding of the Ottawa River? Did anyone notice how high on the trees there was mud and dirt from the floodwater levels?

If not for a lot of hard work from Mike an dJody and many others hauling sandbags between the river and the quarry there would be no Gilboa today. All the mucky polluted water would have poured into the quarry, and who wants to dive in polluted water?

I think people should cut some slack here, this is a work in progress. I first dived in Gilboa two years ago and I'm impressed with what's been done. I have all my finger and toes and have had pleasant service at Gilboa.

(I received no gratuities, free parking, nitrox or deep end frreebies and am not involved in any business relationship with the Gilboa Quarry if inquiring minds want to know).

 

[Randy43068]

I stopped in at Gilboa last month and was astounded at how close a call Mike had regarding the river flooding this summer. All that rainfall in a short time backed up the river overnight. Did anyone notice on the drive through Ottawa how many businesses were ruined and houses needed work due to flooding of the Ottawa River? Did anyone notice how high on the trees there was mud and dirt from the floodwater levels?

If not for a lot of hard work from Mike an dJody and many others hauling sandbags between the river and the quarry there would be no Gilboa today. All the mucky polluted water would have poured into the quarry, and who wants to dive in polluted water?

I think people should cut some slack here, this is a work in progress. I first dived in Gilboa two years ago and I'm impressed with what's been done. I have all my finger and toes and have had pleasant service at Gilboa.

(I received no gratuities, free parking, nitrox or deep end frreebies and am not involved in any business relationship with the Gilboa Quarry if inquiring minds want to know).

He and Jody did that.. all of that without knowing what was happening at their home. I really cannot imagine the stress all of that was on Mike and Jody. I find them to be pretty amazing people.

You're right, Ottawa got really hard. I have first hand stories of how hard people in that community got hit. Some of real heroics, many of heartbreak.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I was doing a little snooping regarding the cost of camping at Gilboa vs the cost of camping at the closest KOA. It's $32/night for a tent site for 4 people at the KOA unless you buy a KOA card for something like $15 then it takes a couple bucks off the cost. That particular KOA doesn't seem to have tent sites without electric so I checked a KOA that's near my home and they want $31/night for a non-electric site for 4 people. Mike charges $8 per person to camp so for a party of 4 people that's $32/night. The kicker? If you don't HAVE 4 people with you it's only $16 per night at Gilboa where it's still $32 per night at the KOA. I couldn't find the per person charge at KOA for additional people.

I too was unaware of the "day people are supposed to use the dock tables" rule. Somebody with some artistic skills make the man a sign he can post that explains the parking policy to everyone
Ber :lilbunny: