Gilboa Hardline

[yknot]

Recently heard a rumor that a couple of divers at Gilboa surfaced to find a sheriff's deputy waiting topside, along with the owner, who gave them quite an earful about diving the deep side without filing a deep dive plan. As it's a privately owned quarry, the owner can make up and enforce any rules he chooses. Deputy was reported to admit that he couldn't do anything except for citing them for tresspassing if they refused to leave if so ordered by Gilboa management (they weren't). I am aware of some of the tragedies and near deaths at the Quarry in recent years so I can understand Mike's point, just curious what others have experienced recently. I'm also aware that alot of divers, in the past at least, ventured over the wall without benefit of having a plan filed. I've done so myself and never been chastised for it.

 

[Boogie711]

You know what? Good for Mike. Anyone who dives there knows you have to file a deep plan. If they're going to be idiots and sneak over, they deserve to be kicked out.

I don't know about the Sheriff thing, but it was probably more a scare tactic than anything else.

 

[Randy43068]

I agree with Mike and am glad he called the Putnam SO on the idiots who think rules aren't for them. I'm glad mike makes people follow the speed limit also. It's a nice place because Mike makes people follow the rules.

Randy.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I haven't been there recently but I file a deep dive plan.

I don't know how effective the rule is in decreasing accidents but it's simple for every one and it might give some divers a reason to stop and think or flag a real obvious case of a diver who want to prove the theory of natural selection.

I guess that's a long winded way of saying...good for Mike.

I think a lot of the problems have actually come from AOW classes on the deep side and I'm not sure what any one can do about them short of telling an instructor how to teach.

 

[Lauren0Liz]

The guys probably would have filled a plan if Mike had been there, but it was just me in the office that day. When they came up to the office AFTER the dive to give me the plan Mike made them write out one made a comment about thinking they could get away with it becuase it was just me in the office. I am glad that Mike had me call the sheriffs office and im glad that most everyone agrees that it was a good idea.

One way the plan does help stop accidents is becuase Mike isn't afaid to tell someone no if he doesn't feel comfortable with what they are doing which is good becuase it keeps those who are newly certified and not the comfortable in the water yet from going over there.

 

[diverbob]

I am not familair with this place. Is it just a quarry?

 

[MikeFerrara]

I am not familair with this place. Is it just a quarry?

Yes it's a 140 ft deeo 40 deg F quarry where more than a few divers have been hurt.

 

[MikeFerrara]

The guys probably would have filled a plan if Mike had been there, but it was just me in the office that day. When they came up to the office AFTER the dive to give me the plan Mike made them write out one made a comment about thinking they could get away with it becuase it was just me in the office. I am glad that Mike had me call the sheriffs office and im glad that most everyone agrees that it was a good idea.

One way the plan does help stop accidents is becuase Mike isn't afaid to tell someone no if he doesn't feel comfortable with what they are doing which is good becuase it keeps those who are newly certified and not the comfortable in the water yet from going over there.

All Mike can do is put some reasonable procedures in place and try to influence divers the right way and he's always tried to do that.

 

[diverbob]

I might have to look into that place some time down the road. Is there much to see there, or just someplace to dive deep to say you have been deep?

 

[diverbrian]

There are plenty of fish on the shallow side along with several vehicles, a flooded forest and an airplane.

The deep side doesn't have much as it is mainly used for deep dive training (I did much of my Advanced Nitrox course over there) and Mike really doesn't wish to encourage divers to go over there. There is a clear cut underwater wall that divides the shallow side from the deep side that used to be where the roads for the quarry vehicles were. I still use it to keep my deep skills up for the "off season" when the dive boats can't run. After the middle of September, I am always open for a weekend with deep divers that wish to do the same.