Hudson Grotto Sat June 14th

[PolarbearBen]

Hudson Grotto

I hoping to get wet this weekend and wanted to see if anyone was interested in coming along.

On Saturday 14th I was planning on going to Hudson Grotto and doing 3-4 dives.

Description:
The Grotto walls are hour glass shaped loaded with solution tubes and other objects to look at. The bottom is dome shaped, and the edges average around 100'-110' feet. There are four platforms, three of them just under the end edge of the dock, and one in the middle of the sink. The three platforms are layered like steps; the first one is at 20', the second at 45' and the third at 60'. Tied to the white barrel there is a line that runs down to a 100' platform which is used for Advance Open Water classes. The platform sits next to two boats and lines run to an old VW van, and other interesting objects sitting on the bottom. There are several thermoclines; the mid-water temperature can get pretty cold between 40' and 80'. However the bottom temperature usually stays in the low 70's. The water is tannic all year and visibility fluctuates with the algae bloom. Hudson is not known for great visibility so if you don’t like dive sites that have low viz (under 15’) you might want to pass on this. You will need 2 lights for all dives at this site. Entrance into the Grotto is $15 and there are air fills on site and bathrooms.

Web Site: Hudson Grotto

Type of possible Dives:
1. Explorer the bottom – most likely using enriched air with Aluminum 80
2. Drop to 100ft platform if you’ve never been to the bottom of this grotto
3. Explore the 60ft horizontal line that runs circumference of the grotto
4. Explore the 30ft horizontal line that runs circumference of the grotto

If you only want to do one or two of the above then that is ok in my log book.

Thanks!

Ben

 

[eandiver]

Did a couple of dives there Sunday and it was nice. Surface was in the low 80's, mid level in the mid 70's and bottom was 73. Sulfide layer around 70' and some haloclines on the bottom. I think the tide was coming in while we were there.

The 60' line can be hard to find. It runs between 50' and 60' and the best way to find it (for me) is to decend to the 20' platform, face the wall (toward the dock) and look down off the left corner of the platform and you'll see a rope tied to the wall decending to the bottom. Follow that down and look carefully and you should see it. The rope is tied to a cinder block that is a couple feet off the bottom and makes a good ascent from the bottom if you don't go back to the 100' platform.

 

[Upwelling]

hi--I would be interested in going (I've been there once before).

Hudson Grotto

I hoping to get wet this weekend and wanted to see if anyone was interested in coming along.

On Saturday 14th I was planning on going to Hudson Grotto and doing 3-4 dives.

Description:
The Grotto walls are hour glass shaped loaded with solution tubes and other objects to look at. The bottom is dome shaped, and the edges average around 100'-110' feet. There are four platforms, three of them just under the end edge of the dock, and one in the middle of the sink. The three platforms are layered like steps; the first one is at 20', the second at 45' and the third at 60'. Tied to the white barrel there is a line that runs down to a 100' platform which is used for Advance Open Water classes. The platform sits next to two boats and lines run to an old VW van, and other interesting objects sitting on the bottom. There are several thermoclines; the mid-water temperature can get pretty cold between 40' and 80'. However the bottom temperature usually stays in the low 70's. The water is tannic all year and visibility fluctuates with the algae bloom. Hudson is not known for great visibility so if you don’t like dive sites that have low viz (under 15’) you might want to pass on this. You will need 2 lights for all dives at this site. Entrance into the Grotto is $15 and there are air fills on site and bathrooms.

Web Site: Hudson Grotto

Type of possible Dives:
1. Explorer the bottom – most likely using enriched air with Aluminum 80
2. Drop to 100ft platform if you’ve never been to the bottom of this grotto
3. Explore the 60ft horizontal line that runs circumference of the grotto
4. Explore the 30ft horizontal line that runs circumference of the grotto

If you only want to do one or two of the above then that is ok in my log book.

Thanks!

Ben

 

[stangd1909]

Did a couple of dives there Sunday and it was nice. Surface was in the low 80's, mid level in the mid 70's and bottom was 73. Sulfide layer around 70' and some haloclines on the bottom. I think the tide was coming in while we were there.

The 60' line can be hard to find. It runs between 50' and 60' and the best way to find it (for me) is to decend to the 20' platform, face the wall (toward the dock) and look down off the left corner of the platform and you'll see a rope tied to the wall decending to the bottom. Follow that down and look carefully and you should see it. The rope is tied to a cinder block that is a couple feet off the bottom and makes a good ascent from the bottom if you don't go back to the 100' platform.

We are also there Sunday, and the second dive we did was awful! I also think it was because of the tide. All in all it was a ok dive, cheap entrance fee and the air fills are cheap. So you really can't go wrong lol.

 

[eandiver]

I remember seeing you although I didn't know who you were at the time.

I agree on the OK dive. For me it's very close, inexpensive and Danny does really good gas mixes.

 

[stangd1909]

Its funny, that's only my 3rd time ever diving Hudson. But thats by far the most divers I have ever seen there. I was with 2 other divers.......we really wanted to do a 3rd dive, but it was getting pretty bad.

 

[PolarbearBen]

Dive Report:

Hudson 6/14/2008
Temp: 82 at the surface and 73 at the 100ft
Thermocline at 40ft
Sulfur cloud at 70ft
Halocline at 100ft
Vis: Better than usually - just under 20ft
Tide: Was almost at high tide when we started the day and was going out when we finished the third tide.

Special thanks to I Miss H2O and Junko for coming out and exploring the grotto. We started by descending down to the 100ft platform and investigated the bottom on the East, North, and West side of the grotto. We then ascended up the West wall to experience the hour glass shape of the grotto. I Miss H2O really enjoyed come back up into the 82 degree water. Our second and third dives of the day were slowing exploring the circumference at 65ft, 55ft, 45ft, and 35ft. With the viz as good as it was there was no worry of losing anyone this day.

There were some training classes going on and some tech divers there but we structured our dive plans to stay away from them and out of the way.

Thanks for the great dives!

Ben

 

[Descending]

And thank you Ben for setting that up and leading the dives. It was my first time at Hudson Grotto, and definitly and interesting place. Loved it!

Anna

 

[Upwelling]

Thanks Ben & Anna, it was great to meet both of you. I thought all of the dives went really well (despite my surface-side ineptitude of running off with a partially-filled tank by accident and having to be chased down). I look forward to going back there.