Input Needed for Blue Hole Improvements

[amascuba]

The last time I was there, they were working on getting the cassions down for the foundation. They had two large pipe sleeves down into the ground pumping "excess" water out of the area.

Interesting. I wonder how far down they are planning to go with the caissons?

 

[DandyDon]

I'll drop Marianne a email this evening asking about the progress.

I mentioned at our meeting that she sign up for an account here so we could ask questions, but I think DandyDon scared her.......

Lmao: did you tell her I'm but a barking pussycat...?

 

[ABQdiver]

Interesting. I wonder how far down they are planning to go with the caissons?

No idea! I'm assuming until they hit "non-mushy" substrate..... :11:

 

[ABQdiver]

Lmao: did you tell her I'm but a barking pussycat...?

Hmmm, not exactly. Although I did mention that you'd have lot of opinions!!

It's ALL good!

 

[ABQdiver]

Looks like they have the dirt work done for the new building. It looked like they were going to do caissons a few weeks back. Guess that was wrong.......

Talking to Stella, they apparently took the ground down a few feet and then brought it back up using engineered fill.

This shot was taken under the shelter in front of the bathroom area.

 

[wve]

Your picture is better than mine.

Stella also said that they have been lowering the level of the water in the Hole about 5-6 feet during the week, then letting it fill back up for the weekends. This is so they can continue the dirt work. I assume this helps keep the dirt more dry.

I heard the price tag for the plans is $2.9 million. For that amount, they really do need to get it right. If they don't, it could seriously and adversely affect the whole character of the place, and they might not get the return on investment that they need.

One nice thing now: even though it gets crowded and messy, there is still something nice about being able to just walk up and jump in without a lot of hassle. Divers seem to like rustic places. The Blue Hole has that feel, even when there are a hundred people there. The third-world feel isn't all bad...if that makes sense.

 

[mrlipis]

Makes perfect sense.
I still want to know what it is they are building. What is the function of this project? Anyone know?

Bruce

 

[amascuba]

Makes perfect sense.
I still want to know what it is they are building. What is the function of this project? Anyone know?

Bruce

A new dive shop.

Santa Rosa, New Mexico : City of Lakes

 

[DandyDon]

Your picture is better than mine.

Stella also said that they have been lowering the level of the water in the Hole about 5-6 feet during the week, then letting it fill back up for the weekends. This is so they can continue the dirt work. I assume this helps keep the dirt more dry.

I heard the price tag for the plans is $2.9 million. For that amount, they really do need to get it right. If they don't, it could seriously and adversely affect the whole character of the place, and they might not get the return on investment that they need.

One nice thing now: even though it gets crowded and messy, there is still something nice about being able to just walk up and jump in without a lot of hassle. Divers seem to like rustic places. The Blue Hole has that feel, even when there are a hundred people there. The third-world feel isn't all bad...if that makes sense.

Well, a good portion of the money is came from grants didn't it? It's easy to spend free money on ideas that may or may not have value. Even with outside contractors, some of that money will filter into the town during construction. My town is similar in size but altogether different in style; we recently used grant money and prison labor to replace 3 or 4 blocks of downtown sidewalks - mostly for unoccupied buildings but with increased fuel costs and some revitalization, some of them could reoccupy?

Some divers like rustic places and maybe some don't. I do to an extent, but I do catch myself flip-flopping on that at times. Ask me on the 11th when I get back from Holbox. Anyway, it looks like they're trying to get away from rustic and shoot for modern and inclusive.

A new dive shop.

Santa Rosa, New Mexico : City of Lakes

Even more actually. I enlarged the pics for a better looks, but even tho Kevin already blew the thread width I'll attach them as I went for full screen size (tap the thumb to open the pic, then click it for larger). I still cannot tell what all they have in mind, but they do seem to be building a combination dive shop convention center which they probly hope to populate on weekends with a lot more than divers. :no

Construction of the new Blue Hole Dive Center and Santa Rosa Convention Center is currently underway with a targeted completion date of August 2009, just in time for the cooler weather months in the peak of the dive season here. The Blue Hole is already a popular U.S. scuba diving destination, but with the new dive shop, warm rooms, and expo space the Blue Hole should move to the top of the list.
The Convention Center and Dive Center building will total 17, 373 sq. ft., with 4,200 square feet devoted strictly to locker rooms, the warm rooms, and classroom space that will accommodate up to 65 divers. The concourse, offices, expo, kitchen, dive shop, canteen and conference space is in the remaining 13,200 sq. ft.

Offices? Expr? Kitchen? Conference space? Uh huh and how much more are they going to charge to use those? Who besides divers do they hope to attract?

I do gripe too much tho. Even if they double the fees, they'll be the same for a weekend then as Blue Lagoon near Huntsville is for each day, and it would be nice to stay warm in the winter getting out of the water with no wind and out of a wetsuit in warm protection. Even tho they can't keep bathrooms clean and gates unlocked now, maybe they will do better with better facilities.

 

[ABQdiver]

Stella also said that they have been lowering the level of the water in the Hole about 5-6 feet during the week, then letting it fill back up for the weekends. This is so they can continue the dirt work. I assume this helps keep the dirt more dry.

I think they may have hit on the method to "flush out" the hole somewhat. The water quality and clarity has been a LOT better since they started doing that. It might be a technique for the future!
There is less stuff on the walls and just overall so much better visibility that it makes the diving there much more enjoyable!

Robin mentioned in another thread about chunks of rock falling down. Saw those on our dives Sunday, but couldn't say if they fell from the flushing effect or just on a natural time frame.