re: Dutch Springs & other places

[sytech]

I live in Central, New Jersey and am interested in checking out Dutch Springs as well as some other locations (non-ocean). I have Advanced OW & Cave Diving Cert.. These would be primarily dives for practice, practice and more practice!

I can go to Dutch Springs on a weekday morning on the assumption that it would be less crowded. I will be bringing all of my own gear (except tanks & weights).

Was wondering what the atmosphere is like there and how is the diving? Any comments and recommendations will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sy

 

[ronbeau]

I live in Central, New Jersey and am interested in checking out Dutch Springs as well as some other locations (non-ocean). I have Advanced OW & Cave Diving Cert.. These would be primarily dives for practice, practice and more practice!

I can go to Dutch Springs on a weekday morning on the assumption that it would be less crowded. I will be bringing all of my own gear (except tanks & weights).

Was wondering what the atmosphere is like there and how is the diving? Any comments and recommendations will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sy

I have been there several times and will be there on Memorial day weekend.

The place has excellent facilities including fill showers. The staff is very good. I unfortunately got to see the staff in action during an emergency situation. They were very professional and had everything under control.

The times I have been there I have seen technical divers doing training dives using doubles, separate O₂ bottles etc.

I had an instance where I bought tickets for myself, my wife and daughter for a 3-day weekend. I got sick on Saturday afternoon. I informed the management and they refunded the price of my tickets for Sunday and Monday without any questions or hassle.

You can't ask for better service than that.

If I had to search for something to complain about it would be the fact that your tank refills are hot fills which means they are short fills. By the time you get to the water your 3000 PSI fill might be down to 2400.

In our case, Dutch Spring is about a 5 hour drive fro Western Massachusetts. My LDS usually has people going to Dutch Springs on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

 

[ohmdiver]

Been to dutch several times myself. I typically bring extra tanks, and have them filled overnight. I have not experianced a short fill there. The short fill may depend on how much of a hurry they are in.

I enjoy going there because they put in an effort to keep thing interesting.

I will be going next weekend. This will be my 6th trip there and my wife's 1st. It is about a 4hr drive for us.

During the week it is less crowded. However they do not rent gear of any kind. I would suggest you get your hands on some weights and a tank or two.

They are also very particular on Solo Diving, so bringing a buddy or arranging to meet someone there would also be advisable. Dutch has a buddy list,(at least they used too on the Website) were you could potentionaly hook up with another diver with similar intrest.

Even if you just go there to dive it would be worth it.

There are a couple of close Hotels. We stayed at the Days Inn (now under new managment) and it was okay. The last trip as with our next trip we are planning of tenting right on the site. The only drawback is that you get "locked in" at 8:30 pm. This is not as bad as it sounds you just need to plan for it. But $10 a night vs $70 (aprox. nightly rate at the hotel) is worth it to me.

Enjoy Dutch and post a report on what you think of the place.

 

[snowmaker]

I was there this weekend. Very nice place to dive. Clean warm showers. It gets crowded on the weekends once we get into the summer. Water temps where in the low 40's at the pump station about 75'-80'. I will be there again Memorial Day Weekend.

 

[ohmdiver]

Just checked the website, they now rent some gear. As an example:

80 cu. ft. aluminum Tank
Air $16 - Nitrox $19
$125 refundable deposit required.
Only MasterCard, Visa or cash accepted for tank deposits.

Tanks are full when you first rent them with either filtered air or nitrox.
You will need to pay for any additional refills during the rental period.
You do not have to refill a tank when you bring it back
at the end of the rental period.

 

[RiverRat]

I live in Central, New Jersey and am interested in checking out Dutch Springs as well as some other locations (non-ocean). I have Advanced OW & Cave Diving Cert.. These would be primarily dives for practice, practice and more practice!

I need to get in some practice as well. Took a pre-fundies class and need to work on my kicks etc. and get the rust out. Haven't been in the water much lately except for pool work. If you need a buddy let me know. I can get a Friday off now and then as well as weekends. Send me a PM.

Chris

 

[Nismo]

They are also very particular on Solo Diving, so bringing a buddy or arranging to meet someone there would also be advisable. Dutch has a buddy list,(at least they used too on the Website) were you could potentionaly hook up with another diver with similar intrest.

Even if you just go there to dive it would be worth it.

There are a couple of close Hotels. We stayed at the Days Inn (now under new managment) and it was okay. The last trip as with our next trip we are planning of tenting right on the site. The only drawback is that you get "locked in" at 8:30 pm. This is not as bad as it sounds you just need to plan for it. But $10 a night vs $70 (aprox. nightly rate at the hotel) is worth it to me.

Enjoy Dutch and post a report on what you think of the place.

You MUST have a buddy. Have been there a few times and they require a dive buddy.

The Hampton Inn is really nice too.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Unless they've changed their policy, solo diving is allowed with the solo diver certification and a diver locator. Dutch Springs isn't a bad place. I've been there a handful of times. It's a little on the pricey side unless you purchase an annual pass and take advantage of it.

Another option in NJ is Round Valley. It's only $5 to enter. There's a dive area there with a platform at about 20'. You do need a buddy and hours are more limited, but it's not a bad place to get in some practice dives.

 

[sytech]

I'm about 25 minutes from Round Valley and did my cert. dives there about 10 years ago.

Was wondering if anyone else has been there and if they've ventured further out and down to where the village used to be before they flooded it to make it a reservoir?

Sy

Unless they've changed their policy, solo diving is allowed with the solo diver certification and a diver locator. Dutch Springs isn't a bad place. I've been there a handful of times. It's a little on the pricey side unless you purchase an annual pass and take advantage of it.

Another option in NJ is Round Valley. It's only $5 to enter. There's a dive area there with a platform at about 20'. You do need a buddy and hours are more limited, but it's not a bad place to get in some practice dives.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I've only been in Scuba area 1. I've gotten down to about 60' from shore there. From what I understand, the old village was torn down before the flooding. All that's left is foundations and roads. And all that is under several feet of silt. Just put your arm through the bottom at area 1 and you'll see what I mean. Also, I believe the old village remains lie in the 160' range.