TDI Adv Nitrox and Deco Theory

[VaJames]

I am doing my check out dives for Adv Nitrox and Deco Theory the weekend of June 6,7,8 in 40 Fathom Grotto. Have any of you guys ever been there? I wanted to do them up here off Va. Beach but one of my friends is finishing up his Instructor rating in Fl so my instructor (we're all friends) wants to make the trip with him. Is it even worth it or should I just wait and do them here in Va? Also I am taking NACD Full Cave in Oct from James Hurley and I need a buddy. There are two spots left and I DO have the dates confirmed. Let me know if anyone is interested. I also have it posted over on the cave boards. Thanks. James.

 

[ElectricZombie]

Blue Grotto is only about 90' deep...might be too shallow for what you need...depending on class requirements. It's not that big and there is not much to see. There is a sort of cave like passage with a permanant guideline to check out...nothing spectacular though.

I would choose Va. Beach if the weather works out for you.

 

[VaJames]

I meant 40 Fathom Grotto. I did my cavern class at blue grotto in February. Sorry about the confusion.:whack: I edited it for everyone else's benefit.

 

[daylight]

VaJames,
First of all, welcome to the board.
40 Fathom Grotto is an excellent facility for check out dives for those classes. It is a better controlled environment than just about anywhere else you could select. Hal and everyone at 40 Fathom are professional and operates with safety first being the priority.
Enjoy and good luck on your dives.
Larry

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Netdoc is a grotto guide.

Give him a jingle and I'm sure he will tell you all about it.

TwoBit

 

[MikeFerrara]

40 Fathom is a good place for tech training. No waves or current and it's 40 fathoms (240 ft) deep. It's also warm, 70ish. They have a bunch of cars, planes, boats and stuff like that on the bottom but other than that there isn't that much to see.

One nice thing is that they have fill whips down on the dock. You just leave your tank where it is, hook the whip up and give a yell to get a fill. When we're there for a couple days our gear stays set up down on the dock. Very convenient.

In order to dive there you must be a guide or be with a guide. To become a guide you must be a DM or instructor and go through a check-out with them. they then sign you off to guide to the depths your qualified to supervise to. I am a guide there but I only get there once every couple of years so I never remember where all the stuff is at. I was there in January asisting with a noremoxic trimix class.

 

[Doppler]

James:

Second or third everything already said about 40 Fathom. It's a good facility. While there, try to meet Hal Watts. He is the owner / operator and very interesting charater... one of the original cavemen with some very eye-popping stories to tell... be aware, he may charge you for his time!!! But it's worth it

Hope you enjoy your time there and your class. Good luck.

DD

 

[MikeFerrara]

Doppler once bubbled...
James:

Second or third everything already said about 40 Fathom. It's a good facility. While there, try to meet Hal Watts. He is the owner / operator and very interesting charater... one of the original cavemen with some very eye-popping stories to tell... be aware, he may charge you for his time!!! But it's worth it

Hope you enjoy your time there and your class. Good luck.

DD

Actually, IME, Mr. Watts is happy to sit and talk diving when the plae is quiet. He haen't ever charged us. I will say that he may sell you something while your at it though, he's pretty good at it.

 

[O-ring]

Where in VA are you? There's a group of us on the board from the Northern VA/DC/MD area and we are always looking for dive buddies if you aren't too far south

Welcome to the board..

 

[VaJames]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I am eager to get down there and check this place out. My instructor was telling me about only students being allowed in there or someone with a "certified" guide. I think that is a pretty good idea actually. O-ring I live in Chesterfield right outside of Richmond. I can get to Lake Rawlings in about 40 minutes. If you guys ever come thru this way or want to go to the beach and dive down there I am all for it. Actually, if you guys plan on doing any dives off of Maryland/Delaware let me know because I have not been diving up there yet. James