Founders Weekend at Dutch Springs 2017!

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When:
Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4, 2017

Where:
Dutch Springs Quarry
4733 Hanoverville Road
Bethlehem, PA 18020

Our 10th annual summer kick-off party at Dutch Springs (http://dutchsprings.com/)is going to be better than ever, so get out your gear, get out the thick gloves and the 7ml or dry suit, and let's do some diving!

Details:

This year we've reserved the BLUE TENT on the peninsula side (to the right as you come in the gate) and a nice big barbecue grill, so bring your favorite grilling item for yourself and a little extra for others, and we'll do as we always do, which is have fun, Fun, FUN!

Schedule:
Saturday, June 3:

No organized activities for the groups, just come on down and dive if you want to, stay over if you want to, feel free to make a weekend of it! We'll be conducting training dives for both Open Water and Advanced divers, so if you're interested in doing your dives with us, call us at (203) 853-4148.

Sunday June 4:

7:30am: Line up for check-in (to sign waivers, buy tickets - you can also do this all in advance on dutchsprings.com
8:00am: Park opens
8:00am-5:00pm: Gear up and dive, dive, Dive! (we'll be on the peninsula side (see the map) with a tent with our banner. Look for us!)
1:00pm-4:00pm: Barbecue/picnic at the BLUE TENT (blue stickers on a white tent - there are several white tents)
5:00pm: Last dive! Divers must be in the water by 5pm
6:00pm: Park closes, another fun season opener comes to an end!

What to bring:

Diving: If you're planning on diving, bring your dive gear (uh DUH!)! Water temps can be chilly this time of year (down into the 40's F at depth), so be sure to bring a thick suit. A 7ml one-piece, at a minimum, or even better, a farmer john style suit, or dry suit is recommended. Gloves are pretty much required for diving at Dutch.

Non-divers: There's plenty to do around the lake; there is a swimming area with huge inflatable icebergs, or if you're more inclined to relax, you can just hang out in the lSpring weather and catch some sun. Bring a towel, a blanket and hang out!

Barbecue/picnic: Stuff to eat, including anything for grilling or outdoor dining, and be sure to bring enough for one or two other people. People typically bring burgers, dogs, chicken, condiments, beverages (alcoholic beverages are not allowed at Dutch Springs). We're renting a very large grill from Dutch Springs, so bring anything you want to cook. Bring enough for yourself plus a little bit more for someone else. Sharing is caring!

Social: Your friends, those that dive and those who don't! This is fun for everyone, divers and non-divers alike. It's a big picnic with diving thrown in a pretty scenic setting, so bring everyone you know that might want to come!Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunblock, coverups, and even a fleece for when you get out of the water. It does get chilly, so when you get out, you're going to want warm up.

Lodging:

For those who'd like to make a weekend of it, there are a couple of different options available. One is to stay in a hotel nearby, the other is to "rough it," as it were and take advatage of the camping possibilities at Dutch. Either way, you can be there all weekend and get a bunch of diving in.

Hotels:

There are several hotels nearby and a few that are listed on Dutch Springs website, some with promotional rates. You can find them here:

Dutch Springs Hotel Suggestions (http://dutchsprings.com/lodging.html)

Camping: It's possible to camp out at Dutch, so if you want to sleep out under the Dutch Springs stars, it's lots of fun! Camping is economical and it's B.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Tent). Detailed camping information can be found here:

Dutch Springs Camping page (http://dutchsprings.com/camping.html)

Transportation:

As we normally do, we'll carpool out to Dutch. Have a car? Offer some other diver a ride! Need a ride, there'll always be someone with room in their car! Our traditional Founder's Day Picnic Ride Board (https://oceanbluedivers.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&view=topic&catid=6&id=1204&Itemid=958) thread on the Talk forums will be the best place to find or offer transportation to those who want it.

Click here for a directions (http://dutchsprings.com/directions.html)

Weather contingencies:

Rain or shine, we'll be there. The big tent will provide cover!

Admission tickets and waivers:

Admission, diver: $40 per diver
Admission, general: $30 per adult, $18 per child (ages 5-9)
Camping: $10 per person/per night
Night Dive on Saturday night: $5 per person
Instructors: get FREE entry to Dutch by providing C-card and proof of current insurance.

Everyone entering Dutch Springs must fill out a waiver before entering. They have waivers at entry concession, and you only need to fill out one per year. It'll save you lots of time to buy tickets and fill out the waiver online.

Save time and buy your tickets and sign your waiver online:

Dutch Springs Ticket Purchase and Waivers (http://www.dutchsprings.com/buy-tickets/scuba-pricing/)

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About Dutch Springs Quarry

For the uninitiated, Dutch Springs is a quarry in Eastern PA, about an hour and half drive from NYC. It's easy to get to, and during the summer months becomes a mecca for diving in the northeast. It's where lots of people do their open water dives, go to test out gear, or just get underwater. Many people even consider it a rite of passage for all divers in the northeast. If you haven't been diving in Dutch, well, you haven't done the diving that's here to be done!

Dutch Springs is an former cement quarry, and the shell of the cement factory sits on one side of the lake. The lake is spring fed and the water is pretty clear. At some point zebra mussels were introduced into the lake, and as a result, the visibility can be quite good, ranging up to 40 or 50 feet at times. It really depends on the hour of the day and the day of the week you dive there, because on a busy weekend day there are lots of people in the lake, and it tends to get silty. If you're first in line, though, you might actually experience crystal clear water and good viz!

In addition to the zebra mussels there are a few species of fish, such as Koi, Blue Gill and Large Mouth Bass. To make the underwater topography more interesting, they've sunk a bunch of different things in the lake, such as a Cessna plane, a trolley car, an oil tanker, a school bus, a couple of boats and other such attractions. There are also platforms that many dive shops use for training purposes, and they also make a great point of reference while underwater.

Water tempteratures can range from 70 or so at the surface during the peak of summer, and dip down into the low 40s, depending on the time of year you're diving. Wear a 7ml suit and some gloves and you should be good to go!

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Oceanblue Divers The Next Generation Dive Club
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