Orange Grove?

[deepdiverbob]

I checked TampaDiving.com web page, but havent seen an update on there in a few weeks. Has anyone been by there lately? Is it close to being divable again?

[netmage]

I checked TampaDiving.com web page, but havent seen an update on there in a few weeks. Has anyone been by there lately? Is it close to being divable again?

For what level.....?

Its been dive-able for cave level divers our last few trips.... It is currently closed for open water and cavern, as the basin continues to be extremely tannic....

Once down to the tree it clears up nicely, and the cave itself is clear, maybe 40-60' of viz thruout.

We did dives this past Saturday to Challenge, and Sunday up the distance tunnel...

-Tim

[deepdiverbob]

For what level.....?

Its been dive-able for cave level divers our last few trips.... It is currently closed for open water and cavern, as the basin continues to be extremely tannic....

Once down to the tree it clears up nicely, and the cave itself is clear, maybe 40-60' of viz thruout.

We did dives this past Saturday to Challenge, and Sunday up the distance tunnel...

-Tim

I forgot to mention full cave...my bad

Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to diving there again on Friday.

[scububa]

For what level.....?

...
-Tim

Well, he's going to be diving with me if that helps answer the question :smt102

[fghray1]

Watch the last couple of steps, real slippery. I was there 2 weeks ago and slipped and broke 2 ribs. Hopefully they fixed it. They have that stupid carpet that makes it like ice with the algae. Didn't get to dive but from what I hear the cave is OK.

[Kelly Jessop]

Watch the last couple of steps, real slippery. I was there 2 weeks ago and slipped and broke 2 ribs. Hopefully they fixed it. They have that stupid carpet that makes it like ice with the algae. Didn't get to dive but from what I hear the cave is OK.


I am sorry to hear about your injury. The North Florida Springs Alliance is always trying to improve the park,and I'd like to hear about the cause. Can you PM me?

[Puttzer]

Watch the last couple of steps, real slippery. I was there 2 weeks ago and slipped and broke 2 ribs. Hopefully they fixed it. They have that stupid carpet that makes it like ice with the algae. Didn't get to dive but from what I hear the cave is OK.
I dove there a month ago.
My buddy entered first and said "be careful, it's slippery"
And I still almost slipped.

[KJM]

I've added a scrub brush to my dive box to help clean off slippery algae covered steps, especially for the less visited sites.

[Randy Thornton]

I've added a scrub brush to my dive box to help clean off slippery algae covered steps, especially for the less visited sites.

Great idea!

[SuPrBuGmAn]

There are so few "less visited sites" with steps at all :)

[Serota]

I saw a fellow fall with doubles on his back on the walkway at Peacock 1 last weekend. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt and we all got a laugh, but it was scary until we saw he was ok. That walkway is also very slick. Be careful out of the water as well as in it!!!!

[Kelly Jessop]

I saw a fellow fall with doubles on his back on the walkway at Peacock 1 last weekend. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt and we all got a laugh, but it was scary until we saw he was ok. That walkway is also very slick. Be careful out of the water as well as in it!!!!

I'm always concerned for the person's safety when they take a tumble,but it always worries me when they brush off the dirt they head to the water and commence the dive. It is prudent to get out of the water and check your gear over,since your life support equipment just took a jolt. I was with someone once that had a tumble like that. In the middle of the dive I saw bubble spewing out of the connection between the crossbar,and the valve. After a safe exit,examination revealed that the tanks had shifted in the bands from the fall,and the valve was slightly bent.

[FW]

There are so few "less visited sites" with steps at all :)
True, but there are some "almost never visited" sites, with elaborate steps.

[fixxervi6]

I was standing at the bottom of the stairs on the flat wooden part just before the final stairs to OG, I was in full kit getting ready to walk up the stairs when a guy walking down carrying a single LP121 slipped, the tank came at me down the stars end over end as I watched in horror, all I could think was if that vavle lets go I'm screwed. I managed to JUST get out of the way as it lay there hissing, the regulator obviously damanged.

After he got to his feet and picked his cylinder up, I felt bad for the guy and I said "you can cuss now" so he started cussing under his breath.

[J_glenn06]

I Couldnt tell you how many times I have seen OW students fall at vortex.

[stairman]

Falling on your butt is especially painfull when your reels hang back there. Now my buttplate will give me some cush.

[BabyDuck]

so far i've fallen most often at cow. and twice at little river. and once at p3. i'm waiting for the elevator / escalator combo to be invented.

[Kelly Jessop]

Falling on your butt is especially painfull when your reels hang back there. Now my buttplate will give me some cush.


Tough to explain to your family practioner that you have a double ender where the sun don't shine

[Diverlee]

so far i've fallen most often at cow. and twice at little river. and once at p3. i'm waiting for the elevator / escalator combo to be invented.
Thats why I went side mount. One time I fell at Orange Grove, before the stairs were built, and landed with a cypress knob between my legs. Other falls followed.

[MORGAN]

Tough to explain to your family practioner that you have a double ender where the sun don't shine

Yes it would be! LOL!

On the other hand, an ER doc would be totally unsurprised.

Mike

[willgr1]

i slipped on the steps at madison last week with a tank in each hands. landed on my canister light and reels, but somehow managed to protect the tanks (the important things right...). the only damage was the bruise on my upper leg from the canister.

[Puttzer]

With all this slipping I mention:

I have a long ramp to a floating dock. It is usually quite steep and often wet and affected with algae.
I used to just pressure wash it frequently and be careful: but recently I painted it a "special" deck paint. Seems to grip quite well and the literature says it is very durable.

But expensive.

Would this be a better alternative to the slippery carpet?

[Arnold Mesiser]

Why not put some aluminum expanded metal mesh on the steps?

http://www.great-wy.com/eng/Expanded-Metal-Mesh.html

[FW]

With all this slipping I mention:

I have a long ramp to a floating dock. It is usually quite steep and often wet and affected with algae.
I used to just pressure wash it frequently and be careful: but recently I painted it a "special" deck paint. Seems to grip quite well and the literature says it is very durable.

But expensive.

Would this be a better alternative to the slippery carpet?

The biggest problem I see with this, is the time the state would spend getting the environmental testing done on the paint. Not to mention that to work for all the steps, it would have to be applied during extreme drought, when the lowest step was completely dry.

[kidsdream]

Might create more problems then it would solve.


Why not put some aluminum expanded metal mesh on the steps?

http://www.great-wy.com/eng/Expanded-Metal-Mesh.html

[Arnold Mesiser]

Might create more problems then it would solve.



What problems can you think would arise? Aluminum would last in the fresh water due to the oxide coating


We have a dive we do here in the Niagara river gorge and there are about 250 steps made completely from expanded metal-I have not heard of any problems-or slips.Trips-yes but that is sort of endemic for stairs-the railings took care of that for the most part.

Now if only we could turn gravity off for people who forget things and have to climb back up the stairs :(

Certain profiles of expended metal can be tapped into the wood tread and would simply give a low profile -non slip texture.Aluminum u-cleats could hold the metal down in conjunction with the friction fit of embedding it in the wood.

[TONY CHANEY]

New product...dry suit boots with cleats.:rollguy

[Puttzer]

Well if "they" would at least remove the carpet.

If slippery wood I can figure out how to make non slippery "on the spot"

So why do we have carpeting?

[FW]

What problems can you think would arise?
How about kids in bare feet?

[kidsdream]

My concern is pulling yourself up (or even worse, falling on expanded) expanded metal would be truly unpleasant.

Now they do make alu metal grate decking, but it is very expensive


How about kids in bare feet?

[DA Aquamaster]

Expanded metal decking is very directional in nature. If you lay it the wrong way, the stuff is slicker than greased snot, and if you put it out on state bid, the contractor will for sure be an idiot and lay it the wrong way. This is especially true if the application involves longer runs where placing the 4 x 8 sheet lengthwise is faster than cutting it in half to place the two resulting 4 x 4 sheets crosswise. The same less cutting and more efficent use of material logic will apply to 4' wide steps, so the contract specifications would need to be very specific.

And I agree there is still the cheese grater factor - when someone does eventually fall for whatever reason, they are going to be more seriosuly injured than if it occured on carpeted wood steps.

Non skid paint works fine, but so would any epoxy finish with sand sprinkled on top of it. You may be able to find a water proof expoxy resin that already has the required environmental approval.

You would also not have to wait for a drought, you'd just have to unscrew and remove the boards currently under water, and replace them with refinished boards. You'd have to start with a few new boards to rotate into place while the wet ones dried pior to being refinished, but the additional expense would be minor and it would keep all the steps in service other than for an hour or so while swapping boards.

[fghray1]

This is real easy. All you need to do is remove the carpet drill 3/4 in holes in the treads for drainage. Screw 4 or 5 PT 1x2 length wise on the treads and your done. Might cost $50 per site to do 2to 3 steps. I'll even donate my time and material if someone would say OK.
Fred

[FW]

I like both of the previous ideas, NFSA, are you listening? :-)

[sskasser]

I like both of the previous ideas, NFSA, are you listening? :-)

Always ;)

[fno]

Doesn't anybody go down to the water anymore without their tanks and scrup the steps with the bottom of their boots. Only takes a minute and you get to cool off before the slog to the water with tanks. To me, it makes no difference backmount or sidemount. Be happy you have steps. If the steps weren't there there would be no one to blame but mother nature....

[Burke]

How about a brush on a rope tied to the end of the rail?

[Puttzer]

Doesn't anybody go down to the water anymore without their tanks and scrup the steps with the bottom of their boots. Only takes a minute and you get to cool off before the slog to the water with tanks. To me, it makes no difference backmount or sidemount. Be happy you have steps. If the steps weren't there there would be no one to blame but mother nature....

OK: in two weeks the steps will be scrubbed by me with a brush on Friday Sept 11th.

[sskasser]

OK: in two weeks the steps will be scrubbed by me with a brush on Friday Sept 11th.

Thanks! You rock! :supz:

[DogDiver]

Ya know, a cheep and easy fix for orange grove and P1 would be to take a couple buckets full of sand from the parking lot and sprinkle it on the walkway and stairs. Very eco friendly and the foot traffic would "sand" and scuff the surface.

Just my opinion. Ken

[jj1987]

Ya know, a cheep and easy fix for orange grove and P1 would be to take a couple buckets full of sand from the parking lot and sprinkle it on the walkway and stairs. Very eco friendly and the foot traffic would "sand" and scuff the surface.

Just my opinion. Ken
Wouldn't that turn to mud and make the issue worse?

[Puttzer]

I'll be there this Friday and scrub the steps as promised.

That said: what's the viz in the cavern?
I'd like to think I could find the cave entrance......

Richard

[aquadog196]

Orange Grove sink continues to have lousy vis...maybe 5'-10'. Clears at around 40' with an easy tie off at the trees. The entire cavern is clear making lower OG cave very accessible. The OG / Challenge cave is very good!

[LiteHedded]

yep
basin is nasty
cave looks great

[FW]

I'll be there this Friday and scrub the steps as promised.

That said: what's the viz in the cavern?
I'd like to think I could find the cave entrance......

Richard
So, are the steps less slipery now?

[rox@ucf11]

I didnt slip Sunday :) they wernt that bad

[alias]

Oh, this was a painful thread to read. I am eternally thankful for all the stairs that exist around the caves in Fl. I have to say though that I don’t have so fond memories about Orange Grove.

I would add one thing that I had difficulty with and what I did not see mentioned but what I heard many divers comment on when I was there. In addition to the slipperiness of the lowest step, the height of the first step was probably the major thing that got me badly hurt there last January. I know it will vary with water level but everyone was gregariously balancing, trying to avoid slipping on the rock, then slipping on the first step while stretching their leg to get there.

I ended up stretching too far, to hold the rail and pull and in the process of not trying to fall, burst my back. Now I have what I call “OGCE” scar on my lower back. You know what OG stands for, and CE is for Crack Extension that the surgeon carved in. Be careful!

[metaldector]

Lot of work. Slippery rocks, steps, and 100 lbs. on my back. Maybe a rope tied to the railing with a handle on it, left on the step for us "old guys" to grab would make the exit a lot easier.

[Slüdge]

Okay, who remembers:

1. Before the steps were built at Orange Grove.

2. The year and a half between when the steps were begun and when they were finished.

I'll take slippery steps.

[rainbowbrite0884]

I think it is easier to jump in, once the water is too low to make the step to the rock.

I think to the left is your best bet to not hitting the rocks.

But I have to have someone pull me out when we are done lol. Same at Cow springs though, just can't lift all that weight that far when the water is too low.

[Puttzer]

So, are the steps less slipery now?

No they are not less slippery.

:roll:

[deepdiverbob]

I go in on the left side, put my fins on facing the stairs, make sure nobody is behind me and just fall backwards. Less foot movement. Getting out, I take my fins off while floating, and either toss them up a few stairs, or hand them to a buddy if they got out before me. Then I pull myself up by the handrail, standing on the rocks. Then I kneel down on the first step, and pull myself up to the standing position.

I just read my post, and apologize for how boring it was, and realizing that the anatomy of the my exit from OG probably wasn't needed.

[sandy]

Okay, who remembers:

1. Before the steps were built at Orange Grove.

2. The year and a half between when the steps were begun and when they were finished.

I'll take slippery steps.

Plus the rope swing. I am still trying to figure out which tree it was on. It may have fallen over.

[sskasser]

I go in on the left side, put my fins on facing the stairs, make sure nobody is behind me and just fall backwards. Less foot movement. Getting out, I take my fins off while floating, and either toss them up a few stairs, or hand them to a buddy if they got out before me. Then I pull myself up by the handrail, standing on the rocks. Then I kneel down on the first step, and pull myself up to the standing position.

I just read my post, and apologize for how boring it was, and realizing that the anatomy of the my exit from OG probably wasn't needed.

Not at all, I think it's great and am glad you shared, especially for those that may not get the chance to dive there often...learning from "ouchy experience" is highly over-rated :D

[OFG-1]

Okay, who remembers:

1. Before the steps were built at Orange Grove.

2. The year and a half between when the steps were begun and when they were finished.

I'll take slippery steps.

In the 70's, there were two ways down (besides just jumping in). One (slippery rocks) about where the stairs are, and another about opposite from where the stair is now. The other trail was steep, sandy, rocky, and the most fun. You could sit down and almost slide the whole way down with your tanks on. I saw Sam DiPerna sliding down one day, stopped a bit short of the water, flipped over and rolled into OG on his back with a pair of 104's under him in about 20 inches of water, with his legs still going uphill. The 45 seconds it took him to right himself was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. There was massive churning of water then Sam would roll up on his elbow and gasp a breath, then more churning, and another breath. He flung his mask and fins into the water. A good time was had by all, except Sam.

Yeah, I'll take the steps also.

[fghray1]

I was at Manatee last weekend. Went from Friedman to the Manatee Basin. I exited there and what did I see. 12X12 plastic Tread plates on the stairs nailed down with galvanized roofing nails. Guess someone must have slipped and fell there before. Funny thing is at Catfish there isn't any.