Blue Grotto Scuba Diving Special Event

[SantaFeSandy]

Well vicp, what do you think such an expansive sink, and training area, with a 100 ft. of depth before you, is worth? Did you notice that I mentioned that should you like to dive on Sat. and or Sunday, Nov. 16 & 17, all you and your group have to do is request the SantaFeSandy Group Special? That will give you $10.00 off. Is it worth $30. to you?

Does an owner/manager that offers a new employee (upon my request) the approval to tout such a discount online, sound like a stingy or greedy company? Obviously, the answer is "no".

Now, we all also know that none of us can please all the people all the time, so my words will certainly fall on deaf ears to some degree. However, for those with ears to hear, know that great things are on the horizon for this dive site.

[SantaFeSandy]

Thanks Walter.



That is great, and sounds like a major change. Giselle and I had sworn off ever diving there again.

Absolutely correct! Great things are on the horizon, and all things are new. Come back, don't limit yourselves, and enjoy the dive. Hey, I may be there with baked goodies, or taking underwater photos for you too!!!

[SantaFeSandy]

Over the weekend I heard the site was under new ownership... can you confirm this?

Greenwood_60, please forgive me for not knowing how the functionality of this website works yet, as I responded to you below. Anyway, yes, the site is under new ownership, and Ed and his wife have left the states for Costa Rica. Kurt Huber is part owner, and fulltime site manager. He is from Switzerland, and his family are local equestrians too. They are great people, well worth knowing and having included in your "inner circle". Please give them a chance and decide for yourself.

[SantaFeSandy]

I was hoping when I read this that the cave on site was now open. Any way to help us out getting access?

Hi bamafan, I will take up this matter with Kurt, and see what I can find out, asap. I'll post again, when I know. Otherwise, so we don't loose each other, if you "like" my Sandra Koster Photography Facebook "Page", and then comment on something so you're in the queue, so to speak, I will get back to you as soon as I discover the answer.

[vicp]

Well vicp, what do you think ... Is it worth $30. to you?

Frankly, No.

I don't even like paying the Ginnie day rate (might get an annual pass there some day when I have more money).

I'll take Little River (free) and Peacock, Madison Blue, etc. for a $60 annual pass any day. Maybe I'm cheap (& broke), but $40 or even $30 (with your two-day discount) is not worth it to me for a silty hole in the ground with the "peace rock," the "diving bell," and tons of students to stir it all up. I prefer a cave. If I need to just get in the water, I will go to Volusia Blue or Alexander (both close to me) or even a pool before I would pay $30 or $40 for Blue Grotto - but Hey, that's just me.

Personally, I think it may be worth about $5 (Peacock is $4 per day) and that is only if I am in the area. I certainly would not drive hours to get there - I would for Peacock.

[SantaFeSandy]

Frankly, No.

I don't even like paying the Ginnie day rate (might get an annual pass there some day when I have more money).

I'll take Little River (free) and Peacock, Madison Blue, etc. for a $60 annual pass any day. Maybe I'm cheap (& broke), but $40 or even $30 (with your two-day discount) is not worth it to me for a silty hole in the ground with the "peace rock," the "diving bell," and tons of students to stir it all up. I prefer a cave. If I need to just get in the water, I will go to Volusia Blue or Alexander (both close to me) or even a pool before I would pay $30 or $40 for Blue Grotto - but Hey, that's just me.

Personally, I think it may be worth about $5 (Peacock is $4 per day) and that is only if I am in the area. I certainly would not drive hours to get there - I would for Peacock.

Well, thank you for being honest with this group, and yourself. What we have here then, is a diver that has put certain criteria in place for himself, and set boundaries on what he's willing to pay for his exploration, and that's okay. We all have to make decisions based on our location, monies, time, and other life demands.

But, as we who have ventured into this underwater sport well know, scuba diving is not an "inexpensive" sport. Personally, I live too far from the ocean to make day trips there, and have a farm full of animals to feed. Therefore, my sites have to be a within driving range for the day, without draining me in the process. Afterall, our dives should be enjoyable, and not filled with stresses.

As a photographer, I fully understand about not wanting to dive a crowded environment, all silted up. This is why I'm very fond of hooking up with "one" dive buddy, and diving on weekdays. I dove with a group at Orange Grove Sink not too long ago, and there must have been several dozen of us in the hole at the same time, on a Sunday no-less.

For me, that was way, way too many people for my comfort zone. The waters got all murky fast. The reverse waterfall on the rocks made for good images, but...I couldn't see a thing, or appreciate inside the cavern zones, as the particulate was like a cloud. This made my photography a real bust. And who wants to crowd into those caverns with a dozen other divers anyway??? Not me.

As for Blue Grotto though, the first time I ever dove there was on my 13th dive. I came away with the impression that it was a tiny hole, that went deep, was dark, and not worth my time, or anybody else's. Hum, I even deterred a dive buddy in from Malaysia, who was using his GoPro, from us diving there, and he was willing to pay my fee to be his buddy. Instead, we only dove Devil's Den.

Then, this year I decided to give Blue Grotto another chance since I came to realize that as we learn, and grow in our diving knowledge, we see things differently. Going back to the Grotto the second time, I saw it in a completely different light!!! I totally missed so much about the hole on my first visit. Now, numerous dives later, I love it.

Check out this video with me as the underwater diver, at Devil’s Den during Feb. 2013. Shah, my dive buddy from Malaysia, created it. What a fantastic job he did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKLAJfFzxA

[JE]

"Check out this video with me as the underwater diver, at Devil’s Den during Feb. 2013. Shah, my dive buddy from Malaysia, created it. What a fantastic job he did." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKLAJfFzxA

I see an open water diver in an overhead environment ! >.< Williston abounds with diveable caverns & caves, free------------you just have to know where to look & who to ask !

All that being said, Sandy I applaud your efforts in soliciting a newly remodeled spring with the help of a Suisse entrepanuer. The Swiss know how to make money which is not a bad thing. After all the development of your site needs the support of those wishing to dive there. $40.00 for a week end pass is affordable, but if it is a daily fee, well the locals on here will probably go elsewhere. The truth be told !

[Tegg]

Sandy, are you a certified cavern or cave diver? Just trying to get to know you since most of your posts on this site have been to basically "advertise" for Blue Grotto.

[ktomlinson]

"Check out this video with me as the underwater diver, at Devil&rsquo;s Den during Feb. 2013. Shah, my dive buddy from Malaysia, created it. What a fantastic job he did." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKLAJfFzxA

I see an open water diver in an overhead environment ! >.< Williston abounds with diveable caverns & caves, free------------you just have to know where to look & who to ask !

I've dove that site once when I was first certified. It is an open water site in a dry cavern, the only overheads I remember were swim throughs.

[Greenwood_60]

I've dove that site once when I was first certified. It is an open water site in a dry cavern, the only overheads I remember were swim throughs.

It's one of those "open water caverns". Lots of overhead, but everything beyond the reach of light is marked or blocked.