Crowds at Ginnie Springs

[BobK]

Went to Ginnie Springs a week ago, was going to dive the ballroom with someone who had never been in a spring. I like the ballroom and she would have, also.

But we didn't do it, because there were literally a hundred people in line at the shop, signing in. It would have taken us an hour and then I suspected we would have been faced with this wall of people when trying to dive. I asked one of the GS people if there was an event, and he said no, just the normal crowd.

I've been gone from the area for a few years, but when I left you could sign in within 5 or 10 minutes. What has happened in the meantime, and is this really normal for GS now ?
If so, what are the good times to go, if there are any

[tursiops]

Don't go on a weekend, don't go on a holiday, especially don't go on a holiday (3-day) weekend, and never never go on Memorial Day or Labor Day weekends.

[MORGAN]

I'm at Ginnie 8-10 times a year, but always in October and February, and almost always on a weekday. So I've never seen the crowds, and have never had to wait more than a few minutes to sign in.

But I have heard the stories, and seen the pictures...looks like a good place to avoid on a summer weekend. Unless you like crowds and noise and what we in the ER call the "summer drunk & stupids". I, myself, do not.

I'd imagine that the staff in the closest ER have some Ginnie stories, along the lines of "We was out to Ginnie Springs, and I says to my brother-in-law, Hey, Bud, hold my beer a second and watch this!"

Mike

[Brent]

Everything mentioned is right on! I live just down the road. NEVER plan on diving on a holiday. It's not that there's a lot of divers on site, ( most of them are smart enough to say away ) but you have to contend with thousands of drunks, bubbas, drugs, noise, bad music and the list goes on. Finding a parking place will take an act of God! Have I left anything out?

[AJRO]

Today I was in Ginnie, completely forget the holiday and a friend came from Spain, si se wnet.It was not that bad, I guess the bad weather help... question: the first Jump right, is after Key Hole and going to the Bone Room?

[Captain Bil]

I'm repeating myself, but here goes: Devil's is a great system. That being said, Devil's is a great dive any random Tuesday in February. Otherwise, it sucks.

[Diverlee]

Today I was in Ginnie, completely forget the holiday and a friend came from Spain, si se wnet.It was not that bad, I guess the bad weather help... question: the first Jump right, is after Key Hole and going to the Bone Room?

Yes.


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[Six Feet Under]

I went and camped the last Saturday before school started two years ago... never. again.

[cavewoman]

Went to Ginnie Springs a week ago, was going to dive the ballroom with someone who had never been in a spring. I like the ballroom and she would have, also.

But we didn't do it, because there were literally a hundred people in line at the shop, signing in. It would have taken us an hour and then I suspected we would have been faced with this wall of people when trying to dive. I asked one of the GS people if there was an event, and he said no, just the normal crowd.

I've been gone from the area for a few years, but when I left you could sign in within 5 or 10 minutes. What has happened in the meantime, and is this really normal for GS now ?
If so, what are the good times to go, if there are any

Aside from Ginnie there are many options for open water diving on weekends. I tend to avoid Ginnie on weekends during the summer. Once schools start back up it isn't so bad. After Labor Day it's great! During the summer Ginnie is best during the week, there will still be people, but not as many as the weekends. If you have to go on a weekend get there EARLY. Makes signing in easy. Best yet, get an annual pass and get to know the staff well. I have had really easy check ins on weekends at Ginnie just by knowing Rose (Thanks Rose!!!) and a few other staff people. They see me and know I have a pass. Divers with a pass are the easiest check ins they have there.

[BobK]

About what I expected. My timing sucked
Thanks.