Another Ginnie Horror Story

[Brent]

Got to Ginnie at 0630 today, Saturday 27th. At 0630 there was in and around 200+ people in line at the counters and many more standing outside waiting to get in. Once again, 0630. Not a misprint. The annual pass and instructor ticket got us in, with a little help from our friends!! No problem parking. No other divers at that time. Got out of the water 10:30ish and it was a different parking lot. Just like my post last Wednesday. No place to park, other than back in the woods. Packed up and got the hell out of there. By this time the traffic was backed up all the way out to Hwy 340. Now keep in mind, the holiday weekend is still seven days away. What's going to happen then? Somebody else is going to have to give an update because I'm damn sure not going to be there!! For that matter, I'm not even sure if Ginnie is going to allow divers in over the holiday weekend.

[rddvet]

I assume you were talking about 6:30 AM. If so did you have any issues getting in? I've been told by a few people lately that are showing up between 6-8 AM that rather than just letting you in at the guard shack like they used to, they're telling divers that they need to wait until the main office opens at 8AM to sign in.

[JJKJR]

I dove Ginnie this past week on Wednesday and Thursday. I arrived both days slightly before 7am. I have a yearly pass and drove straight in to the Devil's System Parking without getting stopped at the guard gate or being talked to by the folks that drive around on the golf carts. I certainly hope that being able to come before or after hours doesn't change for pass holders. One of the main reasons I have a yearly pass is to eliminate the crowed sign-ins at the office. As far as the swimmers go, there were a lot of folks there but I just negotiate around them.

On another note, when leaving on Wednesday, I stopped at the office to see if there was any possibility they would credit yearly pass holders when Ginnie was closed for COVID-19. No one was able to answer my question. Does anyone on the forum know if this is being considered by Ginnie and the way to go about getting your credit. Thanks.

[Draker]

I dove Ginnie this past week on Wednesday and Thursday. I arrived both days slightly before 7am. I have a yearly pass and drove straight in to the Devil's System Parking without getting stopped at the guard gate or being talked to by the folks that drive around on the golf carts. I certainly hope that being able to come before or after hours doesn't change for pass holders. One of the main reasons I have a yearly pass is to eliminate the crowed sign-ins at the office. As far as the swimmers go, there were a lot of folks there but I just negotiate around them.

On another note, when leaving on Wednesday, I stopped at the office to see if there was any possibility they would credit yearly pass holders when Ginnie was closed for COVID-19. No one was able to answer my question. Does anyone on the forum know if this is being considered by Ginnie and the way to go about getting your credit. Thanks.

Unfortunately no credit is being offered.


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[rddvet]

I dove Ginnie this past week on Wednesday and Thursday. I arrived both days slightly before 7am. I have a yearly pass and drove straight in to the Devil's System Parking without getting stopped at the guard gate or being talked to by the folks that drive around on the golf carts. I certainly hope that being able to come before or after hours doesn't change for pass holders. One of the main reasons I have a yearly pass is to eliminate the crowed sign-ins at the office. As far as the swimmers go, there were a lot of folks there but I just negotiate around them.

On another note, when leaving on Wednesday, I stopped at the office to see if there was any possibility they would credit yearly pass holders when Ginnie was closed for COVID-19. No one was able to answer my question. Does anyone on the forum know if this is being considered by Ginnie and the way to go about getting your credit. Thanks.

It seems sporadic on who getw in easily after hours. I?ve heard most people say exactly what you did. I?ve also had a big handful of people say they were told to wait for the main building to open. I think like everything at ginnie it depends on who you get stuck dealing with.


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[diveconjeff]

My understanding goes kind of like this:
The standard opening time was 8 AM. They would shut off entry for annual pass at 7:30. So you timed arrival accordingly.
Then to better work with a growing weekend morning crowds they moved the office hours to open earlier and the gate hold moved back to 30 minutes prior to the new opening time.
My experience is getting access in advance to the opening time is the challenge.
YMMV


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[Jack Hammer]

My recollection of what I was told is if in before 6-630am(ish) you go straight in. After that you have to wait for the office to open at 8a.

[mdax]

It’s this way every summer, especially leading up to holiday weekend

Best to choose other sites his time of year

[rddvet]

It?s this way every summer, especially leading up to holiday weekend

Best to choose other sites his time of year

I would say its been worse this year compared to the last 7 years I?ve dove ginnie.
I think corona lockdown has the idiots more nuts than usual. This is the first year I?m avoiding ginnie in the summer unless I?m arriving exceptionally early

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[Draker]

Ginnie was great yesterday afternoon. Checked in around 1pm with no delay and no issues.
Plenty of divers arriving around 5-6pm as we were leaving.


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