Orange Grove?

[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

[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.