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#327
Is anyone going to Dutch springs opening weekend. Looking for buddy in PA
Marivan377 - 2/25/2019 4:55 PM
Category: Buddy Wanted
Replies: 15

Hi everyone. I’m fairly new to diving. Did my first boat dive in ft lauderdale in December. Looking for buddies to do some diving this season. I have scheduled my aow for May then a few specialties over the summer. Would like to get in the water a lot more tho.
#2242
MDW - 2/25/2019 5:37 PM
I’m at Dutch a lot, since I live right near there; so I probably will dive opening weekend. Be warned, though, that the water will be colder that day than it was on New Year’s Eve. I’m guessing that as a fairly newly certified diver you most likely do not have a drysuit. April in Dutch can be rough in a wetsuit.
That said, if you don’t mind the cold then I’d be happy to dive with you. I’ll be in my toasty drysuit with heavy undergarment, so I’ll be fine.
#1939
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JoeWR - 2/25/2019 6:20 PM
Hi, Tom,

That’s true, the water temperature may be in the mid-40s. Make sure you have a 7mm two-piece wetsuit with hood, gloves, and boots if not a drysuit. I dove in a wetsuit last April, so it can be done as long as you know your own cold tolerance and act conservatively.

I should be there on opening day and the majority of weekends in the summer. I can also do some weekdays. Message me if you’d like to join me for some dives at any point.

Take care,
Joe G.
#767
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mattout142 - 2/25/2019 6:33 PM
Ill probably be there one day Possibility Saturday. Will be looking for buddies. And Joe don’t you think it time for a dry suit! lol

matt
#1939
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JoeWR - 2/25/2019 9:03 PM
Hi, Matt! Actually, I’ve got a drysuit on extended loan from the shop while I save up for my own, which I hope to have in April. So, I should be ready. Hope to see you then.

Joe G.
#327
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Marivan377 - 2/26/2019 8:12 PM
Thanks for reaching out guys. I’m definitely in for the first weekend. It’ll take 10” of ice to stop me from diving. I don’t do drysuit yet. It’s on the list tho. I do have a 7/5 wetsuit with a 5/3 hooded vest. Should do the job. I look forward to diving with any and all of you.
#47
evilcorvette - 2/28/2019 5:29 PM
Im also a noob, I dove Dutch Springs at the end of summer and OMFG can you feel the water temp change. I think it was right around 40 feet if I remember correctly. I was looking down, saw the water shimmering....I was thinking ’thats odd’ and realized it was a thermocline. It literally felt like I had jumped into a cold pool, on a chilly morning. 53 degrees. I guess you could call it ’refreshing’.

Again, Im a noob and Im sure everyone here with any time underwater has experienced this phenomenon, but man was it unexpected.
#581
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chasep255 - 3/01/2019 7:37 PM
I also plan to be there on opening weekend. I just ordered a drysuit and hopefully it will come in by then. Otherwise I will be diving in my 7mm.
#2242
MDW - 3/24/2019 9:28 PM
So opening day is Saturday April 6. That’s now less than 2 weeks out, so let’s all start firming up plans. I will be there Saturday morning and will set up on the student side. I usually work off the tailgate of my truck so I’ll probably be straight across the road from one of the ramps down to the wedding dock (right before the big semi-permanent tent).
My plan is to dive a single tank with the "vintage style" harness/BC/reg I broke in diving with Chase on the New Year’s Eve dive. I’ve got my drysuit, hood and undies all ready to go. Just need to find those cold water mittens and away we go.
Whoever else is going, feel free to come over to that area and we’ll buddy up into a group of 2 or 3 (or several teams of 2 or 3 with a coincident start time) and make a dive plan.
-Mark
#327
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Marivan377 - 3/24/2019 9:51 PM
I know the spot your talking about. That’s where my Lds set up for my ow. I just got my nitrox certification last week so plan on getting a 80cf tank of 36. Then I have 2 80’s of normal air. Since I appear to be the low guy in this chat I plan on following the lead of others. Also because this is my first dive at Dutch beyond the confines of class. Either way I’m ready just got to check the charge on my computer. I look forward to seeing ya there. Feels like I been waiting to get back in the water for a long time. Very excited.
#2242
MDW - 3/24/2019 10:00 PM
Also, next weekend, since Dutch has not opened yet, I recommend going to Beneath the Sea at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, NJ. There will be numerous workshops and seminars on all aspects of diving, as well as a show floor with many vendors of all things SCUBA. This usually includes a booth for Dutch at which you can buy and have them print out your season pass, sign the waiver, and avoid waiting in line when you get to the gate the following week.

I usually go Friday night and Saturday, but it runs through Sunday.
beneaththesea.org
#327
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Marivan377 - 3/24/2019 10:04 PM
That’s a pretty good idea. I’ve already bought my pass in December and signed the 2019 waiver. Could I still just pick it up there? Be a neat convention to visit. I unfortunately will be working sat at a dive shop I recently got a job at so I’ll be learning partial pressure blending of nitrox that day. Can I go up to dutch during the week and get my pass before the 6th
#581
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chasep255 - 3/31/2019 2:59 PM
I talked to the people from dutch at beneath the sea and they say the water temp is around 45 degrees. I will probably be wetsuitting unless the drysuit I ordered comes in next week. Sounds like everyone is planning to meet up in the student section. Any idea what time?
#327
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Marivan377 - 3/31/2019 3:17 PM
I plan to be there first thing in the morning to get my season pass and all sorted out.
#581
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chasep255 - 3/31/2019 3:27 PM
Sounds good I usually get there around 8 ish. My number is (201) 675-3134 if you want to text me.
#2242
MDW - 4/11/2019 8:14 PM
Anybody up for a followup dive this weekend (13th - 14th of April) ?