Dutch Springs - The End of an Era

Don't know how I missed this, but back in August, Stu retired and sold Dutch Springs to a developer who plans to put two warehouses on the property:

click to enlarge

As you can see, one warehouse fills the small wooded area (lower-left) that was basically unused, while the other obliterates the entire area between the quarry and the road. This leaves no room for parking or facilities. The property is approximately 95 acres, but more than half of that is water.

Sad, but Stu built the place and ran it for 40 years, and he has a right to retire. As we all know, anything having to do with diving brings insurance into the mix, and thus far no other solution has been found.

The quarry will be fenced-off, and Dutch Springs will enter the history books.

Zoom-out the map above - the entire area has become blighted with warehouses.

What I don't understand is why the cement plant doesn't get re-developed. My guess is that site is so contaminated that no one can touch it.

I think thousands of divers owe Stu and Jane a big Thank you! for all they've done for the diving community. Nothing lasts forever.

For those who want one last dive at Dutch, you might be able to get one in on December 31 for New Year's Eve.


Blood Worm

Glycera spp
Nereis spp.(shown)

Size: to 15", generally much smaller

Worms like this can be found anywhere from tidal flats to deep depths, burrowed in the sediment or hiding in crevices.

These segmented worms have four sharp teeth and can give you a good bite if you're not careful. They can also swim, although not very well. The "legs" are called parapodia and are actually gills. The best place to see a blood worm is at the bait shop. Also known as Clam Worms.