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.


knife

A dive knife should also be considered standard equipment since many dive locations have hazardous monofilament in which you can become entangled. Don't skimp on your knife either - the most commonly found artifact off the New Jersey coast is the cheap dive knife that has slipped from its sheath. When looking at knives in the store, scrutinize the locking mechanism and the sheath. Is it secure and unlikely to release by itself, yet also easy to use? Will it loosen under use, or break with age? Tug at it, and try to see if you can work it loose without actually hitting the release. If you can, then don't buy it. Also, bigger is not necessarily better - many of the best knives on the market are only 10 inches long overall.

Some other features to look for in a knife are:

  • Blade shape: blunt tipped blades are safer, while pointed blades are more useful if you are into underwater hunting.
  • A good big sturdy handle: you will probably have thick gloves on.
  • Metal-butted handle: useful as a tank banger, or light duty hammer.
  • Saw edge: for heavy duty cutting.
  • Quick release depth compensating straps: much better than buckles.