OPEN-WATER DIVES
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Bring the completed answers to the PADI Knowledge Reviews in the PADI textbook to the 1st OW Dive Day. They should be answered on standard 8" X 11" paper, writing on 1 side only. Just put the problem number and answer. There is no need to rewrite the problem. Put your name and date on each page.
During the warmer months the schedule for the open-water dives does not change. Divers should meet at Deep-Six at 0930 sharp (Lake George & Dutch Springs are 0830). Don't come early or late. Weather is usually not a factor. We dive in the rain unless it is too cold or thundering. For special notes about diving in the colder months see the last information on this page.
Bring a lunch (2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are ideal) and plenty to drink. Bring warm clothes and gloves if the weather is cool or cold. Bring your bathing suit and a towel.
If we scheduled 2 dives in Lake Minnewaska, for their first dive of the year all divers are required to pay an annual $20 diving fee. Be sure to bring that fee in the form of cash or a check. Also, the State of NY requires that divers sign a liability form each year, To view that form, or to download a PDF version go to the following link -> Minnewaska Liability Forms
For the any day of diving in Dutch Springs all divers are required to pay a $54 diving fee. Be sure to bring that fee in the form of cash, credit card, or a check. Also, Dutch Springs requires that divers sign a liability form each year.
For any day of diving at Hearthstone Park in Lake George there is a $10 per car load fee. Be sure to split the cost with all the in the car.
On every dive we carry 635 liters of oxygen and a first aid kit. The first aid kit is specifically for diving. On the top of the kit are the emergency numbers for that dive site. There is a set of decompression tables below the numbers. There are first aid books for use in non-emergency situations. The rest of the kit consists of bandages, rubber gloves, antiseptics, alcohol, Q-tips, matches, bug spray, Kotex, Tampex, fruit juice, sun screen, etc. The location of the first aid kit is made known to all divers.
The emergency numbers and information are in the Deep-Six First Aid Kit. It is printed on a 3x5" Index card and is at the top of the kit. Click here to see what it looks like: Emergency Card
Directions to Deep-Six:
From New Paltz: Go down Main Street (toward the west) and cross the bridge over the Wallkill River. After the bridge take a right on to Springtown Road. Take the next left on to Mtn. Rest Road. Go to the stop sign and take a right on to Canaan Road. Go 1.2 miles (passing the Dead End sign) and Deerpath Drive will be on the left. We are 14 Deerpath Drive.
From Kingston: Leave Kingston going south on Route 32. In Tillson take a right at the Postage Inn on to Tillson Road. Go to the end and take a left on to Springtown Road. Go 4.2 miles to Dug road and take a right. Go to the stop sign and take a sharp right on to Canaan Road. Pass the dead end sign to Deerpath Drive and take a left. We are 14 Deerpath Drive.
For all diver's safety, it is extremely important to do a buddy check before going on any scuba dive. There are a minimum of 4 checks that must be done:
SCUBA DIVES
Information for diving from October through May:
In addition, if the water and/or air temperatures are below normal it is important to do the following to avoid becoming chilled:
Eat a calorie-loaded breakfast
Bring a calorie-loaded lunch such as 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (with hot soup.)
Bring a Thermos filled with hot water to put in parts of your wet suit, in your boots, and gloves.
Bring warm clothes, hat, and gloves.
The following 4 sonar maps are the locations where Deep-Six does open-water scuba dives. The first map is Mohonk. We dive from Open Camp (middle of the east side of the lake). The depth line intervals are 5 feet apart. The altitude of the lake is 1223' so it is a high altitude dive.
Download a PDF Image of the Mohonk sonar map above.
Hearthstone Camp Grounds, Lake George:
Lake George from New Paltz is 132.86 miles and should take about 2.4 hours.
Dutch Springs
Dutch Springs in Pennsylvania is one possibility for the last 2 open-water dives as long as Minnewaska remains unsuitable. The Advanced Deep Dive is done on the boat that is to the right of the school bus. It is 70' deep. All dives are done from the Staff Lookout/Peninsula.
DIRECTION TO DUTCH SPRINGS (The trip is about 2.9 hours and is 158.4 miles. Dutch Springs telephone: 610-759-2270.)
Go S on the Thruway
to I-287 in Suffern
21 B (78 West) on 287 is the exit for Dutch.
On 78 go from NJ to PA 78
Be careful: The mileage and Exit numbers change when entering PA from NJ
Go through the toll booth
Exit at 71: 33N to 22
Exit 33 to 22 West toward Bethlehem
Exit 22W at 191N (approximately 2 1/2 miles)
191N to Hanoverville Rd at 2d traffic light.
DS on left after the railroad.
October: Thurs, Fri,
Sat, Sun
November: Sat & Sun
Closed: Dec, Jan, Feb, March
Alternate Route Home:
Turn right when leaving
Dutch Springs to the light
Go straight thru the light on to Hecktown Rd
Go N on Route 33
Go to Stroudsburg
Take I-80 East to 209 N
Take exit to 209 N
At the main light (Broad Street) turn right on to Rt 6 E
Stay left to exit on to Route 84 in Matamoras
Rt 84 to Newburgh Thruway
Big Pond:
Directions to Big Pond From New Paltz: Take 299 west to Rt 44-55. Go right on Rt 44-55. Follow 44-55 to the end and take a left toward Ellenville. Follow Rt 209 to the traffic light in Ellenville at Rt 52. Go right on Rt. 52 and go to Liberty. Go right on Rt 17 (I-86) headed west. Take Exit 96 Livingston Manor. Go right at the exit end and then right on Old Rt 17. Go 1.3 miles to take a right on Beaverkill Rd. Go 11.6 miles and take a left to cross a stream. Go on Big Pond Rd 0.8 miles to the dive site. The trip is about 70 miles and will take about 1 and 1/2 hours.
Alternate Route: Take Albany Post Road in New Paltz to Route 17K. Go right on 17K to Bloomingburg. Go on Route 17 (I 86) west to Exit 96, Livingstone Manor. Follow the directions above to get to Big Pond. The trip is about 81 miles and take the same time.
Sylvan Lake:
Sylvan Lake Emergency Phone Numbers
Divers Alert Network (DAN) : 919-684-9111
Police: 911
EMT: 911
Directions to the nearest hospital: Vassar in Poughkeepsie: Take Sylvan Lake Rd(at dive site) north to SR 82. Go on the Taconic State Pkwy N to Noxon Rd exit. Right on Noxon Rd (N), go 5.5 miles to Rt. 55. Go left to Rt 44. Go left on to S. Hamilton. Right on Montgomery St, left on Academy St, right on Franklin St, left on South Ave, right on Dean Place, left on Lincoln Ave and proceed to the hospital.
Directions from Vassar (nearest hospital)
to the dive site: Left on to Lincoln Ave, right on Dean St, left on South Ave,
right on Franklin St, left on Academy St, right on Montgomery St, left on South
Hamilton St, right on Route 44, stay right on Route 55. In 1.5 miles go right
on Noxon Rd. In 5.5 miles go south on the Taconic State Pkwy. Exit at SR 82
North (2nd exit). Go right (north) about 100 yards to Sylvan Lake Rd. Take a
right and go 4 miles until you see the lake and the dive site on the right.
The following information is concerning Sylvan Lake in Dutchess County, New York:
The following map is the sonar findings for Lake Minnewaska:
Download a PDF image of the Minnewaska Sonar map above.
Your DAN Insurance will expire when you become certified, usually at the end of the 4th open-water dive. You may wish to purchase DAN insurance by calling them.
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