Langley Tire Reef closing?
- nwscubamom
- I've Got Gills
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Langley Tire Reef closing?
I read in one of Bellingham's dive shop newsletters that Langley Tire Reef is closing the first of the year. Does anyone know if that is a seasonal or a permanent closure?
- Janna
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Janna Nichols
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Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
I emailed Edwin Field, the operations mamanger for the Port of South Whidbey. This is his response.
Pending final permitting, the Port expects to start the bidding for the first construction phase of Harbor expansion in January of 2013. Depending on contractor schedules, there may be some opportunity for diving the reef this spring, but it is very likely that it will no longer be safe for diving in the expanded harbor area by summer of 2013. Except for special events, diving the current reef location will no longer be possible after summer 2013.
-Curt
Pending final permitting, the Port expects to start the bidding for the first construction phase of Harbor expansion in January of 2013. Depending on contractor schedules, there may be some opportunity for diving the reef this spring, but it is very likely that it will no longer be safe for diving in the expanded harbor area by summer of 2013. Except for special events, diving the current reef location will no longer be possible after summer 2013.
-Curt
Happy to be alive.
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
I remember talk of this going back nearly a decade now. Guess they finally got their magnum opus port. Its going to sit on top of and all around the current tire reef.
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
I have never dove this site so now I have to ask...is it worth diving for one final hurrah before it closes?
- Grateful Diver
- I've Got Gills
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Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
I think it's been a staple for newer divers, in particular. I've had many good to great dives there ... although it's been a long time since I last dived the site.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Threats and ultimatums are never the best answer. Public humiliation via Photoshop is always better - airsix
Come visit me at http://www.nwgratefuldiver.com/
Come visit me at http://www.nwgratefuldiver.com/
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
fun dive to do once. Other places I'd rtehr dive if I drove that far.
=============================================
- I got a good squirt in my mouth
- I would imagine that there would be a large amount of involuntary gagging
- I don't know about you but I'm not into swallowing it
CCR discussion on Caustic Cocktails.
- I got a good squirt in my mouth
- I would imagine that there would be a large amount of involuntary gagging
- I don't know about you but I'm not into swallowing it
CCR discussion on Caustic Cocktails.
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
worth seeing, esp in winter IMHOMortuus wrote:I have never dove this site so now I have to ask...is it worth diving for one final hurrah before it closes?
Its a pretty easy site if you avoid fisherfolk and their lines.
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
That sucks. Mortuus it's worth doing once. Maybe we should try and organize an MMM Langly before they close it?
"Screw "annual" service,... I get them serviced when they break." - CaptnJack (paraphrased)
"you do realize you're supposed to mix the with water and drink it, not snort the powder directly from the packet, right? " - Spatman
"you do realize you're supposed to mix the with water and drink it, not snort the powder directly from the packet, right? " - Spatman
- Desert Diver
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Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
I've only been there once but the Dungeness crab were stacked on top of each other.....and we had no license.
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
It's worth diving when the vis is good and it's always a good backup dive when Keystone gets too crazy... I go over there every couple of months and there's always something to see... I even found what I thought was a Cremation bag that turned out to be 25# of soft weights... WTF??? Waaay too heavy to be a person... Nice score though...
-Alex-
"so in the interest of advising something...let's see..."the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!" -Eliseaboo
"so in the interest of advising something...let's see..."the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!" -Eliseaboo
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
Update on the Langley Tire Reef. I went by yesterday, January 5,2013, diving is still going
at full speed, I saw probably dozen divers going in and out. Talked to the harbormaster, he said that
it is still open to divers, they are still in the process of getting permits, then there is the issue of the
floating concrete dock now attached to the outer side of the seawall, waiting for bids to clean it and
it might have to go to a drydock, he said. Which means, many more months, he thinks that it might
be July before the diver access will be closed. He said to call the office of Langley Harbormaster
for updates. I will try to keep up, once I get back into diving, meanwhile, come and enjoy the
Langley Tire Reef while it is still ours
at full speed, I saw probably dozen divers going in and out. Talked to the harbormaster, he said that
it is still open to divers, they are still in the process of getting permits, then there is the issue of the
floating concrete dock now attached to the outer side of the seawall, waiting for bids to clean it and
it might have to go to a drydock, he said. Which means, many more months, he thinks that it might
be July before the diver access will be closed. He said to call the office of Langley Harbormaster
for updates. I will try to keep up, once I get back into diving, meanwhile, come and enjoy the
Langley Tire Reef while it is still ours
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
My understanding was they were going to put in some sort of new reef to replace the tire reef as part of the harbor plan is that true?
- Tubesnout23
- Submariner
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- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:24 am
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
So there is no attempt from the local diving community to put some pressure on the Port of South Whidbey to have access to the dive site after the expansion is completed? It is going to be a terrible loss! I have never seen such large schools of different perch anywhere else! Right now baby pipefish are cruising the bottom next to the reef. I have encountered the largest ling cod I have never seen in Puget Sound and BC! At night sailfin sculpins shows up from all over the place and a dog fish nearly bumped into my belly once. Recently I saw my first red Irish lord guarding eggs!Jan K wrote:Update on the Langley Tire Reef. I went by yesterday, January 5,2013, diving is still going
at full speed, I saw probably dozen divers going in and out. Talked to the harbormaster, he said that
it is still open to divers, they are still in the process of getting permits, then there is the issue of the
floating concrete dock now attached to the outer side of the seawall, waiting for bids to clean it and
it might have to go to a drydock, he said. Which means, many more months, he thinks that it might
be July before the diver access will be closed. He said to call the office of Langley Harbormaster
for updates. I will try to keep up, once I get back into diving, meanwhile, come and enjoy the
Langley Tire Reef while it is still ours
Dive shops from Oak Harbor to Bellingham take their students there. I did my open water classes at Langley Marina. It is a site that you can dive anytime of the year day and night. Once is gone it is going to be a pain to do a night dive on Whidbey island! It's a freaken darn shame that the Port does not have more imagination and cares all about wealthy boaters who are supposed to spend a lot of dosh in the local restaurants and stores while divers well I guess have the reputation to be cheap and are worthless from an economic point of view...
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
Ahhh this is more like it. The Port has ALWAYS had eyes bigger than their permits!Jan K wrote:they are still in the process of getting permits, then there is the issue of the
floating concrete dock now attached to the outer side of the seawall, waiting for bids to clean it and
it might have to go to a drydock, he said. Which means, many more months, he thinks that it might
be July before the diver access will be closed. He said to call the office of Langley Harbormaster
for updates. I will try to keep up, once I get back into diving, meanwhile, come and enjoy the
Langley Tire Reef while it is still ours
If you look at the plans, you'll see that the tire reef will be pretty much right in the middle of the marina after the expansion. Won't be a good place for diving at all with all those propellors overhead and stray electrical currents from mis-wired shore power connections.Tubesnout23 wrote: So there is no attempt from the local diving community to put some pressure on the Port of South Whidbey to have access to the dive site after the expansion is completed? It is going to be a terrible loss!
We are a cheap bunch. Look at all the charters who have gone belly up since the advent of scootering from shore...Tubesnout23 wrote: a freaken darn shame that the Port does not have more imagination and cares all about wealthy boaters who are supposed to spend a lot of dosh in the local restaurants and stores while divers well I guess have the reputation to be cheap and are worthless from an economic point of view...
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
I have to agree with Richard on all counts.
We are a cheap bunch, not only with not utilizing the charter fleet, but also buying our gear on line instead in our local dive shop. I understand the economy difficulties we all face in our daily lives and I am not blaming anybody. But the reality is that they cannot survive on filling our tanks only.
Also I would like to point out that the Langley harbor master is extremely friendly towards divers and he was hoping that somebody would come with some plan and money to create a new replacement spot nearby to accommodate divers. But the problem in Langley is that there just isn't place for parking close to the water to gear up. The removal of tires doesn't bother me so much since they ,in all these years didn't provide much of a habitat for marine life to grow on. Rocks would be so much better. Just my opinion.
As Richard pointed out, tire reef marina with associated boat traffic on top would not be a good place to teach new divers. As somebody who was run over by a boat and hurt by its propeller, I know.
We can only hope that the status quo will continue for long time to the delight of divers and the misfortune of boaters and local merchants who definitely get more dollars from the pockets of yachtsmen that divers.
Meanwhile, KEEP ON DIVING
We are a cheap bunch, not only with not utilizing the charter fleet, but also buying our gear on line instead in our local dive shop. I understand the economy difficulties we all face in our daily lives and I am not blaming anybody. But the reality is that they cannot survive on filling our tanks only.
Also I would like to point out that the Langley harbor master is extremely friendly towards divers and he was hoping that somebody would come with some plan and money to create a new replacement spot nearby to accommodate divers. But the problem in Langley is that there just isn't place for parking close to the water to gear up. The removal of tires doesn't bother me so much since they ,in all these years didn't provide much of a habitat for marine life to grow on. Rocks would be so much better. Just my opinion.
As Richard pointed out, tire reef marina with associated boat traffic on top would not be a good place to teach new divers. As somebody who was run over by a boat and hurt by its propeller, I know.
We can only hope that the status quo will continue for long time to the delight of divers and the misfortune of boaters and local merchants who definitely get more dollars from the pockets of yachtsmen that divers.
Meanwhile, KEEP ON DIVING
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
I relate the history of the tire reef as I remember it. The date was about 1972, I pulled my boat into the Langley city dock and it was surrounded by several bands of tires lined up like lifesaver candies all held afloat by logs down the middle. They intended the tires to form a floating breakwater, absorbing wave energy. I don't remember it working well. My small boat got a workout at the dock. The floating breakwater functioned even more poorly when it ceased floating, and was replaced by the wooden pile breakwater which is now there. Several attempts at low cost breakwaters provide current dive sites, the Hat Island barges being another. The evolution of dive sites as the result of destruction of man made objects is greatly accelerated in shallow waters. Observe the Triumph at EUP.
-Curt
-Curt
Happy to be alive.
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
Yeah if Langley builds the new marina anything like they've built stuff in the past its only a matter of time before it'll be an awesome dive site!oldsalt wrote:I relate the history of the tire reef as I remember it. The date was about 1972, I pulled my boat into the Langley city dock and it was surrounded by several bands of tires lined up like lifesaver candies all held afloat by logs down the middle. They intended the tires to form a floating breakwater, absorbing wave energy. I don't remember it working well. My small boat got a workout at the dock. The floating breakwater functioned even more poorly when it ceased floating, and was replaced by the wooden pile breakwater which is now there. Several attempts at low cost breakwaters provide current dive sites, the Hat Island barges being another. The evolution of dive sites as the result of destruction of man made objects is greatly accelerated in shallow waters. Observe the Triumph at EUP.
-Curt
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
CaptnJack wrote:Yeah if Langley builds the new marina anything like they've built stuff in the past its only a matter of time before it'll be an awesome dive site!oldsalt wrote:I relate the history of the tire reef as I remember it. The date was about 1972, I pulled my boat into the Langley city dock and it was surrounded by several bands of tires lined up like lifesaver candies all held afloat by logs down the middle. They intended the tires to form a floating breakwater, absorbing wave energy. I don't remember it working well. My small boat got a workout at the dock. The floating breakwater functioned even more poorly when it ceased floating, and was replaced by the wooden pile breakwater which is now there. Several attempts at low cost breakwaters provide current dive sites, the Hat Island barges being another. The evolution of dive sites as the result of destruction of man made objects is greatly accelerated in shallow waters. Observe the Triumph at EUP.
-Curt
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
That's funny!!!CaptnJack wrote:Yeah if Langley builds the new marina anything like they've built stuff in the past its only a matter of time before it'll be an awesome dive site!
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
There is never enough money to do things right the first time but always enough money to do it again......CaptnJack wrote:Yeah if Langley builds the new marina anything like they've built stuff in the past its only a matter of time before it'll be an awesome dive site!
You breath like a girl! -Blaiz
I thought she was right until I dove with eliseaboo!
I thought she was right until I dove with eliseaboo!
Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
you can only do it right once, but wrong many times...
=============================================
- I got a good squirt in my mouth
- I would imagine that there would be a large amount of involuntary gagging
- I don't know about you but I'm not into swallowing it
CCR discussion on Caustic Cocktails.
- I got a good squirt in my mouth
- I would imagine that there would be a large amount of involuntary gagging
- I don't know about you but I'm not into swallowing it
CCR discussion on Caustic Cocktails.
- coulterboy
- Amphibian
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Re: Langley Tire Reef closing?
On the other hand, it gives a source of income for the peeps involved. Bad for taxpayers, good for the workers.Jeff Pack wrote:you can only do it right once, but wrong many times...
When was the last time you did something for the first time?