Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Nelson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We started a SCUBA business in Salt Lake City and needed a safe year-round place for open water training. I checked the geothermal map, looking for something within 100 miles of the city, with warm water, that we could manage and keep clean and safe.
The only place that WE THOUGHT was big enough for people to actually swim around, get good training, was the Grantsville warm springs. After a lot of complications, we managed to buy the property in 1988 and started to create our ocean from the geothermally heated saltwater
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road was anything but smooth! Among other things, MOST OF THE other dive shops were reluctant to “put a dollar in the competition’s pocket” even though the day-use was far cheaper than the long drive to the overcrowded winter dive place, we all used to use, Blue Lake.
That was after the problems of cleaning up the property, which had been the unofficial garbage dump for Grantsville and the local party place for the young folk. So lots of cleanups. There were MANY little springs, that George SANDERS, who is a very capable entrepreneur and handy with heavy equipment, was able to join together to make a bigger area for underwater swimming AND SNORKELING, and training.
NOW THE DROUGHT IMPACTS THE WATER FLOW, SO IT IS COOLER THAN WHEN WE STARTED, BUT STILL BETTER THAN LOCAL LAKES!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our water comes from warm geothermal activity rising through the old salt bed left behind by Lake Bonneville, which used to cover this area, up to as much as 1000 feet deep…We were told by several experts that we couldn’t support fish in our saltwater, but the fish didnt read their books, and do very well! One of the most fun parts of our mini ocean is being able to swim with lots of friendly fish!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are a number of THE better dive shops that utilize Seabase, which certainly helps. They come from as far away as Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho, and of course, mostly from Utah. We host events, such as lantern light fests, movie making, music videos, scouts, utube projects, and music festivals.
And we give tours for schools, special groups..and have fun doing it.
Pricing:
- We only charge $20 per day per person (plus tax) for water use and only $5 for just a fish pedicure. All-day.
- We have inexpensive rental gear: $12.50 for a snorkel package, $22 for a SCUBA package, $10 for a wetsuit.
- Camping is $10 for a night, dry camping, a bit more for RVs needing electricity.
- $28 for Scamp trailer rental, with your own bedding, for up to two people per trailer.
- Air fills are just 8$, nitrox is $16
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@seabase.net
- Website: Www.seabase.net
Image Credits
Todd Cliff
