Interest in Madison Blue

[fghray1]

I was speaking to the Ranger today at Madison and she wants to try and make the park more diver friendly. She wants to get suggestions and set up a diver sleep out at the park. Before she goes to far she want to make sure there would be a big enough interest from the cave diving community.
I'm asking for help from the Divers here and now in this forum.

What she wants suggestions / ideas as to how to make it better for us.

How many would like to have a get together at the park ,maybe with a cook out ( NACD,NSS/CDS, NFSA)

Most divers I talk with say they like diving there. But don't like the restictions of the number of divers allowed. They need to know want would be a good number. Using both Martz and the main entrance.

As many know I placed a trash bucket in the basin and it has been a success
There is less and less glass and trash there.

We need to expess via the forums if there is interest. They will be monitoring the sites.

You guys at the NFSA NACD NSS/CDS can be a great help if you participate.
This site is a great site for training.

Pass it on and get involved.

I would ask to make this thread sticky.

[jj1987]

24/7 park access similar to paynes prarie would be AWESOME! For those who don't know, state park pass holders can register during business hours for the combination to the gate lock, and use the park after hours as long as they display their state park pass on the window.

Same goes for peacock. I would dive peacock a lot more often if it were under these conditions. Night diving is the main reason I bought my Ginnie pass, and the only reason I'd dive there enough to justify renewing it in the future.

I would appreciate it if the sign in form asked if a diver was going to go through Rocky Horror. That's a long swim just to find out that another team is in there and you can't get to the courtyard. Especially since if you have to turn, there's not many places to top off and go again once the team exits.

[BobK]

I was speaking to the Ranger today at Madison and she wants to try and make the park more diver friendly. She wants to get suggestions and set up a diver sleep out at the park. Before she goes to far she want to make sure there would be a big enough interest from the cave diving community.
I'm asking for help from the Divers here and now in this forum.

What she wants suggestions / ideas as to how to make it better for us.

How many would like to have a get together at the park ,maybe with a cook out ( NACD,NSS/CDS, NFSA)

I like the overnight cookout idea. I wouldn't mind coordinating it.

[Kelly Jessop]

I don't think Madison is set up for overnight access. Normally the rules allow for parks to be open outside the normal hours,but they require a ranger on site.

The NFSA will be having a meeting at the end of this month,and more likely the park manager from Madison will be there. He has been very open to discussions and suggestions.

[fghray1]

I don't think Madison is set up for overnight access. Normally the rules allow for parks to be open outside the normal hours,but they require a ranger on site.

The NFSA will be having a meeting at the end of this month,and more likely the park manager from Madison will be there. He has been very open to discussions and suggestions.

The Ranger said there is a camp ground in the back and they would allow us access to diving if everthing can be set up.

She emailed Craig today and is waiting to hear from him.

[Kelly Jessop]

The Ranger said there is a camp ground in the back and they would allow us access to diving if everthing can be set up.

She emailed Craig today and is waiting to hear from him.

Great!

When the Bruics owned the park they allowed camping and there was a cabin. I remember a social that was held there that was a lot of fun.

[IowaCaveDiver]

we camp at Pot occasionally... we'd love the opportunity to load up a bunch of tanks and make an overnighter of it. Access to gas is an issue and we typically don't head thaty way because to haul all the tanks and be on a tight schedule to get in an out/in and out before closing is stressful. We'd love to be able to check in and camp, primative fashion. Do they allow dogs? scooters? I havn't been there in awhile.

[IowaCaveDiver]

I like the idea of notifying other divers of the intended dive plan/route to avoid too many divers in one passage or whatnot. What about a sort of covered whiteboard, sort of like the little info centers you see at the enterance of state parks where they have the maps and brochurs, etc, however the white board could be broken down where a team can sign in, approx. time in/out and intended dive plan. The information can be voluntary, but at least other divers could try to plan around previously started dives... I would envision it to be a large white board (4x4') with a dry-erase marker hanging and the other half of the board could be the system map for reference. This might make a start of a good system to implement at many dive sites to help divers communicate intended dive plans, facilitate a larger number of teams in/out of sites, and help divers avoid attempting a dive only to be dissapointed that the passage is already occupied.

[MORGAN]

My suggestion for Madison would be to reopen the showers, maybe even with hot water!

Mike

[Slüdge]

As far as I know there was never hot water. Brrr in the winter!

Kelly, I remember a CDS Social at MB - my buddy Robin won a Dive Rite regulator as the big door prize. But by the time we got into the diving/camping thing Madison Blue had closed.

I would love to see it opened for camping again - even without hot water!