A Constructive Approach to the Recent Accident in Mexico

Please find here a posting related to the recent incident in Mexico. We, the undersigned, are interested in establishing some VOLUNTARY guidelines that will serve to make the activity of guided cave dives safer and lower-impact on cave systems in which they are undertaken. It is not the purpose of this petition to lay any blame or create any MANDATORY rules or regulations regarding how dives are conducted, but rather to simply encourage good practice related to ONLY the in-water portions of group cave tours. Your attention and consideration are greatly appreciated.

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Given all of the recent discussion about the Calimba accident a few of us have decided that rather than just talk about what needs to be done we should petition for something positive.

We would ask all Cave Divers in agreement with this to please add their names to the petition.


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In light of recent and previous tragic events we believe it necessary and appropriate for the NACD to establish and publish VOLUNTARY standards for the safe execution of guided dives. Therefore, as both concerned and avid cave divers, we, the undersigned, respectfully request the following suggestions be examined for implementation:

A maximum guide-to-diver ratio of one guide per three guided divers;
A maximum guide-to-diver ratio of one guide per two guided divers when DPVs are employed;
A maximum of four divers in any particular system at one time that is determined to be small (i.e., especially restrictive); and
No sharing of reels or markers; each group would be required to place their own reel, and each diver should place his own return marker.
Provide a detailed pre dive briefing consistent with the role of a dive leader.

This proposal is consistent with purpose of the NACD, which is to achieve safer cave diving through training and education. Furthermore, it is consistent with the first three goals of the NACD, which are to:

To establish and maintain current guidelines in the form of physical and psychological standards, as well as equipment and techniques necessary for safe cave diving;
To encourage education and distribution of safe cave diving information throughout the facilities of the organization and to provide a program of education and advanced training essential for safe cave diving; and
To achieve closer cooperation and understanding among members of the cave and recreational diving communities (and the general public) so they may work together toward the common goal of increasing safety in cavern and cave diving.

We also suggest and encourage the NACD to:

Post the names of member guides who comply with these standards on their website and in periodic publications. Advertising should not be accepted from guides who do not comply with these standards; and to
Actively encourage people to seek out guides who comply with these standards.

It is not our purpose to establish the above as rule but as criteria available to traveling divers with which they can determine if a specific guide or tour is suited to their needs.

The intent of this proposal is to encourage a more rational approach to the management of large cave diving groups by limiting the number of divers put into any one system simultaneously, and should in no way be construed as an attempt to impose a size limit on any other aspect of travel such as lodging and meals.

Respectfully submitted,

Joseph Citelli
John Blankenship
Heather Choat
Michael Barnette
Jeff Schreiber

Ted Green
John Sampson
Dennis Weeks
Cindy Butler
Steve Muslin
Dave Manning
Ben Bright
Al Wells
Marv Gozum
Tom Anderson
Wendy Shirah
Richard Walker
Cris Ghiazza
Robert Knazik
Nicola Monzino
Gary Ashburn
Simon Richards