A moment to reflect on the past and welocme the New Year
Happy New Year and welcome to 2014.
I would like to take a moment to reflect on the past as we move forward to a new year and a new dawning.
2013 saw many first and gave us all something to think about. Beginning early in the year, Cave Connections began the first of its acquisitions into management of cave diving sites in the Wakulla area. With 11 sites now being managed, this year will be the bring the biggest challenge of all, the targeting of opening of the biggest spring in Florida.
Many divers new and old found their way to Wakulla County to find there really is diving here for all levels as the myth of the past has began to fade away. I had the pleasure of leading many of these divers into Meeting House and Indian for the first time. Little known to them, the excitement was truly mine as witnessed the beauty come across their faces. Many words of thanks came my way yet words can't describe the feeling I had knowing more is to come. Twice, we saw flow increase at Indian bringing a clarity extending out to over 600'. Some for the first time saw the sheer beauty Indian Springs possess as they entered the passage boasting wall to wall visibility offering a rare blue hue not often experienced from beginning to end.
The rains hit hard and were relentless for months on end. Diving as we knew it ceased to exist for nearly 4 months. I used the time to build a better support structure at Cave Connections and increased gas supply to shorten fill times while daily I chipped away at even more access. I made headway into sites that were unheard of by many. 2014 will bring forth these new sites and access under our management plan. Hands down, Wakulla County has earned its name as the "Cave Capitol" of Florida.
The fall brought more than the beauty during the changing of the colors among the trees. The clear waters and natural beauty of the sinks and springs brought diving back to levels never experienced in the past. The season certainly came to a close with a bang. The ASA cave diving team made multiple pushes within the lower sections of Indian some 5000'+ at depths over 300'. The site of Sally Ward passage is believed to have been found. Other members made their way to extending the line in both up and down stream Meeting House through restrictions at depths of over 280'. Yet other members pushed into Greyhound to make it into the Wakulla/ Leon line and exceed past Turner Sink and as far north as Innis Free. The biggest discovery of all is a massive clear water passage trending back to the north under the Ferrell Property. 2014 will bring a year of exploration for many of these divers and new ones to come.
The year drew near its end as we all heard the news of a double fatality at Eagles Nest as it made its way to national news. While a tragedy in itself, the news of potential closure, has brought about the unity among cave divers we have needed for years. Hopefully this event will give the cave diving community the strength to move forward to open more access across the state. We as a community, we have a voice. Many times it is split between egos and attitudes that keep us divided. At the day's end, we are all here for the same sport. Together we can achieve the goal of maintaining and acquiring more access. Sure, we have those in this sport that do not belong but a severe lack of self reflection and honesty is why they stay. The truth is, we belong to a community in a world where publishing a report or plans could place you upon the thrown of criticism and a public lashing may be the price you pay. Why are we this way? The answer is egos and attitudes. The same ones that place a few individuals with a feeling of private ownership of public sites. In reality, it all boils down to a threat. A threat of their meager existence in a community where they demand a status of respect for being better than the rest. This attitude reflects poorly upon them and the community is crippled by the constant postings like the one I faced on CDF in 2009. Just type in my name on a search and read about the ego that nearly closed Good Enough Springs for good. There are many I respect in this sport because they earned it not because they demand it in a public outcry. Seriously respected divers are not the ones filing complaints and constantly whining over what others do to promote this sport. They are the ones working behind the scenes for access and promotion of safe cave diving while the egos sit on the rears demanding what the rest work hard for. Do not get me wrong, I understand not everyone can be there all the time to weld a tool or plant a tree but everyone needs to make time to pitch in occasionally. Everyone needs to understand the behind the scenes takes a great deal of time and money. Our sport is one of the most expensive there is. If you can't afford the training, gear and to pitch in to help maintain it then perhaps you need to do a little self reflecting to avoid becoming the next statistic.
In closing, I would like to encourage each and every one of you to do a little self reflecting. We heard it from Edd and Brent about Complacency and Standards of Training but how many really listened? Have you spent time reflecting on what was said. Did you seek more training or mentoring? Did you go home and check through each piece of your gear? Did you ask yourself, are these guys talking about me? If you didn't have a reaction then maybe you should try tennis where the worst that can happen is a skinned knee or a lost tennis ball. Perhaps cave diving is not for you.
As we breach the opening of 2014, do some reflecting, check your gear and be honest with yourself. Our sport is self regulated and this means self reflection is a must. Not annually or monthly but daily before each and every dive regardless of time, depth and penetration. In the water, when the gas runs out, it will not matter what agency trained you or what gear you use, it will only come down to self readiness and mental preparedness. Edd and Brent along with all those preaching for a better cave diving community are well respected for their ability and common sense but the best ability they have is the ability to share the information that could save your life should you choose to listen.
Welcome to the Year of Exploration as Brent Hemphill put it. I believe he is correct again....
