Unwarranted Cost Increase at Florida Springs

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Originally Posted by skip

Why is it that florida cave divers think the state of florida is obligated to keep cave diving essentially free? We've been getting a free ride for decades. Time to pay the piper.

skip

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Becausue the cavedivers donate/give their time and money to improve the mentioned parks. Things like changing rooms, walkways, tank racks, interpretive trails, maps, water samples, etc, etc... the list of "free" services to the state parks from cave divers is endless at times. You won't see that at a "commercial" park. Thus, if the State wants to change the game and play as a commercial park... they will get the same level of "free" that a commercial park gets.... None.

Hope those things are factored into their budgets of declining revenues.

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Originally Posted by skip

Why is it that florida cave divers think the state of florida is obligated to keep cave diving essentially free?

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Why are we being targeted by the State? Every user of services should pay for the cost of said service. The only "service" you could argue we receive over other users is checking c-cards, which is State-imposed. Our impact is less than any other user because we truly know the value of the resource, those who walk around on top or just swim in will never understand. Just another set of deep pockets for them to fish around in is all this amounts to.

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Originally Posted by skip

sludge, yes paying for both the annual pass and daily cave diving fee is redundant and useless if you only cave dive at state parks. i don't. i go to many florida state parks, for many reasons, spend nearly 1/4 of the year in florida. so the annual and daily use fee make sense.

we've all heard the bloated government, taxed enough already, and the it's my money bull crap since Moses. There's always those who think they pay too much for too little and make a big deal of it. I understand if you dive every day and the idea of paying nearly 500 bucks per month to dive is unreasonable, but if i were to dive commercial sites here in TN (or any other state, including florida), I'd be charged at least $20.00 a day to dive. Why is it that florida cave divers think the state of florida is obligated to keep cave diving essentially free? We've been getting a free ride for decades. Time to pay the piper.

skip

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You're missing the point, Skip. Most of us have recently bought another annual pass. I bought one on June 1. The practice at that time was it covered diving. Then, after making a purchase for a very specific purpose, the parks decide to change their practice. While I do access Florida Caverns State Park quite regularly to use their boat launch, I don't access it 26 times a year (the amount of times I would need to access it at $5 per vehicle daily fee to make it worth it). If I dive Peacock without an annual pass, it's $15 per diver per day. The previous, and again current, practice is that annual pass holders don't have to pay that. I have no problem with a price increase. They raised the price from $80 to $120 for a family pass last year and I didn't complain one bit. One of the reasons I didn't complain is because the pass I paid $80 for was still good until its expiration. Now if they had told me they are raising the price and all current passes are no longer valid, I would have been upset.

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Originally Posted by OneBrightGator

Why are we being targeted by the State? Every user of services should pay for the cost of said service. The only "service" you could argue we receive over other users is checking c-cards, which is State-imposed. Our impact is less than any other user because we truly know the value of the resource, those who walk around on top or just swim in will never understand. Just another set of deep pockets for them to fish around in is all this amounts to.

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Yes, if they want to charge user fees it should be to everyone, not singling out cave divers. I can understand charging an additional fee for instructors as they are getting a commercial use above and beyond what any state park pass holder gets.
Does anyone know how many total annual passes were sold last year?

I think we look for far less than the average state park attendee - as our primary focus is the cave which nature has already provided. Take peacock for instance - pretty primitive - anyone need anything else there? I certainly don't and it one of my favorite spots. Now look at Manatee - another caving diving spot - however you think the playground, fancy bathrooms, concession stand, etc was put there because cave divers go there? I don't think so.

In my opinion the number one service provided by the state at state parks - is provided to divers and non-divers alike - and that is freedom from the droves of drunk people (Ginnie and Little River for example).

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Originally Posted by timle

I think we look for far less than the average state park attendee - as our primary focus is the cave which nature has already provided. Take peacock for instance - pretty primitive - anyone need anything else there? I certainly don't and it one of my favorite spots. Now look at Manatee - another caving diving spot - however you think the playground, fancy bathrooms, concession stand, etc was put there because cave divers go there? I don't think so.

In my opinion the number one service provided by the state at state parks - is provided to divers and non-divers alike - and that is freedom from the droves of drunk people (Ginnie and Little River for example).

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Yep. Which is exactly the reason they don't see raising the cost of diving passes as a risk.

How many of you whining in this thread have actually taken the time to take the DEP survey, or send letters/emails?

Don't send anything if/while you are angry, but do send cool/calm comments expressing your thoughts.

I didn't do any whining here but did take the survey and sent an email.

where is this survey you speak of?

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Good morning and thank you for sharing your concerns regarding fees for scuba diving in Florida’s state parks. On behalf of the Florida Park Service, I offer a sincere apology for the confusion and frustration this has caused. I am pleased to say that after careful review and consideration of the dive community’s concerns, the Florida Park Service will immediately eliminate this fee. Diving in Florida’s state parks will be included in the day-use entrance fees and annual passes. It is our intent to provide affordable resource-based recreation opportunities for the citizens and visitors of Florida and we value your patronage. Again, thank you for bringing this to our attention. If you have any questions or additional concerns, please feel free to contact me via response to this email or you may contact the Florida Park Service directly at 850-245-2157.

Best regards,
Bonnie Hazleton, Director
Office of the Ombudsman & Public Services
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
850-245-2121

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Thank you to everyone else who wrote a letter as well!