It's official!!!

I got some good news & I got some bad news...

GOOD news: there will be NO ADDITIONAL charge for cave divers if you have an annual pass. Individual passes allowes one person entry AND diving.
A family pass allows eight persons entry BUT only allows four diving.

BAD news: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ONLY ONE TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE WATER AT ONE TIME. Team #2 must wait untill tem #1 is completely out of the water before entering the water. This is due to the size of the pool VS the diver/swimmer ratio.

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Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

I got some good news & I got some bad news...

GOOD news: there will be NO ADDITIONAL charge for cave divers if you have an annual pass. Individual passes allowes one person entry AND diving.
A family pass allows eight persons entry BUT only allows four diving.

BAD news: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ONLY ONE TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE WATER AT ONE TIME. Team #2 must wait untill tem #1 is completely out of the water before entering the water. This is due to the size of the pool VS the diver/swimmer ratio.

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That effectively closes the park to diving for me. It's a long drive from anywhere. If you are not the first team in, you will be waiting for hours and you might get one dive in. Teams surfacing will be pressured to get out quickly which could induce other problems. It's hard to imagine, but American Canoe running it was better than this.

I appreciate all the work that went in to getting the park reopened, I'm sorry it ended up this way.

John

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Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

I

BAD news: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ONLY ONE TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE WATER AT ONE TIME. Team #2 must wait untill tem #1 is completely out of the water before entering the water. This is due to the size of the pool VS the diver/swimmer ratio.

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Mike,just curious what their rationale is. When the Bruic's opened Madison there were no limits,nor were there any problems. On busy days with a lot of swimmers and people jumping off the platform we'd be ask to avoid using the rabbit hole for entrance and exit,and stay off to the side near the steps. I hope during winter months they may loosen this,or you may be like the Maytag repairman :)

The operations manual for the DEP state that (and I'm paraphrasing here) teams will be limited to one team in the cavern or cave shaft at any given time. It also states that mangement has the ability to alter that number but normaly the teams should be one. This is what our park manager is using as a guide.

I'm not happy about this either guys...please talk to the park manager at Suwannee River State Park, they dictate our policy for Madison and they are more than happy to hear input from you. The park manager is a good guy, he'll listen to what you have to say.

YOU GUYS are going to be the ones that get this changed not me... I already tried to keep it 4 teams, obviously I wasn't convincing enough. Don't forget I'm on your side here, I'm a cave diver too OK? That's why I moved down here. If you don't at least call Suwannee River and express your opinion then ??????

Hey Mike, What do you think about the feasability of a cave divers only entrance from the area of the run? Tuck around the corner into the rabbit hole. The divers would be out of the way of the swimmers. I think we could round up a couple of people to help us put in a path and steps if needed. Would you take a look and tell me what you think please. Cindy Butler

Me again, We could also improve the entrance at Martz sink. There are no swimmers there! Think about it and let me know. Cindy :)

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Originally Posted by Cindy

Hey Mike, What do you think about the feasability of a cave divers only entrance from the area of the run? Tuck around the corner into the rabbit hole. The divers would be out of the way of the swimmers. I think we could round up a couple of people to help us put in a path and steps if needed. Would you take a look and tell me what you think please. Cindy Butler

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There used to be a "gentlemen's agreement with previous park management when they were very busy with swimmers. We'd use the right stairs,and once entering the water we stay to the right slope and out of the swimming area. Entering and exit the cave was done at the right entrance,and stay away from the rabbit home;and deco was done on the platform. I'm never aware of a swimmer/diver incident when were asked to do this.

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Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

The operations manual for the DEP state that (and I'm paraphrasing here) teams will be limited to one team in the cavern or cave shaft at any given time. It also states that mangement has the ability to alter that number but normaly the teams should be one. This is what our park manager is using as a guide.

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The park might as well be closed.

Tell them to return the state funding.

This is a load of CRAP!

:evil:

Well guys, sorry to say but this is the case when you get government involved in any type of recreational activity. The managers can now sit there a say "what Madison is open to divers, we've done our part"
Just like the Lottery folks. Just more government hoodwinks.
Best thing we can do as a Citizenry is to fight every effort for Government purchase of natural area, because before long the state is going to own every forest and wetland and close it in the name of "conservation"
We are to blame people. We let this happen because it sounded like a great idea when they said it fast. Peacock Springs is the model, Why oh Why can't the Parks Service see this? I wonder if I can get a refund on the Annual pass I just bought??? $80 Shot to SH*T. Bring back Anna.
If the Sheriff had given them half a second’s help with the locals we wouldn't be in this mess. Oh well RANT over. Sorry Cindy I posted while pissed.

C

I have to agree with jdh and Gary. As far as I'm concerned, Madison Blue is closed.

Russell