It sure wouldn't hurt to tell the rangers too. They are supposed to protect *all* parts of the park.
Printable View
It sure wouldn't hurt to tell the rangers too. They are supposed to protect *all* parts of the park.
This is 'the Kristen' in question-- aka the algae drawer. I just sent the following message to Kelly Jessup, and would like to share it with all of you who I have clearly upset with my actions. I welcome any questions or personal feedback via email at [email protected].
Quote:
Kelly,
I'm not sure if you follow the online reports or not, and if you've heard about this, but either way, I'd like to personally explain and apologize for my actions in order to make right my wrongs.
Firstly, a week ago I was diving in Troy Springs as part of my rebreather class. Since bottom time is a requirement for this class, we had alot of time to 'chill' on the bottom and entertain ourselves. After the first hour and a half, the entertainment value of swimming in circles had been lost on me and I took my finger and 'wrote' in the algae on a rock "VA 'cuba" (an open water student came by then to make the ' into a S so it read VA Scuba, which was the shop sponsoring the trip.) I am a PADI instructor, and fully respect as well as teach environmental protection, but it never occurred to me that drawing into the algae covered rock was a violation of the respect I demand of my OW students. At the time I thought it no more destructive than building a sand castle- in a week the algae will have regrown and the effects of my 'damage' will be unseen. However, I failed to recognize the dangerous precedent I set for future divers. By putting a business name on a rock, I basically stated that VA Scuba supported such acts of vandalism, which couldn't be further from the truth.
Between posts on Rebreather World and the Cave Diving Lounge (who provided me with your contact), I came to realize that it wasn't an issue over killing algae, but rather the message it sent. As you well know, Troy Springs has many permanent fixtures of vandalism where divers have carved into logs. While I never would dream of carving permanently into the rock, I realize now that by drawing into algae, I basically sent the message that it was okay. Needless to say, it has been a lesson learned, and one I will pass to future students of mine.
I understand that under Florida law this could be considered vandalism, and I'd be willing to submit to any applicable punishments, however, with my plan of action to rectify the situation, as well as my sincere recognition and understanding of the problem, I hope that such extreme measures can be avoided.
I'd also like to clarify that although I drew the words "va scuba" into the rock, in no way shape or form is Virginia Scuba encouraging the behavior I exhibited. The shop owner has already placed several calls into members of the cave community in Florida explaining the situation and offering his apologies, which is not something he should have to do as a result of my actions, and my personal actions alone. I hope the diving community can accept that these actions do not reflect the ideology of Virginia Scuba, and that these actions are my personal responsibility alone.
I have posted this letter on the cave forum as well, and in so, I am offering to them the same thing I am willing to offer you. As I am in Washington, DC, and am not in a situation to handle this personally, I'd be more than willing to pay the entrance fee for any diver who would be willing to go into Troy and 'rub off' my markings so as to not encourage this behavior further. I can communicate exactly the location of the rock in question to that diver, as it is not 'obviously placed' in the springs.
Finally, and while off topic, thank you all for putting together all of those resources for instructors to use in their classes to discourage students from entering caves. I've had several students vocalize their interest in cave diving, and those resources have been a great aid to explaining why the proper training and equipment is required to undertake those pursuits.
Again I am very sorry for my actions, not only have I learned from them, but I will make sure my future students do as well. If you, or another diver would be willing to 'erase' my damage, please let me know as I'd be more than willing to compensate them for their entry fee into the park. I appreciate the natural beauty of these springs, and hate that I have contributed to a temporary loss of their beauty, however I am glad that it was not as permanent as much of the damage other divers have done in those springs that time will never heal.
Thanks,
Kristen
Thank's Kristen, it took a lot of nerve to post that, and I think most of us on here realize that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
I agree,it is tough to do that. Thank you
... and welcome to the Cave Diver's Forum!
Thanks Kristen, it's nice to see integrity and honesty.
Well done Kristen. I hope you will feel free to return to this forum anytime.
Regards,
Randy
Thanks for posting Kristen, Welcome to the forum.
Thank you guys for understanding the difference between someone deliberately carving 'JC 08' into a rock as a permanent fixture, and an honest lapse in better judgment.
I'll be back when I take my cavern course later this year!
Kristen,
Thank you for coming here to apologize for the writing at Troy. Also, I noticed last night that someone has removed the JC 08 from Jackson Blue.
Mark