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At the risk of falling into a discussion of whether to solo dive or not: I would like a list of the sites you guys and gals know that allow solo diving. There are the obvious (ginnie, little river, JB) but I would love to hear of some others.
Thanks
BTW I searched but couldn't find a list, probably just missed it.
I think thats all of them
I would say pretty much any of them that aren't part of a state park system.
As others said you can solo dive at most Florida caves. It would be better to just list those that do not allow it.
Here are the only caves where I know the site access prohibits solo diving.
Peacock State Park
Manatee SP
Madison Blue SP
Hart (Black Lagoon) Not sure about the spring
Emerald Sink
Indian Spring
Dipolder I & II
Alachua Sink
Not Sure about Cow, Cathedral, School Sink, or Morgan.
making a parallel to another topic - does it mean that buddies were watching a team member dropping condoms at no solo site? To me LR or Telford is much better site despite catheters contamination when I recall that it doesn't restrict me from enjoyment what and how I like to do it wearing those...
Solo diving is allowed at CowQuote:
Originally Posted by EEL
Mike
Buddy or no You can't buy class and can't teach class to the classless. It is also true that the most important lessons in life are taught to you by Momma and your kindergarden teacher.Quote:
Originally Posted by ARY
Just curious about Ginnie. The diving rules on their website seem to make no mention of solo diving at all. I assume that to mean that it's *not prohibited*. But I wonder if it means they can exercise "discretion" in allowing solo divers... (ie. restrict the practice only to "full cave" divers even if there's no solid rule). The rules, at times, also refer to "Certified cavern and/or cave divers." I'm wondering if "cave divers" in the context of those rules mean "full cave" only, or include "Intro and Apprentice" levels as well. I really don't know, because I've never dived Devils without my instructor present.Quote:
Originally Posted by floridabob
Not that I will be diving solo in any cave anytime soon, until after full cave, and after I get some experience "Diving with AL." :)
Thanks for the correction Mike.......Quote:
Originally Posted by MORGAN
Ooh, ooh, another Dipolder? Seriously though, why is there a II and III, but no I?Quote:
Originally Posted by EEL
If you ask Rose (the manager), I believe she will tell you that solo diving isn't allowed. I was told by an employee that it's not allowed, yet not enforced if you're full cave. Personally I'm in favor of banning solo diving, so I haven't put much time into researching the rules beyond chit chatting in the lobby, but that's what I've heard.Quote:
Originally Posted by mag3
Good one, Yes II and III, but there is a Dipolder I. It is the lake on the right as you come into the camp (corner of George Hunt Lane and Eagle Scout Trail), Too bad it is just a lake no cave found that I know of.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenwood_60
Ah, interesting. There is a very deep hole in the center though. I would bet there is a cave, but it has been choked with crap over the years. Anyone got a dredge?Quote:
Originally Posted by EEL
Hmmm, I was told in 2009 by a fella claiming to be the owner that solo diving is allowed so go figure. I was Apprentice at the time and stuck to staying on the gold line as I only went back to the Hill 400 double arrows and back. I discussed my dive plans with him and he was good with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by jj1987
Telford, Edwards, Anderson....many others along the Suwannee River... Some side-mount only. Most are water access.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jj1987
This is the vibe I've gotten as well when there. If you are a "known quantity" to the staff/mgt. and are full cave, the rule is not enforced (assuming there is a formal rule). If they don't know you, and you are less than full cave, they enforce it verbally.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScubaGypsy
My understanding of the solo diving rule is that it is similar to the "don't ask, don't tell" rule the military used to have. Don't make a big deal out of it, and no one cares. You don't have to discuss your dive plan with any member of staff, and given the fact that almost 100% of their staff has no clue about anything cave diving, it makes no sense to even mention diving to them. Show them your card, pay your money, and go dive.
This thread is funny. So far, we've got one guy telling us that he feels the need to discuss his dive plan with the owner of the property and get his ok before doing the dive, and who also wants us all to know that he's solo diving with an apprentice card. Then, we've got jj1987, who wants to remove our ability to make informed decisions. I love it!
Just dive safe, however and wherever you dive...fatalities, solo or in a team, don't do us any good. We have plenty of accident data to analyze, so please don't try to help us by providing more of it. :)
You can always put another c card on your dash and dive sole :)
jk
I've dove solo a bunch of times at Ginnie and never had anyone question it. Most of the time my wet suit covers my arm band so they have no idea what level I am diving at.
So instead of asking the owner of the property if there is an issue to dive solo on his property folks should just go ahead and not ask? Nice landowner relations policy!Quote:
Originally Posted by JahJahwarrior
There is a published list of rules. Don't break those. If it's not on the list, and it's something very common, I wouldn't go out of my way to ask. For example, the rules doesn't say that it is ok to leave the main passage of the cave, but because that is common practice in cave diving, I do not feel the need to call up Mark or his mother and ask them if I'm allowed to venture up the Hill400 tunnel. I have done quite a bit of diving in Ginnie, and I've never felt the need to run my dive plan by any member of staff.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScubaGypsy
Infact, there have been several instances where divers HAVE run plans by a member of staff, only to receive a wrong answer and be turned away from diving. For example, staff doesn't know certification limits. Most are not divers, and those who are, aren't always current divers. If you ask them about a dive, and mention your certification level, you are likely to get a wrong answer. I know there was a big hullaballoo over CCR Cave. Some divers mentioned they were CCR, and Full Cave, and asked if it would be a problem for them to dive. They were told they had to have a CCR Cave card to dive their CCR units. They were turned away from diving, and were probably not very happy because of it. It took a while for the truth to come out that you do not need a CCR Cave card to dive, only full cave and CCR.
A few months later, I heard a park staff person telling a diver they had to be full cave to carry a light in the devil's system. I had to step in and correct them. They are really nice people, and some of them are good friends, but they definitely aren't cave diving experts.
Infact, there is no need to tell park staff you are diving CCR at all. Show them your full cave card, pay you money, and go dive.
They have staff positioned by the water at times to check on divers, but as long as you don't look too bad, then you don't get questioned there either.
Do you call up park staff at Peacock, Little River, Manatee, or others to ask if your dive plans there are ok? Remember, the park staff doesn't technically own the site, so perhaps you should call the Florida Legislature and ask them to pass a bill declaring your dive plan to be ok? I agree landowner relations are important, but that doesn't mean we have to go to some lengths to dive a site. Don't be ridiculous, just be ridiculously good at diving ;)
Infact, there is no need to tell park staff you are diving CCR at all. Show them your full cave card, pay you money, and go dive.
This is exactly what I do. Most my dives at Ginnie are solo and on a rebreather(not that I get there all that often). No sense opening a can of worms. Show my card, sign the release, pay and boogie.
Ya just can't trust those Ginnie employees. Last week I showed up with Forrest and the gal thought I was his student!!!!! Hell no!
http://www.deepcaves.net/smilies/eek.gif
Thanks for some new sites. As for ginnie, I have been there the day of and the day after a fatality and there was a definite "no solo" rule those days. The other couple hundred times, no issues whatsoever. Discretion exercised. As a general rule, though, I dont think its prohibited.
One vote cast for no solo rule, duly noted...save us all from ourselves, please. Someone has to. ;) Incidentally, I have known 4 people that died over the years, 2 solo,2 with buddies...50/50 shot. But all were cave diving.
Now for a question out of ignorance, in terms of accident analysis, where does solo diving fall? Which category?
Hijacking my own thread. Now thats dangerous!