Originally Posted by
Benderr
Rob, folks have invested months of their lives in research, planning, meetings, etc. The current version of this "campaign" is well over a year old. I've personally driven from Mobile to the Wakulla area more times than I care to admit. I've gotten one dive out of it (I don't usually travel unless diving is included) and spent hard-earned dive dollars on fuel, lodging and eats, all for a spring I probably won't be able to dive even if it's opened tomorrow (I'm only cavern atm). A dozen or so other folks have similarly invested time, effort and money. We've not just researched the current "campaign" either. If this effort fails, other options are available.
Mostly, the folks I talked to just wanted to tell me how impossible the goals are. How we should just give up because there was no chance in hell that Wakulla would ever be opened. I've never heard so much negativity. While there were a few (like one or two) pearls of wisdom to be gathered, it was mostly pessimistic b***s*** over-and-over. Many of the reasons for past failures are also no longer relevant.
Mat already posted the arguments against us from other park users. We discussed these items with DEP/Parks. I think the folks at DEP/Parks were mostly able to see that the majority of the complaints were bogus. Their biggest concerns seemed to be Artifacts, Pissing off the Scuba-haters, and Implementation (how do we manage diving at Wakulla if allowed?)
Several of the DEP/Parks people we met were familiar with, and mostly respectful of the cave diving community, seeing them as responsible users that took care of the parks, and didn't cause trouble.
We can't do anything about pissing off the scuba-haters. If the status-quo changes, it's a hit they will have to take. We can mitigate this by showing DEP/Parks that a large number of users (cavers) are willing to fall-in with wallets in hand, and that we are ready to play nice with everyone, even if they are haters.
Artifact preservation, imho, is the one legitimate complaint. Arguments are, we're willing to work with the appropriate authorities to either collect, preserve, or leave the items the hell alone. They've been down there for a long time, and no one cares enough to do anything about them, except for us, if necessary.
Implementation is something we should be willing to assist with and/or compromise on. I've personally changed my opinion on this element several times, and I'm not totally settled on a personal position, much less a recommendation on what an "official" position should be. I was originally for fully-open, no restrictions, etc., but that might be better as a distant goal. It might help the cause to start things out with restrictions, and then move towards openness as we prove we can handle it. I think the Emerald restrictions are overbearing at best, and probably illegal, but half-assed open is better than full-assed closed.
So what does all that mean? It means we should take the position that we want equal access to public assets, and that we're willing to reach reasonable compromises with Parks/DEP on artifacts and implementation. We're willing to do all the work if necessary too (building steps, setting up rules, finding a way to grant access, etc.)
Beyond that, and perhaps more importantly, we need to demonstrate that we are responsible users. We need to demonstrate that out-of-town divers, like me, make about 35 trips to Florida every year for the sole purpose of diving, and that if I travel more than 125 miles, that I also camp, or purchase a hotel room, that I eat three meals a day. I don't eat at McDonald's either. I eat a locally owned and operated non-chain restaurants, and I tip 20% unless the service was shockingly poor, and then I still tip 10%. I spend a few grand each year in purchasing dive gear from Florida vendors. I buy fills, I gas-up my truck, I take scuba classes, and I'm going to be making more trips if/when Wakulla opens, and I'm going to tell all my friends how awesome it was and post photos and videos and internet reviews telling everyone how awesome diving is in Florida. I'm a job-creator, and advertiser all rolled into one. I take only photos, and leave only bubbles, and out-of-state money.
