Cave and Cavern Directory

[mag3]

If it doesn't have drive up access, a park, and benches around it... you can pretty much bet that by just being IN the system, things are going to get a bit nasty. Without traffic, most caves get dirty(its only natural).



Bug, its a Volkswagen thing

Thanks.. If you did a lot of NE Wreck diving, it could also have been "Lobster" man as well

[mag3]

First, I'm not a huge fan of rating caves intro, full, abe davis, dpv, etc. I've seen people get their abe davis by doing intro dives with buddies with a few full cave dives here and there, or doing it all in one system, so I really don't put much into that sticker on the card. Since most sites in Walter's page don't have a gate keeper, you really do need to use your judgment. Some of us have scootered 5kft into a big cave, but you couldn't pay us to go 100ft into a no mount cave...that's just my own comfort level, and I don't hesitate to let anyone I dive with know it.

I would suggest that some of the sites on Walter's site are best reserved for talking to people familiar with the system about them, or perhaps going with someone who's dove them. Walter gives you HUGE hints, just put in a bit of work and find details.

.....

There's plenty of people willing to share information, it's just a matter of meeting mutual friends and asking for information. Lots of old timers will share more in person than online anyways, and the history of the sport you learn along the way is an added bonus!

I appreciate that this approach has worked well for many if not most people. I also appreciate that the nature of this knowledge is such that the community in general prefers it be passed on by "mentoring/apprenticeship" relationships. I guess it's just a couple of frustrations... First, as an IT Systems professional, my brain believes in having info collected, stored and shared in an organized, structured "data warehouse" sort of thing. It's what I do for a living. And it could be done so easily on Walter's site. Second, the above approach of "meeting mutual friends/mentoring relationships" etc. works best if you are located in or near cave country, where the "human data warehouse" exists, and where, unfortunately, I do not. At present, I can only get down there at most once a quarter. I would love to relocate there, but family ties as well as better business opportunities force me to stay in my present location.

OK, tell ya what..... I had not planned to disclose this, but your next shot at me will be the 2nd week after the 4th of July... I will be in Cave Country from 07/11 - 07/17.... 3 of those days (07/13 - 07/15) I will be "otherwise occupied," but I'd like to see if I can find someone willing to take an extended weekend and do some cavern practice up at P1 on Monday 07/12. Laying primary reels in particular (one of the significant things I can't simulate well up here). Maybe some Lost Line/Buddy drills. Sort of a "Dial in" day for me. There may also be an opportunity to dive again on Fri. 07/16 if interested. Please PM with contact details.

[mag3]

I have thought about the rating system but have no idea how to pull it off -- too many opinions (mine included). I guess that is why I am pretty liberal with what goes in the condition reports. Ginnie could go from Cavern/Intro to pretty hairy pretty quick. Honestly, I think it is a personal thing to think about.

With respect to videos, as I find them on YouTube I generally add them under the resources tab for each system. This stuff gets updated to the Twitter (www.twitter.com/CaveConditions) page (vs. having a change log).

I have really enjoyed seeing some of the international sites getting updated.

So, rating system and upload pictures and video...I wonder how much moderation that would entail.

So what do you guys see on the system page that isn't needed (weather, nearby caves, safety officers, etc)?

Walter - One other thing I thought of as I was looking through the site yesterday.... For the USA listings, you have the county in which the site is located, but not the "State" in which it's located. You might want to add "State" as a column (2 ltr. abbreviation should suffice) so we can get sites from other states listed. At present, there seem only to be Florida cave sites listed for USA that I can see, but since you're already adding sites from other countries.....

Just a thought...

Thanks Again.