Underwater Speleology (UWS)

[harmstrong]

If you are not a member, what would convince you to join?

The organization needs to make up it's mind whether it is going to be a conservation group or a training agency. I don't have a problem with the organization going in either direction, and there is some room for compromise between the two, but in the last 10 years it has appeared that the CDS is simply a money-making venture for the instructors, particularly for some of the past training directors.

When the CDS starts supporting Cave Divers (a la some of the climbing organizations) as opposed to the cave diving instructors I will consider rejoining. As long as the status quo remains, not a snowball's chance.

[Sludge]

When the CDS starts supporting Cave Divers (a la some of the climbing organizations) as opposed to the cave diving instructors I will consider rejoining. As long as the status quo remains, not a snowball's chance.

Those were my feelings exactly when my membership expired several years ago. But this past spring things started looking up (thanks in no small part to a few members shaking the tree), so I am a card-carrying member again!

[CaveBuddy95]

As a "trained by NSSCDS instructor" (got IANTD card better to work) I feel concerned, a bit, by the future of this pioneering agency. It is important to keep records of how things evolved and how we got where we are! (i.e: Accident Analysis ordered in 1977 by NSSCDS)
The thing is too many politics are ruining the initial motive of such an organisation.
For example, here in Mexico, the feeling I have is apart the fact that we are all doing the same thing, cave diving, something is missing. There is no warm familly like feeling, no unification behind a representative body, no workshop or social stuff. Not that I want people to hold my hand and stuff (weirdo!) but it's nice to share the passion and meet people... We say hello at the car park but that's it...
So I'm not surprised if you in Florida have a declining number of members.

[MORGAN]

If you are a member, why did you join (renew) the CDS?

I'm a member of the NSS/CDS, the NACD, and the NFSA. I've been a member of the first two since I started cave diving in 2005, and of the NFSA since shortly after it became the NFSA. (I wasn't a member of its predecessor, the Peacock Springs CSO.) I was a member of the NSS for quite a few years before I started cave diving.

I belong to these organizations because I support their missions: conservation, training, and public education. I don't think that my membership means that I necessarily approve of everything they do, or of the way every dollar is spent. But I think that overall they do a good job, and my dues are being put to good use. As a cave diver, I feel it's worth the money I spend to support organizations that conserve caves, educate the public about caves and conservation, and teach people to dive in them safely.

As far as the NSS/CDS specifically, I think that conservation should come first, and that the organization should be run for the benefit of the caves, the members, and the instructors, in that order. And I like the printed UWS! It is great, and has gotten better and better over the past five years.

Mike

[gsulliva]

..or the CDS loses money if people ditch because they no longer have a printed UWS copy?

Actually they would save money since UWS loses money.

The comment that people are members because of UWS is silly. If anything people join because of access to COW. More caves under CDS control means more memberships.

[Walter Pickel]

Actually they would save money since UWS loses money.

How exactly does UWS "lose" money?

[Walter Pickel]

If anything people join because of access to COW. More caves under CDS control means more memberships.

Since membership is down...I think your theory really is in question...How many dives have been made in the following recently? Cow? Alachua? School Sink? Falmouth?

Let's compare that to how many have been made at Peacock, Ginnie, etc. Many people will gladly pay to dive Peacock and Ginnie. However, I don't see the same beating down the doors to join the CDS.

The questions were:

If you are a member, why did you join (renew) the CDS?

If you are not a member, what would convince you to join?

Do you have an answer? I believe your name is Gareth, please correct me if I am wrong. I searched the NSS membership for a Gareth and there are two. However, none are in Florida. There was a Bob "Red" Sullivan, with a affiliation with the CDS but again, no Gareth. So why WOULD you join the CDS? Just to dive Cow?

[TONY CHANEY]

So why WOULD you join the CDS? Just to dive Cow?

Why not? I did as well as several others. I do think I should add that I like the money being used for conservation and upgrades to dive sites. I also loved the printed UWS. There were so many times that we were just sitting around the cabin or trailer checking out the old copies and talking about them. But I would pay just to dive COW and a few other caves.

[Walter Pickel]

Why not? I did as well as several others. I do think I should add that I like the money being used for conservation and upgrades to dive sites. I also loved the printed UWS. There were so many times that we were just sitting around the cabin or trailer checking out the old copies and talking about them. But I would pay just to dive COW and a few other caves.

Those seem to be the top reasons...diving Cow and reading UWS.

I hope everyone is reading my tone correctly. I AM a CDS member and want others to join. I just think the BOD needs to hear from customers (the CDS Is a business after all) what the customer wants or needs in order to buy.

[Rubis]

I joined the NSS-CDS to dive Cow. I continued to join to support the organization for the other properties.
The truth is there is too much negativity around the NSS-CDS and too much controversy.
I think the NACD is currently more successful because there is no negativity around it and NACD events are fun.
Maybe if there was less gloom, attacks and cohesion and more fun, people would be happy to join