Please help us to prevent an accident in the DR

[phillip1]

I think that might be good idea let me check into that.

[RN]

Can you make a sign and post it in a very obvious location next to the entrance that warns the tourists of the dangers of diving in that cave? It may not influence everyone to not dive it, but it might influence a few.

[JE]

I just watched this video & to be honest, it scared the you know what out of me. It startles me back to the time i pulled three open water divers from DFW, TX from inside past the cavern zone of Little River, Florida. Exactly the same scenario ! Bounceing up against the top of the ceiling some 700' plus past the CDS/NACD signs, BCs completely inflated, & freaked out. I deflated each of their bcs, yanked each one to the floor & pointed the way out. They lived ! I see no continous line from the entrance in this video, i see no technique what-so-ever regarding overhead skills. The lights appear to be open water store bought,{Walmart ??} & I see little if any dive planning at all. I am amazed that these idiots survived et all ! [the ones in the video}
Phillip, why don't you e-mail Steve Gerrard who spear-heads the NACD organization & see if he will iniative some movement on your behalf. I would hate to read of more fatalities involving the un-educated & the un-trained !

Thank you again for making this situation in the DR known.

Jack E.

[stairman]

Maybe get the email address of the shops in question and post them here. With over 800 veiws of this thread already, if everyone voices their concern as trained cave divers to these dives, if nothing else it will let them know how we feel. It may be futile but itll clog up their inboxes for awhile.

[phillip1]

I really think that reprimanding the shop inquestion will do little, they don't really care' however if they see a letter like the one we sent with the rules, limitations signed by the training agencies they might take it seriously.
Also the same letter would be sent to the ministry of tourism here and the Medio ambiante they to do not care right now but if they see all the agencies getting involved and all the cave divers and divers they might react and do something.
I had really hoped that the signs would make a difference and stop this.
As for posting a sign outside, again with a warning letter then maybe the authorities would let us do it, it would definitely help, hell we will even pay for it like we did the warning signs in the cave.

[Neptuno]

again, that video is just one, behind it another 10 cases+ happened for sure, luckily I found that one one time on the internet which ilustrates very well the problem and they answered who took them, but I know most of the stores will do if 4-5 divers ask them to do so, that is really an old story here, there are other caves where is much worst, and a lot more dangerous that this particular one, and there almost every weekend is packed with OWD

Letter to the ministry's is a good idea, but will be hard to get their attention, they have no clue who is nss, nacd, padi, etc...
but, having sent the letters and the warnings, the day when something happens they will for sure understand.

[phillip1]

I think the letter would have an impact I really do.

[CaveBuddy95]

Could be time to use DRSS and show local authorities what you do for the development of sound cave diving practice and that you are looking for their support in order to prevent accident.
Downside usually when a politic sees trouble in the park, he closes the park and problem solved, so watch out what you are asking for. It could back fire. I don't say I 'd like it to backfire but be wary.

[phillip1]

Really and truly if the current situation continues and the irresponsible LDS's keep going way back in the cave, and the one and only solution is to close the park, then close it, it is better than someone dying IMHO.
I really do not think that is what will happen at all, the authorities are looking to further develop the area to tourism.

This situation is nothing new, just that no one cares here, we have been trying to get people to listen to no avail, so the letter idea is at this point a really good idea and might work.

[CaveBuddy95]

Sure but you've been to Mexico already and some cenote guides, sometimes, due to boredom go off the permanent line, in restrictions and halocline, to make a dive more interesting, to them, less boring. I spoke about this to a safety officer here and there is not much they can do. If directly witnessed, yes, they can but when reported it is more difficult. Saying the LDS don't care is extreme too. I'd say they don't want to see, maybe blinded by financial interest.