Untrained cave diving in the DR 2

[phillip1]

Since the previous thread has been closed I opened another one to answer to Curt in a nice way Forrest I promise.

I spoke with Uwe twice in person in the past year and a half when we first sent out our letters (I actually delivered them in person) he did not seem to care in any way and basically told me to F off.
I am sure he knows about this untrained cave diving since all the shops in the area used to take divers on the El Chicho dive on a regular basis (maybe some still are and for sure Gri Gri still is) I seriously doubt that instructors are secretly taking clients on such dives and no one at Gri Gri knows about it..lol
the only difference in this case is that a client of Gri Gri actually posted a video.
it is true I did not contact Uwe on this perticular incident I did not see any need since Uwe had already received two letters from us, a letter form the NACD a letter from the NSS/CDS and a letter from PADI, why would he listen to me? I thought maybe if Curt were to send a message it would help but evidently it did not and since those two are really good buddies why did I even think to ask anyway..lol
let's see if PADI takes action, this by the way goes for any dive shop or instructor we witness in such untrained cave diving, from now on we will report to PADI and to the Hotel Association too as it appears they want to help prevent an accident too which is good news for safety.

Wuf wuf wuf

[Curt Bowen]

Sounds like your mission is working, keep up the good work.
Now it's time to go cave diving.......

Since the previous thread has been closed I opened another one to answer to Curt in a nice way Forrest I promise.

I spoke with Uwe twice in person in the past year and a half when we first sent out our letters (I actually delivered them in person) he did not seem to care in any way and basically told me to F off.
I am sure he knows about this untrained cave diving since all the shops in the area used to take divers on the El Chicho dive on a regular basis (maybe some still are and for sure Gri Gri still is) I seriously doubt that instructors are secretly taking clients on such dives and no one at Gri Gri knows about it..lol
the only difference in this case is that a client of Gri Gri actually posted a video.
it is true I did not contact Uwe on this perticular incident I did not see any need since Uwe had already received two letters from us, a letter form the NACD a letter from the NSS/CDS and a letter from PADI, why would he listen to me? I thought maybe if Curt were to send a message it would help but evidently it did not and since those two are really good buddies why did I even think to ask anyway..lol
let's see if PADI takes action, this by the way goes for any dive shop or instructor we witness in such untrained cave diving, from now on we will report to PADI and to the Hotel Association too as it appears they want to help prevent an accident too which is good news for safety.

Wuf wuf wuf

[phillip1]

wow that was polite, I must commend you on trying to keep the original thread open and call me a female dog instead of a ..., since Forrest had warned us he would shut the thread down if we were not polite.
That was actually very well though of and you also even got the last word too, you would make a great politician.

All this joking aside I sincerely appreciate the fact that you sent a message to Uwe and if his claim to know nothing about these El Chicho dives answer really was the answer and what you posted I think this whole message board and youtube video is having an impact as well as your sending him a message.

My whole idea behind posting the video and exposing LDS in this particular case Gri Gri, but tomorrow it could be any other and I will be just as diligent and persistent with them too, is that the more people who know about this type of activity the more the dive shops in question get negative feedback from doing such dives, eventually will get a bad reputation for such unsafe practices and may decide to stop.

[Curt Bowen]

Believe it or not, I commend and understand your concerns and dilemma.

The area is loaded with ten or more, all-inclusive 2000 rooms each resorts. I would guess there are probably over one million visitors annually there. Most of these are younger Europeans with lots of energy to burn.

While the hotel owners are packing in the cash, they are also keeping the local workers wage well below poverty. This is obviously designed to keep down the costs of labor and increase the line of profit.

With these tourists and everyone bucking for their dollars, it's not going to be easy. But at the minimum, you’re trying, so I guess that is all that counts.

I would be careful in your endeavor, you are not a local in Bayahibe. Stepping on toes and costing locals potential earnings many times creates a non-desirable reaction.

I have traveled through a multitude of central and South American countries for decades; I know how local politics work.

Again, good luck with your quest…..

wow that was polite, I must commend you on trying to keep the original thread open and call me a female dog instead of a ..., since Forrest had warned us he would shut the thread down if we were not polite.
That was actually very well though of and you also even got the last word too, you would make a great politician.

All this joking aside I sincerely appreciate the fact that you sent a message to Uwe and if his claim to know nothing about these El Chicho dives answer really was the answer and what you posted I think this whole message board and youtube video is having an impact as well as your sending him a message.

My whole idea behind posting the video and exposing LDS in this particular case Gri Gri, but tomorrow it could be any other and I will be just as diligent and persistent with them too, is that the more people who know about this type of activity the more the dive shops in question get negative feedback from doing such dives, eventually will get a bad reputation for such unsafe practices and may decide to stop.

[phillip1]

The reality of the situation is that 95% of the business of all LDS in Bayahibe is not cave "excursion" but OW diving so it would really not be a big loss at all, either way it needs to stop just like it needed to stop in Mexico and that took a few fatalities which is what we are trying to avoid in the DR.
As far as "undesirable reactions" I am aware of that and I know that most LDS on the island hate me but I will be ok, I am very used to it and will not back down until we get a safer situation here.