Solo Diving in FL State Parks

[w ripley]

I've been wondering why solo diving isn't allowed at state sites like Peacock?

I know a lot of you are solo cave divers (many also being cave instructors), and thought I'd ask if anyone is trying to get the state to review its rules on this subject?

I see agencies now issuing solo-diving cards (non-cave so far as I know), so the cert agencies are moving in that direction. I have a CCR Self Sufficient Diver card from IANTD, for example. (I know, but the local quarry was getting pissy.)

I'm guessing that at the time the rules were made solo diving was taboo. I'm thinking now - with enough divers signing a petition, or something + with the evidence that agencies are recognizing solo diving - that the state might just listen.

So, anyone beating the bushes on this one?

BTW, why isn't there a Solo Forum on the CDF?

[Puttzer]

Is the death rate higher for solo divers?

[Sludge]

Is the death rate higher for solo divers?

No. Virtually every solo cave death I've read about was during exploration.

Bill, I have an SDI solo card; I got it because the Nekton Pilot said I needed one to solo from their boat.

[wingman]

I understand the solo prohibition at peacock was a direct result of a solo cave diver death there. Bill

[floridakid]

What were the circumstances of this death and how many/which of the 5 rules were violated?

[wingman]

What were the circumstances of this death and how many/which of the 5 rules were violated?

I don't know the details as it was before i became involved. I understand he got lsot and ran out of gas.

[FW]

I don't know the details as it was before i became involved. I understand he got lsot and ran out of gas.

If you mean the early accident in P3, that was before line arrows, and before gaps to side tunnels were common. He got confused by all the unmarked Ts in the cave at that time.

[JahJahwarrior]

Funny, they didn't ban teams of two even after several fatalities involving a team of two...

Yet, we see Australia making additional and burdensome rules after a single fatality there. At the risk of yet another yet, we appear to have seen a fatality just months after these additional rules-- perhaps rules don't stop some fatalities...

However, it IS a fact of life that deaths affect the rules and access. Sometimes for good reason-- accident analysis guidelines are a good way "rules" were changed based on deaths.


As much as I do support careful, reasoned solo diving, among other things in life, I also must say I strongly support the careful, political diplomacy of groups like the NFSA. The rules aren't always what I think make perfect sense, but I know those groups are working hard, with a strong understanding of the past, and with the intentions to ensure access for the long term (even if not for solo diving. I'd rather dive with a buddy than not get to dive at all). In short, I don't see reason to complain about it, or make a stink about it. I'd much rather they work on getting us access for longer hours or help provide ways to keep the park clean like trashcans for sorb.

[speleocrone]

Funny, they didn't ban teams of two even after several fatalities involving a team of two...

Yet, we see Australia making additional and burdensome rules after a single fatality there. At the risk of yet another yet, we appear to have seen a fatality just months after these additional rules-- perhaps rules don't stop some fatalities...

However, it IS a fact of life that deaths affect the rules and access. Sometimes for good reason-- accident analysis guidelines are a good way "rules" were changed based on deaths.


b.

Yes, we are running scared after 3 deaths in 18 months (after 30 years with none, post formation of CDAA). There are many reasons why, few rational. Mainly because we have had no deaths in 30 years I think. Everyone started thinking it was a risk free activity and lots of the new cave divers see it as a simple, safe fun activity with no risks. Go figger.. One bloke posted on the CDAA forum after this last death that he didn't realise you could die cave diving!

The CDAA started changing the rules before any accident analysis (or the coroners court) was done. That does not strike me as a rational way to deal with a problem.

Our CDAA forum has been full of debate about solo diving since the first death in a sinkhole in March 2010. All 3 have been (erroneously, IMO) labelled solo diving. The first, his buddy had left him and exited the water (unclear why) the second was Agnes Milowka (yes, solo, extreme exploration), the third separated from buddy again. We seem to be having different definitions of "solo". The anti people see every event where the buddies aren't glued together as "solo". This then gets labelled as a "solo" diving accident or death.

We are also having little discussion on the formal forum about broken rules. EVERYTHING is hysteria about "solo" AND (wait for it...) SIDE MOUNT. Because, yes, all dead divers were in side mount rig. So they were talking about banning that too until a recent change at the elections.

We have a lot of GUE (Following DIR) divers in the organisation now. The last directorate were almost all GUE. You can decide if you think that has affected the policies and views in CDAA in recent years.

So, we have a couple of private forums where the pro solo, pro side mount, pro personal choice and responsibility mob gather for some peaceful, polite discussion.

No CDAA controlled sites allow solo (that's the "in the water alone" definition) diving. Luckily they don't control the whole country.

[huxley]

Keep in mind that alot of the state parks allow OW divers to dive their parks as well. So I think this is a general rule and might be hard to argue and change. Where do you start and where do you end? Yes certain dives are under a higher risk if done in a team, thinking of exploration dives or mixed gas dives. But if you allow solo diving rules you will end up with people that break the rule, lets say the solo rule would require you to carry a bail out tank, you will end up with people sneaking through, so I think accident will increase when implementing such a solo rule. I don't think that people should not solo dive at all, but not everyone should do, depending on comfort level, medical conditions, equipment and so on. As mentioned, hard to say who should and who shouldn't without allowing everyone to do it in general.
Places like little river appear to work with this general rule, so maybe this would be a good point to argue.