No Diving at Promise and Cream?

[WEPIV]

Why hasn't Hornsby opened? Totally closed and will probably remain that way.

My uncle dove this spring and sink in the late 1960's with Dave Desautels and it used to be called one of Florida's best cave dives, (although it's looking pretty bad, at least from the surface, these days).
The Seventh Day Adventists own the property, as they have for years, and they used to allow diving. They simply said follow the rules or diving will be terminated. The rules apparently weren't followed and so it was closed to diving officially and has remained so.

[jj1987]

My uncle dove this spring and sink in the late 1960's with Dave Desautels and it used to be called one of Florida's best cave dives, (although it's looking pretty bad, at least from the surface, these days).
The Seventh Day Adventists own the property, as they have for years, and they used to allow diving. They simply said follow the rules or diving will be terminated. The rules apparently weren't followed and so it was closed to diving officially and has remained so.

I'd assume that after doing a body recovery for a sneak diver, this one is nearly impossible to open back up.

Given the fact that the viz is terrible nearly year round here these days, the depth, and the landowner history, I don't see a whole lot of effort being put into opening it. I've even talked to people who go to the church and it doesn't sound like there's any hope...but I hope I'm wrong.

[jcook]

Just a though, but why doesn't someone just kindly remove the camera..........

I was planning on coming down later in the month to go dive there, this sucks. I though access to the sink is gained through private property, so why is it closed?

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I couldn't find the camera yesterday - dunno where they put them, but it wasn't obvious to me :/ They may not be US forest cameras in the first place.



WCDC has access to the Forest property via private landowner, but the sinks are on US Forest park property and fall under the park rules. So the private land access(closer to the sinks) will only allow you to get to officially closed sinks.

[mfsmith1964]

How about building a catapult on the private property for legal and fast access?

[RN]

Removing a camera now adds the charge of theft in addition to criminal trespass.

While I'm sure you're joking, catapulting is still trespassing. It's not a navigable waterway so they have the authority to restrict activities there.

[CaveMD]

It's not a navigable waterway so they have the authority to restrict activities there.

it is by a sidemount submariner

[Tegg]

I agree Rob. Hard the explain that to a deputy while they are arresting you and impounding your gear.

Just wondering since that "impounding your gear" line is used a lot when mentioning trespassing for diving, can you cite an example that can be verified of when someone's gear was impounded while trespassing to dive a location?

The way that I have seen trespass handled was to simply give a written notice and ask the diver to leave the grounds and not return, this is why I ask...

[Kevin Carlisle]

That's a good question for Joe. I was cited for tresspassing hunting once. I won in court but at no time was any of my gear impounded. I know if you are poaching or hunting at night you lose everything used but not for trespassing. I was facing a fine and that was it.

[Kelly Jessop]

Just wondering since that "impounding your gear" line is used a lot when mentioning trespassing for diving, can you cite an example that can be verified of when someone's gear was impounded while trespassing to dive a location?

Can't give a specific example,even in the case of Jeff Bozanic with Metzger,nothing was lost,BUT I do know someone who got a DV3X at a Sheriff/County auction-how it ended up there I don't know. Lets say hypothetically your gear is impounded illegally,and your proven to be right,how long did it take,and how much did it cost? I remember being at Little River once and seeing a pissed off deputy who had been called out there 3 times that day due to the usual summertime stuff. He was so tired of it he arrested some kid and lead him away in handcuffs to set an example. Lets say the deputy is tired of being called due to a trespassing on someone's property that he decides you are the example.