Support the opening of Wakulla Springs

[NorthWoodsDiver]

As many of you know there is an effort underway to try and open Wakulla Springs to diving. We are also working toward opening all of the sinks/springs in Wakulla and Leon counties.

"Open" ideally means anyone can dive there to their certification level. Kinda like what you would experience when diving Jackson Blue or Peacock. Rather than a situation requiring guides, applications, permits, etc.

What we need is support, from the community. Understanding that a large number of potential customers to the caves may not live in this area, and take part in local meetings/events/petitions/etc, we are asking for letters.

If your sending only one letter there is some discrepancy as to who is best to send it to. The 2 official addresses are below:


Office of Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

(850) 488-7146

AND/OR

Herschel Vinyard
Mail Station 535
3900 Commonwealth Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Alternatively you can send the letters to me and I will get them to the people who need to read them in person. If your ambitious and have 3 stamps I would suggest you send them to all three addresses just to make sure your letter doesn't go unread. My address:

Travis Kersting
497 Emmett Whaley Rd.
Crawfordville, FL
32327

I have contacted the Park Manager and a date is still not set for this meeting however she said "middle of the month" so sometime in mid January. I should know more around Monday (12/19/11)

Someone will keep you posted

[NorthWoodsDiver]

Alex Page created the following draft. Your welcome to fill in your name and send it if you do not have the time to write something:

Dear Governor Scott,

As you may be aware, there is an effort by a large group of scuba diving enthusiasts to gain access to Wakulla Spring, located within the boundaries of Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park.

Wakulla Spring is a unique and underutilized resource. It is one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world. It is arguably the “Mt. Everest” of cave diving in the United States. Divers from all over the globe have expressed a deep interest in scuba diving at Wakulla Spring. While cave diving is allowed at many state and county parks in Florida, Wakulla Spring is totally off-limits to scuba divers, the one group that can truly appreciate its wonders.

Over the past year we have had several meetings with representatives of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida State Parks Department. While we feel that these meetings were generally productive, we now sense that our cause has lost the attention of the State.

At a time when Florida can barely keep its parks open, the deep pockets of the cave diving community are largely going unnoticed. Cave diving is big business for the State of Florida. The opening of Wakulla Spring to scuba diving would benefit local restaurants, hotels, gas stations, scuba retailers, scuba equipment manufacturers, and the park itself.

Equal Access is a very important cause to the cave diving community, and we are perfectly willing to accept reasonable compromises with the Parks Department, or any other stakeholders in this matter, but as of now, we feel as though we are being ignored.

Please take notice of our request and discuss the opening of Wakulla Spring to cave divers with your directors. We hope that your involvement will expedite a decision that we find appropriate.

Respectfully,

[Jax]

Didn't we do this last year? Got a cute little canned response back, myself.

[Benderr]

Didn't we do this last year? Got a cute little canned response back, myself.

And it also got us meetings with department heads, and a survey dive conducted by some of the principles, and employees of the Parks Dept/DEP.

Don't be afraid to tell Scott and Vinyard how many times you visit Florida, and how much money you spend on food/lodging/travel/gear/training, but be honest. If you spend $1,000 a year, don't claim $25k.

Above all, be polite and respectful. Your letter will represent the entire caving community, so keep that in mind. There may come a day where we have to go to the stick, but we've still got plenty of carrots to use for the moment, and even though the going is slow, things are moving in the right direction.

Thanks

[Benderr]

Travis, do you have a facebook account? If so, would you mind re-posting on the Wakulla Group here? https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/159958854052655/

Thanks!

[Greenwood_60]

Here is a form for emailing the Governor.
http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-sco...-the-governor/

This is all I found for getting to Mr. Vinyard.
DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

I really don't know how much it matters what we say, just that there is a lot of us saying it. I sent a letter to both.

edit: got this email from the receipt confirmation from Governor Scott: Rick.Scott@eog.myflorida.com

[Capt. Tyler]

What is the reasoning behind its closure anyways?

[Kelly Jessop]

I am all for writing letters to get access,but FWIW I think it is premature. Without a date scheduled for the public meeting and most public officials leaving for the holiday,I think it will be received,and be forgotten for the holiday.

[Kelly Jessop]

What is the reasoning behind its closure anyways?

Actually,it has never been opened for recreational diving,so now it is about persuading the community that recreational diving can be done there safely,and not have a negative impact on the current visitors.

[cavewoman]

And it also got us meetings with department heads, and a survey dive conducted by some of the principles, and employees of the Parks Dept/DEP.

Don't be afraid to tell Scott and Vinyard how many times you visit Florida, and how much money you spend on food/lodging/travel/gear/training, but be honest. If you spend $1,000 a year, don't claim $25k.

Above all, be polite and respectful. Your letter will represent the entire caving community, so keep that in mind. There may come a day where we have to go to the stick, but we've still got plenty of carrots to use for the moment, and even though the going is slow, things are moving in the right direction.

Thanks

Heck, not only did my husband and I spend a bit on trips to FL every year, we loved the cave diving here so much we moved here.

Please keep us up to date, I would love to be there if possible for the meeting.