Wakulla Springs

[Sludge]

OW classes in the Wakulla basin?

Yes, that's exactly what we're lobbying for.

[a64pilot]

At what depth does the cave begin? Just think maybe that might keep a few out of the single 80 air breathing types out?

[OFG-1]

At what depth does the cave begin? Just think maybe that might keep a few out of the single 80 air breathing types out?

The restriction is at about 180-185.

[jj1987]

At what depth does the cave begin? Just think maybe that might keep a few out of the single 80 air breathing types out?

The restriction is at about 180-185.

The overhead starts at about 25-30ft.

Yes, that's exactly what we're lobbying for.

AJ brought it up because it was suggested that OW training could be conducted in the basin, I believe at the town meeting. Some of the individuals who lobby hardest for opening the site, feeding the state BS such as stating they could install cameras to monitor the artifacts in the cave, already teach classes at Cream Sink, Harveys Sink, etc, which are pristine sites but unmonitored.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

There is not a strong push for OW diving at Wakulla. There is a strong push for responsible access for those qualified to dive Wakulla.

I hope nobody is getting the wrong ideal.

[jj1987]

There is not a strong push for OW diving at Wakulla. There is a strong push for responsible access for those qualified to dive Wakulla.

I hope nobody is getting the wrong ideal.

Would you mind sharing what the desired access policy would be? I keep getting bombarded with requests to send the state a letter, but no one will tell me what that letter might be supporting.

[jmaddox]

Maybe we could just mark through Emerald and write in Wakulla on the current permit form? Easy is good, no?

[OFG-1]

I heard the idea of running it as a concession. Was tossed around. Open water diving to 130'...which is well in the overhead

You are misinformed, that was not discussed as you stated it. 130 feet is barely a cavern. There are minutes out there, the minutes are filled with errors. They attribute things said to the wrong people, they misstate technical discussions simply because the person taking the minutes is not a diver.

A lot of state parks now operate on a concession basis. I am not sure why you find this objectionable.

There are those that would like to see all access restrictions lifted. The majority of divers at the meeting were in agreement on restriction access to very well qualified persons.

I was very disappointed that the state has restricted this discussion to only the main spring at Wakulla. Sally Ward, as well as Double Springs, Ibis, and Hawks Cry were off the table. I find this objectionable, and have made my opinion known. There were discussions about easing restrictions at Emerald to allow non tri mix divers access, but there were objections.

There are people that wish to restrict rebreathers and scooters. There was some discussion about that. There were discussions about penetration limits, but I believe that that will be self regulated due to deco time. The park has a policy, shared among other parks, that divers should be out of the water by 5pm. That will restrict dive times due to decompression.

The state wants to perform a "baseline" study of the artifacts prior to opening the springs. I believe that this will happen, I have no idea when. There was discussion about running lines in the cave around the location of any sensitive areas, but the "divers can't be trusted" discussion came up once again.

There was discussion about the number of people that would come and dive wakulla, and about fees. $50 was bounced around, $100 was bounced around. There was not a consensus about numbers of people, my personal opinion, maybe 300 or so at the max. Why, by the time you buy gas and pay a fee for diving, you can go to JB 10 times.

There have been numerous additional letters written after the meeting, and I am sure they will be many more.

Aj, the artifacts have been known in the cave since the 1960's. Since then, there have been a few hundred different divers in there. There has been at least 3 different habitats used, there has been a diving bell with a 2000 pound drop weight on it used, barges, cranes, chambers, experimental scooters, rebreathers, video gear, wall mappers, untold tons of stages and scooters dragged through the bone room, hot water gear, 4 or 5 movies filmed in the headspring, and everything but the kitchen sink. Ed Ball wasn't worried enough about the artifacts to study them, the State has turned down offers from the same group that studied the basin area and has not been worried enough about it to do anything. NOW it is a problem. This is BS, just another way of obstructing access to the cave.

That is what I know about the current situation.

[OFG-1]

The overhead starts at about 25-30ft..

James, PM me and I will explain the difference between a cavern and a cave.

[LiteHedded]

thanks john