Wakulla Springs

[RN]

Anybody with an Open Water card would be qualified to dive the immediate basin, and why not? It's State property, access should be allowed to the tax paying citizens. If you're really worried about it, put a novice line across the basin to keep them (OW) hearded-up back to a safe depth.

Yeah, because that works everywhere else....

[Kelly Jessop]

OK, sorry I guess I'm not making myself clear.
I think the biggest and main objection to recreational diving is the recreational people will "ruin" the cave. Some have claimed they would deface it by carving initials etc, others have said that they wouldn't mean to damage the cave, but by merely being recreational divers, their skill level wouldn't be nearly as good as the group that dives there now, other accusations of theft of artifacts have been made.
I'm talking about the cave, to actually dive the cave back a decent distance, is I think beyond the abilities of most.
You won't need to "filter" who is and who isn't allowed to dive here to keep the irresponsible out, the dive itself will do the filtering.

My personal belief is just because it's State land does not in itself mean that anything should be allowed, some things are just not compatible with current use, as a ridiculous example, you wouldn't put a race track beside of a Cemetery would you?

There has been accusations/comments that there is grafitti at the cavern/open water area of several caves,and obviously the state wants to understand this more before allowing the people into their crown jewel. People who have displayed pictures of this grafitti have so out of context of explaining the sites,because these weren't state parks, but sites without controlled access. Still this gives them concern,and rightfully so. We can claim as cave divers we don't cause this,and unfortunately there is that .01% that has caused some,leaving the 99.99% to have to address to consequences-but the good news is the cave diving community showed its intolerence of cave grafitti by charging someone ,and they had to make restitution under Florida law. Somebody who will be left nameless has claimed that cave divers bored during decompression cause the grafitti in the cavern area,but why don't we have grafitti at Indian,Alachua,Morgan,Diepolder to name a few,these places have long decompression obligations,but they also don't allow open water diving. You can make any inferences for yourself.

[jcook]

Statements like that are real professional. It makes me want to take you and your opinions very seriously...

AJ,

My blog is my own personal stuff, that doesn't pertain to the forums. If you have a problem with what I write, I am more that happy to meet up to discuss things. Saying stuff like you do is just pulling everyone away from a legitimate discussion about the opening of Wakulla.

[LiteHedded]

"respectfully"

[jcook]

LOL!

Yes because when you quote someone out of context, you turn their words in your favor. Make sure to start clarifying stuff when you post.

One final thought, which AJ Gonzalez (PfcAJ) so aptly pointed out and I am out of this discussion. Destruction of the cave environment, I completely agree with him. Just a question though, during all those huge push dives with divers carrying 2 scooters, RB80's with 15L or so tanks, and a bunch of AL80 stages, not to mention the dozens of setup divers that came before them. They didn't once damage the cave in any way? No one seems to question the destruction of the floor of the cave where tanks and scooters from the push dives that the WKPP didn't deem damaging to drag through 17,000 ft in, or whatever distance it eventually was.

I'm done.

RESPECTFULLY!

[PfcAJ]

What exactly was out of context? You thought I quoted someone who wasn't even present when I had the discussion with the anonymous person I DID quote (or paraphrase, I'll give you that). Heck, you weren't even present! You got your panties in a wad over nothing, and showed your colors. Btw, my last name is Gonzales. I don't want to be confused with someone else.

I've never claimed that the WKPP is perfect, we're far from it. I believe that WKPP will continue to do research in the Karst Plain regardless of what happens in regards to recreational access at Wakulla, just as all the other permit holders across the state will continue with theirs. Its a completely separate thing. I don't think that rec access will impact it at all, and like I said before, a reasonable access plan can (and hopefully IS) be developed. I think you might be confusing the two issues here.

My only point in participating in this thread was (and is) to clarify misconceptions about what the WKPP is and what we do. Its not some voodoo special dive club and its not an invite only fraternity. We're just divers. I don't mind answering the questions that I can answer, but I don't appreciate baiting and having to defend against persistant mis(dis?)information. Its silly and no one gets anywhere. You don't hear anything from anyone else (and I sort of regret even getting involved in this) because of the constant baiting and senseless arguments that aren't based on anything that actually happens. I've done my best to provide the facts, but I can't continue with arguments like this, no one wins and everyone gets dirty.

[kensuf]

My personal belief is just because it's State land does not in itself mean that anything should be allowed, some things are just not compatible with current use, as a ridiculous example, you wouldn't put a race track beside of a Cemetery would you?

Our governor probably would if he thinks there's a business case to be made for it.

[RN]

I've moved the off topic discussions out of this thread to the one linked below:

Off topic discussion from WS thread

Let's keep this thread on topic about Wakulla, please.

[DogHouseDiver]

I've moved the off topic discussion...

Let's keep this thread on topic about Wakulla, please.

+1 Those discussions have a place, just not in the wakulla thread.

[Skorpiov]

+1 Those discussions have a place, just not in the wakulla thread.

Yeah, its called Romper Room.