Cave Diving Agencies

[JerseyJersey]

It cant be a scam.... I read it on the internet, so it must be true.

I dont have much money, so I am sending them all my rocks so they can study them and use them to the best of their ability.

[MichaelAngelo]

The NFSA(North Florida Springs Aliance) is certainly the most active organization you could join. They are truly committed to continually improve park fascilities and spreading the word of conservation beyond the limits of cave divers within the parks they actively contribute. I believe it services Peacock, Madison, Lafayette, and Troy Spring State Parks. They also do many workshops a year, introducing advanced cave diving skills and dry caving techniques


The NACD actively supports exploration and holds a few conservation type events every year. They have a publication and a large workshop every year. They hold a few cheap events every year for skills building, dry caving, and other things. They donate goldline and signs to popular caves.

The NSS CDS basically does what the NACD does, with a large workshop every year, a miniworkshop in the mid-west, and another miniworkshop at Hart Springs(sometimes). They also have a quarterly publication. They have a few less events every year compared to the NACD, but do own/manage a few of their own sites. They also donate goldline and signs for popular caves.

The NACD and NSS CDSs actions are so far inline with each other, I'm not sure why they are even seperate entities. Their goals and missions are basically the same and both would come out much stronger by joining, rather than keeping seperate. Leadership on the NACD seems to have been much more motivated in the past few years and the CDS has control over a few sites.

very nicely said Mat

[jlillest]

The NSS CDS basically does what the NACD does, with a large workshop every year, a miniworkshop in the mid-west, and another miniworkshop at Hart Springs(sometimes). They also have a quarterly publication. They have a few less events every year compared to the NACD, but do own/manage a few of their own sites. They also donate goldline and signs for popular caves.

It's also worth noting that the CDS also supports exploration in the form of Sara Corrie Grants. This is done through the parent organization (NSS) and targeted towards caving projects dry and wet. The Sara Corrie fund rarely gets more grants then it has funds to give every year.

It's also worth noting that there are two cave divers on the SC Committee, so if you have a worthwhile project in FL (or other dive site) you won't be neglected because they don't understand what you're trying to do.

-Jon

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Thats good to know, the CDS should inform its members of the existance and availability of the Sara Corrie Grants; this is the first I've heard of it.

[jlillest]

It's published in the members manual, on the NSS website and I've seen it advertised in other periodicals and email lists as well. Perhaps you should spend time in places other than the CDF?

Sara Corrie is for Domestic Exploration, there is also an International Exploration fund, the Speleo Foundation helps with various projects (outreach, cave purchase, etc.) and there are many other opportunities through NSS Grottos and Sections. I believe the CDS may not provide these opportunities because there is so much available through it's parent organization. Though I know the CDS has done a good amount of work to secure access to caves and do good things in FL.

PS, you guys missed a good convention and we had a great CDS session. Back to the party!

-Jon

[SuPrBuGmAn]

As part of the NSS, the CDS should notify its members of these grants. Its pretty obvious that alot of CDS members do not actively participate or monitor NSS happenings. Shouldn't that be part of why you join a grotto?

I find more about whats happening within the CDS and whats available to CDS members through the CDF, so spending time here seems prudent :P

[rchrds]

Yea, like he said, you have to read the members manual. Truthfully, I had forgotten about it, but will be applying again this year, to try to alleviate helium costs. Maybe we don't advertise it, so we don't have to compete with your projects for money! Ha.

[JerseyJersey]

.... Its pretty obvious that alot of CDS members do not actively participate or monitor NSS Shouldn't that be part of why you join a grotto? .....

No. You join a grotto for what it does...... It is not a service that holds your hand and spoon feeds you what you cant be bothered to do on your own.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

No. You join a grotto for what it does...... It is not a service that holds your hand and spoon feeds you what you cant be bothered to do on your own.

Right... cause its my fault I didn't know the information was available for a grant I didn't know existed.

Why get cave diving training? Having instructors spoonfeed you information. We're all such lazy, bothersom students.

NACD makes it clear, http://www.safecavediving.com/research-new.shtml

You don't know what you don't know, right?




I agree with your first comment though, I discontinued my membership due to what the grotto DIDN'T do. We can get into what I think the CDS is doing wrong again if you'd like - I purposely tried to avoid this so far. However, if I'm going to be wrongly called out for having to be spoonfed information that I didn't know existed, I'll refrain from pulling punches.

Thats apparently what you want right?

[JerseyJersey]

Iwould think this is information the NSS should put out to its membership and if they arent.... Why is the CDS at fault?

Just like regular visits to the CDS website is warranted, so are visits to the NSS website.

The NSS membership book is sent each year with info. But apparently not always read

Only so much can be done and the business of the CDS is a available, could more be done?

Probably, if more volunteers were involved.