Its been my religion. Our Lady of the Deep Wet HoleOriginally Posted by T. Bix
Welcome to the Cave Diver's Forum.
Its been my religion. Our Lady of the Deep Wet Hole
Www.artflowslikewater.com
Brendan's Law - "Know what you're breathing. Analyze your gas for O2 and Co. Analyze your gas each time, everytime, anywhere."
Thanks, ive already dropped off some gear,ill ask Wayne next week for more info, in the meantime if anybody does have any valid info dont hesitate to share
Check with Taucher Tom, as he's been there cave diving before and will be going back.
I mentioned this before, but when we went there in the 90's, we flew in and out of Toronto and had no problems. I did tell our US government we were going as journalists and I told the Cubans we were there as tourists. (We were vacationing journalists.)
Back then, there were panhandlers all over the place though and one time we had to go into a government office to get away from them.
Also, I insisted on having my passport stamped as I wanted proof I had been there and when we drove back into the US at Niagara Falls the border guard didn't even see the stamp.
It's a beautiful country and I look forward to going back sometime.
ERRRR how would you reconcile the discrepancy between your passport as presented and the one listed on the Gen. Dec.? Maybe you can do it but if you don't you are tagged for life every time every entry ...... a death sentence in my line of work (and I assume yours). I am trying to find a way to visit legally or at least legal enough to keep my name off of a watch list. My local customs agent once told me he could ruin me over a single Cuban cigar, one single cigar is enough to get you tagged as a smuggler every single time after that your name appears on a General Declaration as either crew or passenger you will be pulled aside and made at least uncomfortable and at most ...... well my company won't tolerate dogs and such every time I'm on board...... Heaven forbid I should have to find a job where I have to punch a time clock and werk for a living.....
Ive often thought how cool Cuba would be and was wondering if any non Americans have dove any caves there. I know offshore is awesome but havent heard about the latter, but theres bound to be many unexplored systems.
Well maybe I am, I once took an aircraft to Guatemala, was told by ground to take it to the aero club. After I got out and went into the building there were two customs types there, one told me for $20 they could expedite customs for me, I knew it wasn't legit, but I was tired so I gave them the bribe. Never thought about not having a stamp in my Passport until I was trying to leave the next dayERRRR how would you reconcile the discrepancy between your passport as presented and the one listed on the Gen. Dec.? Maybe you can do it but if you don't you are tagged for life every time every entry ...... a death sentence in my line of work (and I assume yours). I am trying to find a way to visit legally or at least legal enough to keep my name off of a watch list. My local customs agent once told me he could ruin me over a single Cuban cigar, one single cigar is enough to get you tagged as a smuggler every single time after that your name appears on a General Declaration as either crew or passenger you will be pulled aside and made at least uncomfortable and at most ...... well my company won't tolerate dogs and such every time I'm on board...... Heaven forbid I should have to find a job where I have to punch a time clock and werk for a living.....
As far as Gen Dec's, I have a friend that never clears on the way out with aircraft, he has some kind of coin that he places under the paper and rubs it with carbon paper or something, looks just like a Customs stamp, been doing it for 20 years, I think Gen Dec's are actually a State Dept. form? CBP folks used to be irritated about having to deal with them.
I don't ferry aircraft anymore, I had an engine go "pop" on me and quit coming back from Oshkosh a couple of years ago, just after I had crossed over that big lake east of Chicago and decided I didn't need that happening to me in the Pacific off the coast of Columbia or Ecuador. Cave diving is safer.
I figure worst case you could just lose your Passport, I never have, I'm sure it would be a hassle, but after the Ruckus, they would have to let you back in, you are a US citizen, right?
It was something like 10 years ago my next door neighbor in Manhattan went and had to endure the entire mess, he's an engineer so with his prof license in jeopardy it was very serious, Pan Aqua does a great job of burying complaints on the net but I'll get more info when I see him.
I know it's not Cuba proper, and not really considered a big deal, but I did spend a year in GTMO. I found a couple of pretty cool small <300' penetration caves that I dove off the coast. Fun stuff. I was not allowed near the caves inland on base. Although at one time they did talk to me about brining a team down to explore the caves, wet and dry, on base and off the coast. That project failed to catch hold. Maybe one day it will work out. They still have my contact info.
It's not the years in your life that matter, but the life in your years.
Hey Ken,
I just talked to my neighbor about the "Cuba incident" the trip took place in 2001 and was without question arranged thru PAN AQUA, my neoghbor just came back from a Michael Feld trip to Raj Um Pot? or something like that where his PAN AQUA serviced Atomic regulator failed. He states that since everyone really got off with a slap on the wrist in spite of the fines but were discouraged from creating a public issue, PAN AQUA did pay the fines on behalf of the customers in exchange for silence.
It was a real mess.
He wrote a GREAT book on the caves of Cuba as well.
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