Best way to get OW divers out of the cave?

[MORGAN]

I guess I'm just old and tired, but I gave up on trying to protect people from themselves. They're going to do what they're going to do.

Maybe I'm old and tired too, but 30+ years as a firefighter/paramedic/ER, ICU, & flight nurse has convinced me that you're exactly right.

[TracyN]

By any chance was it a girl and a guy, and he had a pistol grip light and a gopro black? Or was that another couple that I shooed out today as well?

It might have been the same people. It was an older guy and a girl. Their tanks had some funny symbols on them

[Red Hat Jef]

Neat. Yeah, those were the same folks. I flashed my light at them when they started going under me while I was doing deco in the alcove at 20 feet in the eye. I gestured that they should leave. They did, after a few more minutes.

Best part was later on when he dropped by the water. I recognized his wetsuit and beard. I asked if he had seen me flashing my light at him, and he acknowledged he had. I mentioned that I didn't see his 7 foot hose or safety reel. He acted confused, and then said "it's not like we're going to do a real cavern dive or anything." My buddy popped in and said, quite correctly, "some folks would argue you already were on a cavern dive." He got snitty with us and took off.

[TracyN]

Neat. Yeah, those were the same folks. I flashed my light at them when they started going under me while I was doing deco in the alcove at 20 feet in the eye. I gestured that they should leave. They did, after a few more minutes.

Best part was later on when he dropped by the water. I recognized his wetsuit and beard. I asked if he had seen me flashing my light at him, and he acknowledged he had. I mentioned that I didn't see his 7 foot hose or safety reel. He acted confused, and then said "it's not like we're going to do a real cavern dive or anything." My buddy popped in and said, quite correctly, "some folks would argue you already were on a cavern dive." He got snitty with us and took off.

Yah the guy gave me the evil eye when he saw that I was following them into the cavern. I was preparing to be a thorn in their side for as long as their dive lasted. I still had plenty of air.

[shellmoundal]

On my last page of wetnotes is printed in large print "next of kin and number".
I show offending OW divers this and try to hand them a pencil.

Thanks. I just did the same on my last page of my wetnotes. Seems that would be the best way to get their attention. The fact is ;"You can't fix stupid."

[w ripley]

How about putting up a "Beware of Poisonous Snakes" sign? Can't speak for others, but snakes - or just the thought that they could be there - sure get me out of the water fast, lol.

[curtschu]

If you really wanted to do something. if you have the gas. Follow them in and swim next to them with your Cave light shined in their eyes. I suspect this will make them choose another course. Just be prepared for the confrontation on the surface.

[JCGoodwin]

I was at OG a few years back and had two divers want me to take them in on a "cave dive".
Of coarse I only had to look at their gear to know that they were not certified cave divers.
They spoke perfect english but looked foreign in nature.
As I spoke with them I explained the rules of OW divers staying oust side the cave and that they were not to carry lights.
Respectfully I declined to take them on a dive.

At this point with my wife and daughter already diving in the pool I entered the water to do a nice cavern dive while they were enjoying the pool.
The two divers were watching and followed me into the water as I began my decent I saw them point to me and as i ducked into the cavern they started to follow.
I quickly shut my light off and hid in the upper right cover of the cavern to see what they did.
They shot straight into the cavern right into the tube to the sign and off on the mainline with their little hand held single lights.

As I pondered what next to do, I came to the conclusion that if one of them had a issue both would perish and if I was trying to lend assistance 2 against 1 they possibly could drown me as well.
I went back out to the cavern to wait and in about 15 min. out they came.
Looking all around but never up in the corner.
When I was certain they were out I went on a spectacular cavern dive at Orange.

When I came out my wife asked me what I did to those two young divers?
I explained to her and she said they were cursing and speaking another language angry at me.
I thought hey thats ok at least they got out.

I shared the story with shops and the rangers but you can't save stupid people determined to do stupid things.
Just hope and pray they survive to learn and not repeat offenders.
Sooner or later natural selection will remove them.

JCG

[OFG-1]

All I'm seeing is a box with an X in it. What's the photo of...a speargun?

It was, but since spearguns are illegal in fresh water, perhaps this:

[w ripley]

This probably won't be a popular reply, but since no one has figured out how to keep them out, or to turn them - and figure how many are going in when no cave divers are there - why not focus on helping them get out safely? If we're truly concerned about having a cave closed and/or preventing deaths, maybe it's our job to develop a strategy for getting them out rather than scorning them in threads like this? As silly as this may sound to some of you, what about taking a hard look at the 1st 100 or 200 feet in and figuring out what an OW diver could use to exit safely?