Any cave divers in or near Arizona?

[FW]

Thanks Jon.

I have been asked for detail, without giving away the location.

Several "dry" cavers went into a cave that has a sump (flooded section) for a long period almost every year. The southwest has had a drought for months, causing many wildifires to be hard to put out. That drought dried out the sump so the cavers could get in with no scuba gear. They were planning a several day trip, since access is usually difficult.

As you probably saw on the news, the southwest got a lot of rain earlier this week, causing mud slides in California. There was concern that the cave would flood because of heavy rain in the area. The NCRC (National Cave Rescue Commission) was alerted, so plans could be made, in case a rescue was needed. I am the NCRC diving officer, and I maintain a list of sumpdivers that could respond to this kind of rescue. As I was looking over my list, I realized that the closest people on the list were in Texas, over a day away. I was hoping to find someone a lot closer.

The main reason I am still asking, is the western US is huge, and there a lot of caves that could flood. Since I have no divers west of the Mississippi (except TX) I would like to know about anyone west of the Mississippi that is qualified to do this kind of rescue.

FWIW, I did find three in Utah

[Jax]

-Jon

PS Rereading my post, I'll add that my hope is that this doesn't come across as snarky. If it does, I apologize. I'm hoping my message echos FW's call for help establishing his list.

I understand. I wrote what I did to point out the issues in this area. I am not a sump diver, nor full cave, but I can certainly pledge tanks and weights. Knowing where people are, and their response times, is handy.

[Jax]

Joel Silverstein is on the AZ west border. There are several cave / technical divers in Phoenix. I'm surprised they aren't listed.

There is an Arizona Scuba Divers group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/168151187359/

Perhaps that would help get your message out, Forrest?

[Jax]

Thanks Jon.

I have been asked for detail, without giving away the location.

Several "dry" cavers went into a cave that has a sump (flooded section) for a long period almost every year. The southwest has had a drought for months, causing many wildifires to be hard to put out. That drought dried out the sump so the cavers could get in with no scuba gear. They were planning a several day trip, since access is usually difficult.

As you probably saw on the news, the southwest got a lot of rain earlier this week, causing mud slides in California. There was concern that the cave would flood because of heavy rain in the area. The NCRC (National Cave Rescue Commission) was alerted, so plans could be made, in case a rescue was needed. I am the NCRC diving officer, and I maintain a list of sumpdivers that could respond to this kind of rescue. As I was looking over my list, I realized that the closest people on the list were in Texas, over a day away. I was hoping to find someone a lot closer.

The main reason I am still asking, is the western US is huge, and there a lot of caves that could flood. Since I have no divers west of the Mississippi (except TX) I would like to know about anyone west of the Mississippi that is qualified to do this kind of rescue.

FWIW, I did find three in Utah

With your permission, I will repost this on the AZ Scuba Diver Group.

[FW]

With your permission, I will repost this on the AZ Scuba Diver Group.

Sure, but leave out the first part, like this:

I am the NCRC diving officer, and I maintain a list of sumpdivers that could respond to a rescue beyond a sump (water filled passage). As I was looking over my list, I realized that the closest people on the list were in Texas, over a day away. I was hoping to find someone a lot closer.

The main reason I am still asking, is the western US is huge, and there a lot of caves that could flood. Since I have no divers west of the Mississippi (except TX) I would like to know about anyone west of the Mississippi that is qualified to do this kind of rescue.

FWIW, I did find three in Utah

[lungwater]

You can add me to the list as topside support for future endeavors.