Steps at Madison Blue

[JE]

That's an excellent idea - I think it would be safer than the steps and if you had no air in your wing, you could be at the entrance in no time at all!

Heck........>just roll in head first & do a somersault, but keep some air in your wing just in case- We used to do this off P-1 + the OG before they built stairs-! Long as you have everything bungied & no danglees, you'll be fine, & it's a lot of fun, too. Scares the heck out of the critters though, including the gators- 8)

Yak

[jeandiver]

When I think of the steps at Madison Blue, I can't help thinking of the last time I was there. I had a female dive buddy, and a little boy couldn't quite grasp the concept of a cave-diving woman.

She already had her mask and hood on when he swam up to within six inches of her face and demanded, "Are you a boy or a girl?"

Thats why I don't wear a hood !!!

Btw: When we dove Madison on Sunday , I noticed that missing STEP on the right side...I tried to get up that thing with my gear on and it was quite a trick...I used the left side steps the rest of the day....

Yes , I wonder if we could fix that for them...

Jean

P.S. Marcy and I were doing our Deco stop and there were so many swimmers jumping off of the diving deck that we got a good show from the jumpers!!!

[BabyDuck]

it was a safety stop, jean! you scared one of my buddies with this post.

the swimmers/jumpers were actually very considerate, and stopped for a while since they were worried they'd hit us jumping. fun to watch! and the snails fascinate me for some reason.

and yes, the steps really bite. slippery, too. and as long as i'm whining, the benches need to be deeper so i don't have to rope my gear on with cave line. though it was a cool new use for it...

[Angie Reim]

You could also do what I do... a giant stride off of the dive platform.

That's an excellent idea - I think it would be safer than the steps and if you had no air in your wing, you could be at the entrance in no time at all!

In a set of doubles that would be a hell of a cannon ball! Say 9.2 or better.

[jeandiver]

it was a safety stop, jean! you scared one of my buddies with this post.

the swimmers/jumpers were actually very considerate, and stopped for a while since they were worried they'd hit us jumping. fun to watch! and the snails fascinate me for some reason.

and yes, the steps really bite. slippery, too. and as long as i'm whining, the benches need to be deeper so i don't have to rope my gear on with cave line. though it was a cool new use for it...

Whining accepted !!!!
Sorry (slaps herself...)
Safety Stop ...

P.S. Hey , I though "roping" our gear was a very clever idea. I can just see a set of doubles falling over , landing on the valves ...

Jeano Beano

[Genesis]

You have to wonder why the State gives a concession to a private business - but then doesn't require them to maintain the place in return for their shot at making money (especially off divers!)

[Line Squirrel]

You have to wonder why the State gives a concession to a private business - but then doesn't require them to maintain the place in return for their shot at making money (especially off divers!)

Concession contract ran out a while ago, no more "American Canoe" running the place. Been operated/maintained by the park service since May 2005. I'm assuming it's a budget thing now, it may be that once they start working on the stairs they might have to be made ADA accessable?????

[curtschu]

But those are the steps the Bruics put in, right? American Canoe had the contract for how long? If it is a budget thing then the park just needs to say so and the Cave Community is going to step up, You Know That!!

Mike, since you are on the inside why don't you find out for us and I'm sure we can remedy the issue. IE: pony up the cash. It is in our best interest to have good safe stairs.

Curt

[Genesis]

There is no ADA issue with making repairs. If you modify the design (as opposed to fixing the steps) then you can run into the problem of changed regs......

[Jason B.]

If it is a buget thing then the park just needs to say so and the Cave Community is going to step up, You Know That!!

Mike Since you are on the inside why don't you find out for us and I'm sure we can remedy the issue. IE: pony up the cash. It is in our best interest to have good safe stairs.

Curt

Agreed