Arrows in the Mud
Why would anyone draw large arrows in the mud directly under the line in the Peanut tunnel at Peacock? Observed 2 or 3 instances of this yesterday. This wasn't just someone out of control sticking there hands in the mud, but done by someone with at least enough bouyancy control to hover there while they did it, which I find disturbing.
Because some people are stupid and have no respect for the beauty of nature.
You see it everywhere unfortunately, not just in caves.
I was lucky to be brought up with a respect towards certain things... it makes me sick to see that sort of crap.
We even see it in Wisconsin and the UP. I'm leaving on a backpacking trip tomorrow afternoon. I can guarantee that at some point this weekend I'll see the results of some jackass that brought an axe or a saw with him on a trip. We'll be hiking through virgin forest, never before cut by man, and some @%*! will see fit to chop halfway through a tree or some other stupid act. It's protected wilderness, pristine and beautiful...yet some developmentally challenged cretins just don't seem to like it until they trash it.
It ain't just in the caves, unfortunately.
Everyone spends the first nine months of life in water. The lucky ones make frequent return visits.
I saw this a couple of weeks ago...Overall, the Peanut tunnel is pretty well trashed up to the Crossover Tunnel. Back at the Peanut restriction if is still nice.
Lack of respect for nature is something that certain people have. The problem now is apparently they are getting into cavediving as of late and the instructors arent seeing it / dont' care cause the money comes in...
When anyone can enter a dry cave, there is the same kind of "damage". Now go cave in a "NSS Protected Cave" where there is a guide/expierenced only system... 2 completely different worlds....
Maybe cavediving standards need to be adjusted so that when people get a cave card they respect the fact that they are stewards of the caves and they have to conserve them to continue this activity.
When getting a cave card is as easy as going to the 7-11 to buy one, it will have a negative effect.
Joe
Originally Posted by Richard Pyle
One thing that might be good is an overall ettiquette sign at the steps to the more popular or more fragile caves. I know it shouldn't be necessary but in this case I'm sure the person that drew the arrow was thinking it was a good thing. Calling mud pretty and pristine isn't in most peoples vocabulary so writing in it may not register at all with some people as something not to do in a cave.
CJ
Overall etiquette of divers seems to suck in the more popular caves -- more divers so I guess it stands to reason.
Upon exiting on 2 recent dives at Peacock (I now remember why I hadn't dove there in year and a half) with an Intro diver we were met by entering teams. Neither team cave the exiting team (us) the right of way. The simply trudged through the middle of the cave while we decided to stay to the side and let them pass.
IMHO, it isn't just cave conservation that is not being learned. It is also etiquette.
Thats a very good point CJ, I bet I could round up a dozen people who think the steps at Peacock are a desecration of a beautiful spring.
I could find just as many who could care less about an arrow in the mud in a place that only a handful of crazy divers go look at. Its all about perception, and sadly more and more cavedivers seem to have a poor perception of what we call magnificent ( or in the peanut tunnel case, what WAS magnificent). Funny thing is though, I have never seen, met or heard of anyone who would do that sort of thing. Where do they come from? Where are they all?
Dave
That may be true, but that would also be upsetting and sad.
Perhaps an ettiquette sign would help and I guess it wouldn't hurt. At least you are thinking of something that might be helpful which I find refreshing. Most people just whine. That being said -- it is kind of scary to think that someone diving a cave would need it and would not already know.
During all of my 'official' cave training and the years since there has always been an emphasis by instructors, mentors, fellow divers, etc on NOT marking the caves. Stuff happens but it should never be deliberate. Cave divers pick at each other (good naturedly) if they do bang up the cave with tanks, bury a fin in silt and so forth. Most of us get annoyed with ourselves if we mess up the vis or mark/chip a rock.
Sometimes there are places I can go in sidemount but I don't, I just look from a distance and sigh... because my passage alone would mess up the floor or break delicate rock formations.
In these systems sediments - including mud - and formations take many years to develop and change. Marks in the mud often stay there for decades.
Angie
Another thing that might help is to count each time you make unintentional contact with the cave...contact which could have been avoided. By doing this and sharing with your dive buddies at the end of the dive (who are doing the same) you will be more contientious of the formations and more aware of where your tanks are. High person buys low persons next air fill.
Each dive should be a training dive.
CJ
if i see something like this going on i will report it to the offical and i hope they do not let you dive any state parks again ever.
(All give some, Some give ALL . Semper Fi) Safe Diving (JAMMER)
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