A letter to the open water diving community from the NACD

[Walter Pickel]

I just had a friend who is taking a advanced nitrox class tell me he is doing his checkout at EN. Is this what you are referring to? I think even they should be sticking to Hudson grotto or something along these lines.

Gibby,

I guess it would depend on whether or not they are cave trained. PADI made it abundantly clear to one LDS to cease classes there or lose their PADI certification.

Bear in mind that the only way the agencies will investigate this is if you have photographic evidence or if someone from the class reports the instructor/LDS. They will not investigate hearsay. I would refer you to Alex Warren if you wanted any more information on the investigations. I have not been involved in any.

I just had a friend who is taking a advanced nitrox class tell me he is doing his checkout at EN. Is this what you are referring to? I think even they should be sticking to Hudson grotto or something along these lines.

No, I did not hear about that class. I have heard from several divers, who aren’t cave trained (or weren’t at the time), that they took classes and / or dive at Eagles Nest. This has been going on for many years now!

[Walter Pickel]

I just had a friend who is taking a advanced nitrox class tell me he is doing his checkout at EN.

Do you know what LDS? If so, please PM me.

[bobski]

The letter is on ScubaBoard, I printed off a copy. I am cave/Trimix, and, we were teaching an open water class. I took the letter to the dive shop, for the new students to read. It is now in the shop for all to read. I hope that everyone takes heed of the message, and why it was posted.

[Walter Pickel]

I also have a PDF version of this letter if anyone would like it.

[Angie Reim]

I just had a friend who is taking a advanced nitrox class tell me he is doing his checkout at EN. Is this what you are referring to? I think even they should be sticking to Hudson grotto or something along these lines.

No, I did not hear about that class. I have heard from several divers, who aren’t cave trained (or weren’t at the time), that they took classes and / or dive at Eagles Nest. This has been going on for many years now!

I was a little busy with a class but my impression of EN is that it begins with a huge cavern though not OW; therefore, cavern class would be okay (I never managed to get far off the debris mound and into the cave proper. My buddy's light died). Am I missing something? I did not have the opportunity to look around the OW bits of the sink. Are those bits deep enough for OW work? It would be the instructors responsibility to emphasize not going into the cave without training and why. I guess I don't see the problem simply because I was never one of those to be tempted by bravado or to go without training. Of course, I started diving in my late 30's so maybe I had maturity on my side.

It would be at the instructor's discretion and perhaps he was teaching a group he deemed mature enough not to do something stupid later at the same site. (Not that we haven't all done something not overly bright at times).

[Bill Rotella]

Excellent post BOD of the NACD! I commend, respect, and thank you.

Bill Rotella

[jeandiver]

Excellent post BOD of the NACD! I commend, respect, and thank you.

Bill Rotella

Dittos !
Much thanks to all.
I actually had an OW person down in the Eye this last weekend (in the actual tunnel). He was exiting as we were entering. I should have grabbed the dudes light and ESCORTED him out. (sigh)

I need to be more force-ful myself. Just as much my fault if something would have happened as the other divers fault. (double sigh)

Jean

[Kelly Jessop]

I should have grabbed the dudes light and ESCORTED him out. (sigh)

Jean, your heart is in the right place; the exact thing almost ended up in criminal prosecution when Tyler Moon did that.

[Cindy]

Excellent post BOD of the NACD! I commend, respect, and thank you.

Bill Rotella

Dittos !
Much thanks to all.
I actually had an OW person down in the Eye this last weekend (in the actual tunnel). He was exiting as we were entering. I should have grabbed the dudes light and ESCORTED him out. (sigh)

I need to be more force-ful myself. Just as much my fault if something would have happened as the other divers fault. (double sigh)

Jean

Go for it Jean, I bet you would be covered under the good Samaritin act. I'll bail you out!!
I had someone walk past a little lady at the Mall I was doing CPR on and failed to help. Now that made me mad...it's a human life. We all need to make a decision at some point when we know what to do if we are going to do something or not. Lets try and open water dive soon and I'll teach you how to handle the situation. I carry a hatchet for a reason. Cindy