strategies for opening dive sites

[Arnold Mesiser]

Angie, give a guy 1000 bucks to dig a hole. Allow hole to fill up with water. Let some sneaking side mounters discover "rumors" of a cave that "goes," but needs to be dug out. Wait about a year and enjoy your new cave system.

That's not funny... I have broken "tools" and got poison ivy working on a site that "goes" nowhere....

straw poppers will MAKE it go somewhere

[Ken Hill]

This post was started by Lane who wants ideas. My best suggestion is to become involved with the NACD or the NSS-CDS or both. There is no secret only hard work and acceptance of the fact it will be a long haul.

In reading the posts by Mike Poucher and Kelly Jessop, who I know understand the process, I will only add a couple of things, the need for patience and after that credibility. Each park or site has its own unique bureaucracy. Whether it be a land owner (School Sink) a park manager (Emerald) a regional supervisor (Eagles Nest) a county official (Madison Blue, Hart) the bureaucracy has its own identity and rate of speed. The secret is understanding the timing and timing is everything within a bureaucracy.

A small side story! When I did the proposal before Pasco County to do a joint venture with them to purchase School Sink I knew I need four of the seven county school board members to agree to it. After speaking at their meeting I felt it was close but not sure. I then introduced Jill Heinerth who when she went up to give her presentation was recognized as the woman from PBS "Water's Journey." I saw seven smiling faces and I knew we were to become land owners. Jill and Water's Journey gave us credibility. The preparation for this meeting took well over two years and during that time the county people had the opportunity to review "OUR HANDLING" of dive sites we controlled like Cow Springs, Cathedral and Mill Creek. The opportunity to see how we managed out sites gave the CDS credibility. We were represented legally by Greg Flanagan who coordinated the closing activities with the county's attorney. Greg's handling gave us additional credibility.

If you want a part of the process join with others that have been through the process. You'll have to learn and play by the existing rules and maybe you'll bring some new ideas that can be tried out. We (cave divers)need to own or control sites for that is the future of cave diving.

/Ken

[Angie Reim]

The best way to get access is to buy the property. Vote with your wallet.

I just bought 5 high and dry acres less than 1/4 mi from CEE. You got's a 'really big' backhoe?

Angie, backhoes are environmentally harsh. Trained moles, that's the ticket. If you have , say 200-300 moles, you can get the same results. Of course, you will need several armadillos as backup, along with a 1/2 dozen gophers for the heavy lifting

Dude....you're funny! I admire creativity.

straw poppers will MAKE it go somewhere

What is a straw popper?