What is the point of charging divers additional fees at Florida State Parks?

[cavediver256]

I really don't see what the problem is, I mean 42 bucks for all the diving you can do in a year.....

[cinder4320]

What are everyones opinion on the cost of Ginnie specifically comparing tubers fees to divers fees? What amenities do divers get that the tubers do not for the increased fee? Curious...

Miranda

[Lanes]

Three points:
if I were consulting to them, I'd recommend they put the annual pass UP. It's not like demand would reduce as a result.

Fees will be going up shortly, that you can be guaranteed. If the parks were a business than I would agree with your logic behind price discrimination. The problem is that the parks are government owned, and therefore should not be run for profit. These sites survived for many years before the State of Florida took over and started charging various fees. I understand that usage fees may be needed to make improvements to the parks, pay for maintenance, and staff; however, there are no additional costs to the State when you exercise your right to scuba dive. Scuba diving is not a privilege. We don’t need a scuba police to run around making sure people don't die.

[Lanes]

What are everyones opinion on the cost of Ginnie specifically comparing tubers fees to divers fees? What amenities do divers get that the tubers do not for the increased fee? Curious...

Miranda

Just for your reference, Scuba diving in the Santa Fe River is FREE. You can dive Devil's Ear, Devil's Eye, Little Devil, Ginnie Spring, and all the others for free. Ginnie Springs Outdoors LLC has no authority to charge you money to dive there. They can charge you for accessing the sites via their privately owned property. But you can access the sites via river for free.

[Line Squirrel]

The problem is that the parks are government owned, and therefore should not be run for profit.

I worked for the state park system a couple years ago. At that time there were 160 state parks. Only two turned a profit, all the others were losers. The access fees are only to slow the blood letting.

[Sludge]

Only two turned a profit

Out of curiosity, what were the two?

[RN]

For the minimal cost of the annual pass I feel it's a great deal. Many of them have benches and other diver friendly things. Most important is that they allow us to dive in most of them, it would be just as easy for them to say "no diving" and we would be SOL. I for one don't have a problem with the fees.

First, I am a state park supporter and annual pass holder. I was an annual pass holder even before I moved to Florida. And I would pay more for the annual pass (but I do hope they don't raise the fees). In Arizona, they don't have annual passes. You pay each time you enter the park. And they have lots of state parks.

Okay, that aside, aren't the benches and diver friendly things at the parks donated and constructed through the volunteer efforts of cave divers? I'm not saying divers shouldn't pay the extra fee when paying by the day, but as a group we do enhance the parks, even if it's mainly for our own benefit.

[Bill Rotella]

The price is great for an annual pass.....................and I would be careful now especially with property tax reformation and the state going through some very serious budget discussions...................i.e., do you want an increase $$$$??? Certainly not I, but with posts like this, we might as well just jump up and down and waive our hands saying we want an increase.

[runawaylobster]

My daughter just lost her job as a lifeguard working for local park in homestead...

looks like they will close the pool soon she says.. i guess it's cutbacks

LL

[Line Squirrel]

Out of curiosity, what were the two?

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and a fishing pier...can't remember the specific name.