Interesting Facts Regarding the 2008 NSS-CDS Workshop

[rchrds]

Although I realize you're capable of throwing great, big boulders at me for disagreeing with you, I feel I must disagree with you. I believe NSS members that are interested in both cave diving and dry caving are a tiny minority. I don't think it's a stretch to say that 95% of NSS members have no interest in cave diving, and while I'm sure the percentage of CDS members that like to dry cave are more than 5%, I don't think it's much more. Surely less than 20%.

I, myself, would just as soon watch paint dry as go into a dry cave.

Blasphemy!! Throw the great big boulders!!!!! ARRRGGGGHHH!!!!

Jason

[Bill Rotella]

That doesn't really answer my question. For people that don't live in FL, much less the SE, it would seem only logical to combine it. Especially considering travel costs these days.

Marbry

Marbry,

We did not anticipate the soon to be $4.00 a gallon of gas this year as well as the potential of $10.00 a gallon this next year. The Board wanted to keep the Convention/Workshop as always on Memorial Day Weekend, plus we wanted to be a part of the NSS Convention. This way, eveyone has a choice.........a cave diving workshop or a mini-cave diving workshop in conjunction with the NSS Convention, or to just attend the NSS Convention. Another reason is with work and vacation schedules, the board wanted to afford an opportunity for everyone to have a chance to attend at least one, two, or even all three of the events. I for one will be actively involved in two, chair of the cds convention, and treasurer of the NSS Convention. And to be honest, there is no way that I could humanly do both at the same time. But you did bring up a good point...............pretty soon it will cost the amount of a flight to Mexico to travel by car for me just to Gainesville from New Smyrna Beach and plane fares of $200.00 from the North to Florida will be something of the past. Excellent reasons to attend one or both of the events this year, for who knows what will happen in 2009. Thanks for the question!

Bill

[Webmaster]

More dates, or more opportunity to miss out on something. Most folks traveling aren't going to want to make many trips where they're not spending most of their time diving. It serves to dilute interest, that's why convention is only once a year.

And Sloodge, I might suggest that attitude is a great deal of the reason that there is not more 'cross interest' between caving and cave diving in the US. This would have been the ideal opportunity to provide more exposure and interaction between the two groups.

Personally I see cave diving as just another tool to be able to find more cave, even if it does happen to be underwater. (albeit a rather involved and expensive tool) It is just part of a larger picture.

I'm pretty sure you've had opportunity to watch paint dry, but how many dry caves have you been in? Paint is paint, but that ain't so for caves.

Marbry

[akcaver]

Blasphemy!! Throw the great big boulders!!!!! ARRRGGGGHHH!!!!

Jason

Haha, I agree!

[RN]

I'm planning on attending both. This is my first year in Florida so it's not like I have to trek across the country to attend these events. Even when I didn't live here, if I was coming to Florida I wanted to dive, not attend presentations. Now that I live here and dive on a regular basis, I can actually "attend" the workshop. I'd also like to attend the introductory caving course at the convention. I did some dry caving in Arizona, but never got any kind of training. I tried to set something up with one of the local grottos, but our schedules just never worked out. But if a joint convention was being held, I'd probably choose to attend the cave diving presentations over the dry caving presentations. With separate events I can do both!

[aainslie]

Why would anyone dry cave when there are wet ones to swim around? Do they like bats?

[Mike Edmonston]

Why would anyone dry cave when there are wet ones to swim around? Do they like bats?

Yes, some of us like Bats. I went to Carlsbad caverns specifically for the bats. I also went to Sonora strictly to study the caves for 4 days.

You have to admit that this doesn't suck, and is much prettier than paint!

[akcaver]

Except that formation is now broken... shameless... dry cavings equivalent of "DIC" in the clay banks at cow.

RN, ill take you dry caving around Marianna sometime, the grotto in N FL seems pretty finnicky. We have our own "grotto" in Tallahassee, just a bunch of us friends that go caving and cave diving.

[Mike Edmonston]

Except that formation is now broken... shameless... dry cavings equivalent of "DIC" in the clay banks at cow.

I was unaware of this. When did this happen? I was there in 92/93

Damn! that sucks.

[akcaver]

"On November 21, 2006, the butterfly formation was vandalized by a member of a tour group. Specifically, 60% of the top right tip of the wing was broken off of the formation. There is a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to the recovery of the missing piece. Since the butterfly is active (still growing), the formation can still be repaired if the piece is recovered soon."

from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caverns_of_Sonora

you're lucky to have been there! I never made it there, wish i would have before that happened!