Silver Glen ?

[JE]

I viewed a photo (posted recently on here) of what appears to be inside one of the passages of Silver Glen in Ocala Nat'l Forest ? I was informed that particular sight is off limits & is not diveable unless you are affiliated with the State of Florida !
Please fill us in on this. It is a wonderful dive, & should remain closed to the recreational diving public !

[hunabku]

Just curious if I am reading this right:

You saw a picture on this forum that you think is from the inside of a cave that shouldn't be dived unless you are allowed to dive it?

Any chance the picture was taken by a person allowed to dive it?

[SuPrBuGmAn]

What makes this cave best left closed to the diving public?


...and why should the permitted divers be allowed to film for commercials for dive equipment manufacturers there?

[Tegg]

meh

[JE]

Yes ! permitted diver ! & was allowed to dive it ! for State records !
"should remain closed to the recreational diving public ! " Ref: P1 & OG.....Little River....Madison...Blue Spgs in Orange City etc !

Just my own opinion....nothing personal meant to be inflicted on anyone.

circ..ingress into said system 1st made prior to restrictions being instituted fall of 1987 je

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I think its irresponsible of the state and permitted divers to allow commercial productions to be made there in which profit will be made, while the cave diving public isn't allowed to dive this state owned resource at all.

...and you never answered why you think it should be closed to the public.

[vicp]

This thread has piqued my interest since Silver Glen is approximately an hour from my home in New Smyrna Beach. Having typically to drive 3 to 4 hours to dive (High Springs and areas west) a possible cave dive an hour away is very enticing (I know that it is closed to Scuba). I do use Alexander Springs to work out gear configurations and such, and Silver Glen is nearby.

Any practical reason why Silver Glen should be closed to Scuba (even OW)? Is it just too gnarly to get in and navigate or are the reasons mostly political?

It seems that "elite" groups get access but the average cave diver does not. We really need to work to open access to "our" (government owned) resources for those that can use them safely (understand the need to keep OW divers from killing themselves). These publically owned resources should not be there just for proprietary and commercial interests.

[curtschu]

It is not state property it is federal and it is a political issue in Marion County they have a county ordinance prohibiting diving there.

[JamesK]

...and you never answered why you think it should be closed to the public.

My guess is you will never get an answer.

[a64pilot]

I was thinking some kind of Troll myself, but he has a real high post count and those types aren't trolls, so I just sat back to see what the point was. Still waiting.