Mat: I've done some research on a closely related matter, and have some strategies set aside that could also be used in the fight for Emerald. Once things cool down a bit with the current project let's talk things over and get a plan of attack.Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn
Diving deaths are common at our popular dive sites. But few people witness these tragedies.
But Wakulla has a high family recreation use.
The state has to be cautious. And I think we should too.
In 2009 diver doing a shore entry at Navarre beach died (I believe it was a cave diver too). This took place at the height of tourist season, and was no doubt witnessed by hundreds of men, women and children. It didn't happen in a cave, it happened right in front of their eyes. Should we disallow scuba diving on beaches because families there might witness an accident? Maybe we should outlaw swimming at state parks too, because I'm pretty sure a woman drowned at Wakulla park about two years ago too.
For that matter, all cars traveling to Disneyland must now have blinders placed on the rear passenger windows because traffic accidents are gruesome, and children shouldn't witness such things.
I'm pretty sure Florida highways kill more people than Florida caves.
Benderr - hit me up when you're ready dude.
They're common huh?
Honestly, I wouldn't focus toooo much on changing rules at open sites. For now, all you need is trimix and a few reasonable dives. I mean really, if you've been below 150, how can you not have 45min deco unless you're bounce diving?
We've got several government owned sites that need attention:
-Rose Sink
-Edwards
-M2
-Sullivan Sink
-Gopher Sink (owned by a hunt club, but I think could be opened with some work)
-Sally Ward
-Promise / Go Between (would mainly want to use the access roads from the leon sinks preserve)
-Apopka Blue
-Oleno
-Wekiva Springs
-Rock Springs
Just my $0.02 of course, but there's so much cave that's inaccessible to the public that I wouldn't start complaining about the rules at Emerald.
Thinking back over the last year, have we even had an average of 1/2 a death per year at each site? Considering the low number of divers qualified to dive Wakulla, how infrequently visibility would support diving, and the fact that it's in an area where very few other caves are open (or at least the general public isn't aware they are), I just don't see it being dove all that often to even come close to Ginnie or Peacock like numbers.
An economic study on wakulla has been done and is in the final review process at the academic/peer reviewed journal Marine Resource Economics. It is similar to the one we did at JB that appeared in Energy and Resource Economics but rather than a combination of stated (what people say they will do) and revealed (what they actually do) preferences we use a willingness to pay model and we have some pretty good (read statistically defendable) results. I have made a couple of presentations using this data but have been waiting to "officially" release results until the paper is completely acccepted for publication. Right now as i write this we are cleaning a couple of things up for an assistant editor at the journal (like what's the difference between a cave and a cavern and how we adjust for hypothetical bias, etc.). What we have done here for wakulla diving demand is also related to the diving value work we have done on the Oriskany and the Vandenberg (the latter is coming out as a chapter in an environmental economic modeling book this year). Bill
"With regard to cave diving, the great thing is to be carried where you could not have imagined you would ever be, and then to come back alive."
"Wilderness. The word itself is music." Abbey, Desert Solitaire
Actually you are right.
Cave diving deaths are effectively rare.
I stand corrected.
Last edited by Puttzer; 01-27-2011 at 10:43 AM. Reason: error
It is all relative...i am working on a project now the outcome of which will probably be the ban of oyster harvesting for the "raw" market of all Gulf of Mexico product over the period april through october because there are about 15 deaths annually from the consumption of naturally contaminated raw oysters by at risk (liver disease, immune deficency, diabetes, etc.) people. Healthy people can eat the oysters with minimal or no problems, only at risk people are in danger of death and that probability is small. Given annual oyster consumption number of deaths are effectively rare but regardless policy may well be oput in place to protect them at the expense of the rest of the population. Bill
"With regard to cave diving, the great thing is to be carried where you could not have imagined you would ever be, and then to come back alive."
"Wilderness. The word itself is music." Abbey, Desert Solitaire
Please mail a hard-copy letter to both Secretary Vinyard AND the Wakulla County Commission. There is a sample letter for you to use or edit on the facebook page (under the "doc" tab). Emails are great, but spam filters and lazy subordinates can easily keep your correspondence from reaching the decision makers. Please send an actual letter if at all possible.
Please copy OpenWakullaForDiving@hotmail.com with any emails you send out, and, if possible, a scanned copy of any hard-copy letters you send too. (we want to keep track of what has been sent in case the battle continues)
Facebook Page and sample letter:
Welcome to Facebook
Date
Secretary Herschel Vinyard
Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Blvd MS 10
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Herschel.Vinyard@dep.state.fl.us
Re: Scuba Diving at Wakulla State Park
Dear Sec. Vinyard,
My name is _______________________ and I reside in ______________,
_____________. I have been a scuba diver for _____ years and frequently dive the springs and
underwater caves located throughout Florida. Last year I safely executed _____ dives in Florida’s
freshwater springs and cave systems. For each and every one of these dives I spend
approximately $________. This money goes towards access fees, food, lodging, air fills and
travel costs. I also spend approximately $________ annually purchasing scuba gear from Florida
retailers.
It has recently come to my attention that scuba diving is being considered as an approved
activity at Wakulla Spring, which is located within the Edward Ball State Park. I believe that
scuba divers have been unfairly denied equal access to this public location for too long.
Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park and Blue Spring State Park successfully allow
recreational scuba activities. Scuba access at these locations does not disrupt the enjoyment of
other park visitors, nor does it damage the park. The revenue brought in by the diving community
significantly enriches both the parks and the areas surrounding them.
I am very interested in diving Wakulla Spring and will make immediate plans to do so if
the park is opened to divers. I have spoken with many of my scuba diving friends about Wakulla
Spring, and they too have expressed a serious interest in diving at the park if allowed to do so.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
cc: Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 1263
Crawfordville, Florida 32326
jwelch@mywakulla.com
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