Public meeting opening Wakulla: Thurs,Jan19th 7pm

[TONY CHANEY]

I also agree that this isn't an us (divers) vs. them (wkpp) argument. Their comments were insulting, and I posted them so that everyone would know how they feel about divers (in case there was any doubt) but it doesn't do our side any good to bicker with them in front of state authorities.

where did you post them? And OBTW, thanks to all of you for representing us that could not attend.

[Squirrel Girl]

Phil Foster Park (county operated) has diving and manatees. I don't think anyone would be opposed to closing the park to divers during manatee season.

I would consider that it *might* be reasonable to close a cave temporarily while manatees are around. I don't think cave diving is more important that manatee refuges. But I'd like to know some real facts about what the impacts from cave divers are. It's hard to imagine that cave divers would scare away the manatees. But again, I'm one of the crazy people who would like real evidence. Whichever way it leads.

[OFG-1]

It's hard to imagine that cave divers would scare away the manatees.

Quite the contrary, the manatees scare the crap out of me. I was doing a commercial job in the Port of Palm Beach, waist deep in a jammed bow thruster on a Tropical ship, and I had the feeling, You know, the one where you are being watched. So I pulled out of the hole, looked around, only about 4 ft vis, and then pushed away and out from the hull. There, 6" in front of my face, a manatee staring at me, and I think sticking out its tongue. I go "OH S**T", and the guys tending me heard it (I was in a hat) and dragged me from 12 feet underwater up and onto a dock in 10 seconds or less, with me yelling most of the seven words you cant say on tv for them to stop. Tits was the only one I did not use, I think, wasn't appropriate for that situation, but the rest were.

So there, hard facts, the manatees are dangerous.

[Squirrel Girl]

Quite the contrary, the manatees scare the crap out of me. I was doing a commercial job in the Port of Palm Beach, waist deep in a jammed bow thruster on a Tropical ship, and I had the feeling, You know, the one where you are being watched. So I pulled out of the hole, looked around, only about 4 ft vis, and then pushed away and out from the hull. There, 6" in front of my face, a manatee staring at me, and I think sticking out its tongue. I go "OH S**T", and the guys tending me heard it (I was in a hat) and dragged me from 12 feet underwater up and onto a dock in 10 seconds or less, with me yelling most of the seven words you cant say on tv for them to stop. Tits was the only one I did not use, I think, wasn't appropriate for that situation, but the rest were.

So there, hard facts, the manatees are dangerous.

Great story!

[sandy]

In writing my letter, I'm listing other successfully managed cave systems. Here's what I have so far: Indian, Clear Cut, Emerald, Alachua, Cathedral, School, Hart, Cow, the Diepolders.

Can anyone think of any others?

Would you want to include WSPSSP and Madison? Maybe a little different than the above but still there is a process through the park system.

[Benderr]

where did you post them? And OBTW, thanks to all of you for representing us that could not attend.

I was quoting a comment from CM earlier in this thread from memory. I have since found a more accurate quote in the Tallahassee Democrat (see below). I disagree with CM, but I don't want to responsible for misquoting him, so hopefully a mod will see this and correct my earlier post...

“It may not be a proposal to build a gas station on top of the spring, but recreational diving is no less serious,” said Casey McKinlay, project manager of the Woodville Karst Plain Project, which has a research permit to dive the spring and its vast, more than 30-mile underwater cave system for research purposes. “I believe it needs protection and to be preserved for future generations.”

I would consider that it *might* be reasonable to close a cave temporarily while manatees are around. I don't think cave diving is more important that manatee refuges. But I'd like to know some real facts about what the impacts from cave divers are. It's hard to imagine that cave divers would scare away the manatees. But again, I'm one of the crazy people who would like real evidence. Whichever way it leads.

Two people at the meeting claimed to have been on a Wakulla tour boat when it struck a manatee. There are scores of photos on the public domain that show WKPP divers in the same frame as a manatee. Whatever damage is being done, is already in progress, but again, everyone I have spoke to says it is reasonable to close the park to diving during the manatee stays. I'm guessing it's not NECESSARY, but it's certainly worth compromising over for the sake of caution.

So far, each and every concern I have seen raised, can be dealt with by proper park management.

Manatees - No diving while in the park
Primitive Boats - Already use a different part of the river
Glass Boats - Hardly ever run anyway, but ingress/egress routes can be established
Graffiti - Only plastic cutting-tools available
Theft - Divers subject to search by park authorities, ride to jail provided at no extra cost
Interference w/Swimmers - Really???
Safety - Minimum Certs
Too many Divers - Maximum Capacity (paid reservation system? alternate spring to dive on park property?)
Water Quality - Force divers to pee in their drysuits (no pee valves allowed)

Okay, maybe that last one is a little extreme..... 20, 40, 50 divers peeing in Wakulla every day will have a hard time competing with the 200 small-bladdered children recycling Ritalin and overpriced coke products into the spring all season long.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I don't appreciate you calling me a small-bladdered child

[Benderr]

I don't appreciate you calling me a small-bladdered child

Let me assure you that mine is much, much smaller.

I need about ten minutes of your time Mat, give me a shout on my cell when you have it.

Thanks,
ap

[LiteHedded]

I was quoting a comment from CM earlier in this thread from memory. I have since found a more accurate quote in the Tallahassee Democrat (see below). I disagree with CM, but I don't want to responsible for misquoting him, so hopefully a mod will see this and correct my earlier post...





Two people at the meeting claimed to have been on a Wakulla tour boat when it struck a manatee. There are scores of photos on the public domain that show WKPP divers in the same frame as a manatee. Whatever damage is being done, is already in progress, but again, everyone I have spoke to says it is reasonable to close the park to diving during the manatee stays. I'm guessing it's not NECESSARY, but it's certainly worth compromising over for the sake of caution.

So far, each and every concern I have seen raised, can be dealt with by proper park management.

Manatees - No diving while in the park
Primitive Boats - Already use a different part of the river
Glass Boats - Hardly ever run anyway, but ingress/egress routes can be established
Graffiti - Only plastic cutting-tools available
Theft - Divers subject to search by park authorities, ride to jail provided at no extra cost
Interference w/Swimmers - Really???
Safety - Minimum Certs
Too many Divers - Maximum Capacity (paid reservation system? alternate spring to dive on park property?)
Water Quality - Force divers to pee in their drysuits (no pee valves allowed)

Okay, maybe that last one is a little extreme..... 20, 40, 50 divers peeing in Wakulla every day will have a hard time competing with the 200 small-bladdered children recycling Ritalin and overpriced coke products into the spring all season long.

will safety scissors be allowed?

[sandy]

Interference w/Swimmers - Really???

I have never been to Wakulla Spring so I am not sure how many people may be in the water. But if cave divers co-exist with the swimmers at JB on a hot July weekend who also use a diving board about the cavern entrance at JB, we can do it most anywhere.