Say Goodbye to Buford

[rddvet]

I understand the good intentions of erosion control when they chose to put a boardwalk in at Buford. But I've been complaining that it's going to be the end of Buford as we know it. Unfortunately Tampa has a lot of OW dive shops and dive clubs that have no problem bringing people with minimal numbers of dives into what they consider "safe" overheads. One group's been known to dive EN with single tanks, but they justify it by saying they just go through the solution tube.

Below is a photo someone posted of Buford yesterday (Easter Sunday). I've never seen more than 3 cars at Buford. Apparently there were more cars than you can see in the photo, and all divers were single tank (assumed OW) divers. I think we're about to see alot more grafitti and damage than anyone expected.

[Tecomah]

was there yesterday. Think I missed a lot of the crowding as I was on loop hanging out the bottom for the surge. Ironically, the freedivers were super nice and following rules of social distancing. One group even held off on dropping their down line until I finished my 20 foot stop. Divers on the other hand were pretty scary. Saw some people on RBs with seemingly appropriate bailout, but other than that it was all single tank jackets with maybe a single pony bottle to the crowd. Drove by the nest to check vis in the basin on the way out and saw 2 people messing with single al80s rigs in the parking lot. While I enjoyed buford being open so I could check my weighting with new tanks, it might be better to close until everything else opens back up. Everything else being closed is just pushing people there who by no means need to be there.

[rddvet]

was there yesterday. Think I missed a lot of the crowding as I was on loop hanging out the bottom for the surge. Ironically, the freedivers were super nice and following rules of social distancing. One group even held off on dropping their down line until I finished my 20 foot stop. Divers on the other hand were pretty scary. Saw some people on RBs with seemingly appropriate bailout, but other than that it was all single tank jackets with maybe a single pony bottle to the crowd. Drove by the nest to check vis in the basin on the way out and saw 2 people messing with single al80s rigs in the parking lot. While I enjoyed buford being open so I could check my weighting with new tanks, it might be better to close until everything else opens back up. Everything else being closed is just pushing people there who by no means need to be there.

shockingly the free divers are typically not the annoying or dangerous ones

[Kelly Jessop]

Drove by the nest to check vis in the basin on the way out and saw 2 people messing with single al80s rigs in the parking lot..

. Accidents here cause community outrage and call for closure, with a petition being circulated.

[Tecomah]

believe me I'm well aware of that. Being a very new cave diver and relatively young ill admit I didn't approach them. Was checking vis for a friend who by no means would've had those reservations. Not sure the best manner to approach that situation in all honesty.

[rddvet]

believe me I'm well aware of that. Being a very new cave diver and relatively young ill admit I didn't approach them. Was checking vis for a friend who by no means would've had those reservations. Not sure the best manner to approach that situation in all honesty.

It's a no win situation. I've nicely said something to people I've witnessed doing things like single tank cave diving without any cavern cert, freediving into Ginnie and blocking exiting divers, and a group that silted out Orange Grove by literally all 3 full cave divers standing on the bottom. It never goes well. Either way you're always the a-hole and most blow off the advice or warnings they receive. I still would do it because I feel better knowing that maybe I got through to someone, but realize in most cases it makes no difference.

[CaveSloth]

Not sure Florida has the stomach for it but in places where the wilderness is considered especially sacred (or dangerous) there are permit processes and access limits in place. People reserve outings in advance and there are penalties for not having a permit and enforcement. Personally I think the springs of Florida are such a jewel.

[Tecomah]

sadly that often doesn't work well. Governments and private owners don't want the hassle. Cough cough diepolder

[CaveSloth]

Then we are living in the times of the "wild west cave diving rush".

[bent]

... there are permit processes and access limits in place. People reserve outings in advance and there are penalties for not having a permit and enforcement. Personally I think the springs of Florida are such a jewel.

Starting to ask for regulation and enforcment is the best way get a place shut down for everyone.
If you want to protect a place, don't post about it! Don't put up videos on facebook or youtube.

My favorite caves in Europe used to be never busy with beautiful conditions in and outside the cave... than a bunch of ***holes started making youtube videos and facebook adds about it (even though they were told not to). Long story short: It got very busy, instructors brought their stundents in groups and made more videos (adds basically), people left their trash and parked in the bushes, the very nice landowners got pissed... than permits were issued for a short while before everything got shut down because nobody wanted deal with this.

Obviously that ship have sailed for many places. But if you know about nice places and want to protect them, don't post about how great they are on youtube or facebook and don't ask anyone to make rules and enforce them.