Yet again another post begging OW divers to stay out of the caves!

[boulderjohn]

having been only at votex and morrison when i lived in that part of the world, pardon my ignorance in this question. if the caves are so dangerous that management has to prevent divers from carrying lights, why do they let OW divers in the place to begin with?

In those locations, you can have a perfectly safe and enjoyable OW dive without going into the cave. It's not like the whole area is cave.

---------- Post added March 11th, 2013 at 08:53 AM ----------

The problem, well it's not really a problem I guess, but those folks who need to heed the warning are not likely, for the most part, to be found on SB. So it's really like preaching to the choir.

"For the most part," you are right. However, in the recent threads there have been some very insistent voices saying the opposite. They look upon those giving the warnings as arrogant elitists who don't understand what wonderful divers they are already and why dive training is so very unnecessary for them.

 

[gbf]

OK you stay off our reefs
Sorry just had to do that, I know it is not your intent. But your methods are hardly effective.
It sounds a bit presumptuous

Education and protection of dangerous areas I understand.
In my off roading days we lost a lot of good trails to people not respecting the areas
But really, posting a thread and lopping all open water divers together is just not the best way to get your point across

In this case all ow divers ARE together - none of them should go into caves without the training and equipment. I'm an open water diver, also certified by NACD in 1976, and NSS at some point, forgot when. Retired from cave diving in the early 90's. Now I dive in warm water with the pretty fishes.

My chances of surviving an ow incursion into the eye/ear would be better (not very good, but better) than the average bear's - but I'm not doing it because (in ow mode) the danger is far too great, even given training and extensive experience and knowledge of the system.

I don't and don't let my children do swim-throughs or caverns on the reefs.

 

[HIGHwing]

"For the most part," you are right. However, in the recent threads there have been some very insistent voices saying the opposite. They look upon those giving the warnings as arrogant elitists who don't understand what wonderful divers they are already and why dive training is so very unnecessary for them.

Now now... We all knew someone from our childhood who had to touch the stove to learn it was hot. I think the real problem is that people just don't know the cave won't look like they expect when they turn around. I assume in people's head the cave looks like a garage. You pull in the garage, and you simply back out of the garage. What they don't realize is the exit might be surprisingly difficult to find depending on a few factors.

 

[covediver]

thanks. might have to get there one of these days. that being said, is there a legitimate reason to have a light and not go into caves at ginnie? for example, we carry lights to illuminate critters to see the true colors because of light absorption at depth, etc. doen't really matter to me as I got certified in the overhead environment at vortex and morrison.

reminds me of the resort at Looe Key that had divemasters who really rudely admonsihed divers who had gloves with an air of superiorty and condescention while the affiliated dive shop had gloves for sale galore.

 

[HIGHwing]

thanks. might have to get there one of these days. that being said, is there a legitimate reason to have a light and not go into caves at ginnie...

A light will certainly help you get in, but it doesn't guarantee your ability to get out. IMHO the reason people go in there and get confused is because they don't realize there are going to be faced with an underwater funhouse when they turn around. People assume they just slide along the ceiling and eventually they'll find the way up never realizing the exit can't be found that way. Can you imagine being low on air, turning around, and seeing a half dozen holes in the wall which could all appear likely candidates. Scary stuff.

The worst part of this whole thing is overhead environment training is very valuable training. Why people avoid a cavern/Intro to Cave class who are intrigued by the environment is beyond me. Your life can't really be worth less than a $300-800 in training. Afterall, you've already made the trip to the cave country, purchased or rented gear, and simply by entering you've admitted to me you're intrigued enough to do it. Makes just about zero sense.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Count me as another one who doesn't understand what you hope to gain by yet another thread warning OW divers not to enter caves. As someone said, you're preaching to the choir. While there were a few people in those threads who angrily said they do not wish to be lectured or, worse yet, accosted, it's not like this thread is going to change their minds. So again, I don't see what you hope to gain. Just to post a weekly reminder? Fine.

 

[oldschoolto]

You know something....I think we should get some of these cave divers that want to save the OW divers to have FREE cave days at their local cave.. They could lay a line 20/30 ft in to the cave and watch over them... Have a tip cup for those that want to give a little... This way the OW diver gets a look in the cave and the cave divers won't have to recover the bodies (that they hate) and may get a few new students.... They will slit the cave out and get to understand what cave training is for....

Jim....

 

[boulderjohn]

that being said, is there a legitimate reason to have a light and not go into caves at ginnie?
.

The water in the OW springs is generally crystal clear. It is also shallow. The first time I saw the water in the Ballroom OW area, it almost looked as if there wasn't any water in it.

 

[Dive-aholic]

OK you stay off our reefs
Sorry just had to do that, I know it is not your intent. But your methods are hardly effective.
It sounds a bit presumptuous

Education and protection of dangerous areas I understand.
In my off roading days we lost a lot of good trails to people not respecting the areas
But really, posting a thread and lopping all open water divers together is just not the best way to get your point across

You make a great point. I talk to a lot of divers out at the various sites I frequent and educate a lot. I try not to be authoritative just informative. This is usually enough to do the trick...at least during the remainder of the time I'm still at the site. If cave divers showed more respect to OW divers and treated them as people and not children they would be more willing to listen rather than giving dirty looks on the surface. Sometimes they just don't know any better and need someone to talk to them intelligently.

 

[divingpyrate]

that was all I was trying to say in my strange hunor way
I do not see the attraction of cave diving, but I can respect those that do
If that came across bad my apoloogies