Madison Blue closed to cavern divers

[FireInMyBones]

One thing I like about the discussion here is it shows how useful others' opinions can be. I am gad to have my Cavern cert. I hope that the NFSA will reconsider not having Cavern divers, even escorted with a Full Cave diver, in Madison Blue.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I spoke to the park manager this morning about cavern diving in Madison. Lets all hang on for a week or so while this is being reviewed.

The NFSA did not make this rule. The park managers make these type rules and we at the NFSA have a good working relationship with the manager and he listens to and considers our opinions when making decisions of this nature.

Jim
NFSA BoD member
North Florida Springs Alliance

 

[lowviz]

Capt Jim,

Please add that a Cavern cert is seen as one thing in cave country and quite another by outsiders. It is a "big" shiny cert to those that had to travel to earn it. It is my experience that cavern certs are not given away. I would also say that it does attract a few vacation dollars. I came for mine, stayed for full cave. I'll return.

Best,
lowviz

 

[karstdvr]

I am gad to have my Cavern cert. I hope that the NFSA will reconsider not having Cavern divers, even escorted with a Full Cave diver, in Madison Blue.

The NFSA doesn't make the rules they come from the state parks,and these rules can from multiple levels. They can come from the park manager level,and some at the district and Tallahassee level,and obviously the higher up the more time it takes. I am unsure where this rule of cavern diving allowed if escorted with a full cave diver came from,and would appreciate it if someone would point me to this rule. As Jim Wyatt has said,we are working very hard at having the cavern diving rule at Madison re-examined,and hopefully changed,but be patient,because we are in the thick of summer and park resources are being tapped,plus if consultation with higher levels in the state park system is needed. I can promise you that the NFSA will stay tuned to this and hope to have a beneficial solution. We appreciate your support,and in turn if you appreciate what we do,please consider joining us. North Florida Springs Alliance

 

[stairman]

I think cavern is a useful course for introduction to the overhead and like the 4 stages in place to full cave. I also feel more credit should be given to certified cavern divers in their decisions for that environment when all the safety rules such as reel management and air reserves are laid out in the class.

 

[FireInMyBones]

The NFSA did not make this rule. The park managers make these type rules and we at the NFSA have a good working relationship with the manager and he listens to and considers our opinions when making decisions of this nature.

The NFSA doesn't make the rules they come from the state parks,and these rules can from multiple levels. They can come from the park manager level,and some at the district and Tallahassee level,and obviously the higher up the more time it takes.

Good to know. I knew that the NFSA had some connection to accessibility of the springs, but I was unsure of how that worked exactly.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I am unsure where this rule of cavern diving allowed if escorted with a full cave diver came from,and would appreciate it if someone would point me to this rule.

Kelly, my guess is a cave instructor brought a cavern class there and when signing in the ranger on duty may have misunderstood and passed on that cavern divers are allowed to dive there with full cave instructors, which eventually became cavern divers are allowed to diver there with full cave divers. There's been so much confusion at Madison as to what the true rule is over the past several years. I always just tell my students if they want to dive there, they need to call, find out who is going to be on duty the day they plan to dive there and ask that person if cavern divers are allowed, and then hope he/she doesn't call out sick!

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Kelly, my guess is a cave instructor brought a cavern class there and when signing in the ranger on duty may have misunderstood and passed on that cavern divers are allowed to dive there with full cave instructors, which eventually became cavern divers are allowed to diver there with full cave divers.

Rob: That is not even close to what happened.

We know why the rule was made & we are working to get it changed.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Rob: That is not even close to what happened.

We know why the rule was made & we are working to get it changed.

Jim, I'm not referring to the new rule change. I'm talking about the confusion regarding Madison over the years. What it has been over the years is either cavern divers are allowed, cavern divers are allowed but only with a full cave diver, cavern divers are not allowed. This has been dependent on what ranger was on duty at the time. What I posted is simply a possible reason for the confusion over the years and nothing to do with the recent rule enforcement.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Rob:

Perhaps speculation based on lack of evidence is of no value or negative value.