NSS-CDS Board of Directors

[tbone1004]

You are right I am not trying to justify being a member of the CDS, just adding clarity the NFSA is not a cave organization. Where the NFSA is more of a function for land owner relations with the state parks, if the CDS didn't exist you may not have access to Eagles Nest, LIttle River for example.

historic deeds do not warrant continued existence in the absence of current actions

 

[SandyRobinson]

... if the CDS didn't exist you may not have access to Eagles Nest, LIttle River for example.

Or Cow Springs, Mill Creek Sink, and School Sink

 

[karstdvr]

Or Cow Springs, Mill Creek Sink, and School Sink

I would add Madison right after the Bruic's sold it and it went to private leaser. Also, a lesser known event but " a group" tried to co-op JB for their use only.

 

[karstdvr]

historic deeds to not warrant continued existence in the absence of current actions

Ask the converse, what have the private cave diving agencies contributed to what is tangible to cave diving?

 

[tbone1004]

Ask the converse, what have the private cave diving agencies contributed to what is tangible to cave diving?

I maintain that their failure to be proactive over the last decade has proven that their lack of existence going forward will not cause anything appreciable to be lost. The NACD proved that. I have infinitely more faith in the NFSA for keeping access to caves open than I do with the CDS. They carry weight because of the NSS, but that's about it and even that has been threatened in recent years...

 

[NothingClever]

I’ve been off the net for the most part since December, busy with a new job and also with my duties as a director on a board for a 501c3 organization focused on high performance training (not SCUBA related).

Sharing a perception about this thread. I welcome any corrections.

I keep sensing there is a proportionally higher degree of dysfunction in the north Florida cave diving community than there is in all the other sub-disciplines of diving.

At one end of the SCUBA spectrum is the dysfunction of the OW/basic technical instruction that we all complain about. Predictable short cuts on standards, laziness about drills to develop proficiency, etc, etc.

However, at the other end of the SCUBA spectrum it seems there is an equal or perhaps greater dysfunction. Considering the foundational emphasis on skill proficiency and teamwork required for successful cave diving, it’s counterintuitive how much abandonment of basic cooperation there seems to be. Where I’d assume I’d find an unblinking drive towards organizational objectives and also pulling everybody along with universal community objectives, I find a fragmented and toxic dive mob. I was going to write toxic dive community but community seems like a generous term.

The predictable fouls of amateur OW/basic technical training seem trivial and excusable when compared to the fouls of NACD and NSS-CDS.

Is this just us, the members of SB, hyper-focusing on matters? Or is the degree of dysfunction real and palpable regardless of any particular forum’s focus on it?

At any rate, whether real or perceived, the general stigma I see makes me think “Why take the risk with my time and money on these deflated organizations?” Seems like a far better investment of my time and energies to make my way to High Springs to see where and how I can fit into GUE. I think I’d rather be criticized for spending 4000l of backgas doing drills at 10m as a GUE devotee than be that guy that spends his mental powers scrapping for his little dive tribe to somehow make it to the top of a North Florida pyramid. “I got the conch!”

I can’t and won’t justify Darth Irving’s actions on the early internet (with his 8th grade level problem-solving and name calling) but I can sure see why he was tempted to choose a scorched Earth policy in his march to the sea.

OK, karsts in this case.

Interested to hear from others who believe the non-GUE organizations still have something to offer prospective cave diving trainees who come to the training equation with a desire to learn and uphold high standards, both in and out of the water.

 

[ofg-1]

historic deeds do not warrant continued existence in the absence of current actions

Stupid question. If your position is that if CDS no longer existed it would make no difference to the community, then why does their continued existence bother you? If they are irrelevant, why spend so much time thinking about them? The CDS is living rent free in your head.

You know, the Flat Earth Society exists, but if they did not it probably would not make any difference, but their existence does not bother me. BTW, If the Flat Earth Society interests you, you may join here:

The Flat Earth Society

 

[tbone1004]

Stupid question. If your position is that if CDS no longer existed it would make no difference to the community, then why does their continued existence bother you? If they are irrelevant, why spend so much time thinking about them? The CDS is living rent free in your head.

You know, the Flat Earth Society exists, but if they did not it probably would not make any difference, but their existence does not bother me. BTW, If the Flat Earth Society interests you, you may join here:

The Flat Earth Society

because their continued existence is causing the community to become divided and we need a uniting force which is what they could/should be doing, but are continuing down a path that will only cause problems in the community to the point that if some of the issues like what @karstdvr alluded to with their historic function arise again, I'm not entirely convinced that they would have the ability to unite the community. The NFSA could, the CDS used to be able to, but I don't believe they could if something happened tomorrow.

 

[ofg-1]

So, if they were to go away, it would have no impact, but their existence has a impact that is perceived to be negative by some, while others think that it is positive. Right? Are you implying that cave divers can't agree on anything? Excuse me while I get out my shocked face.

 

[tbone1004]

So, if they were to go away, it would have no impact, but their existence has a impact that is perceived to be negative by some, while others think that it is positive. Right? Are you implying that cave divers can't agree on anything? Excuse me while I get out my shocked face.

I have yet to hear anyone say that they think the CDS currently has a positive impact on the community that isn't part of the BoD, and even that doesn't appear to be universal. It could be, it should be, but when not a single person can say ANYTHING that they have done to better the cave community in the last 5 years, it's hard to say that they're relevant. Right now, they are causing huge rifts after the shakedown on the board and the motions that are being made right now