SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
Yes please. Breaking rules can affect more than just your diving, alot of these places have been offlimits in the past... We don't need to lose divesites.
Orlando area springs
- Thread starter svs
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PfcAJ
Contributor
Dude, I accidentally took a light (its always on my gear) into Blue Spring with some OW divers and I nearly got arrested. There were 3 cops and they were real pissed. The LAST thing we need is any problems form divers at state parks.
Go ahead and dive solo there. Just make sure it's your last day of diving because besides issuing you a citation they will also confiscate your gear.
ucfdiver
Contributor
Yup...this park has the rudest employees of ANY park system I've ever been to including about 20 FL state parks and several national parks. I don't find it all that pleasant going there even following the rules. This post doesn't mean I'm excusing breaking the rules (I'd hate to see access to OTHER state parks lost!), just sharing my experience with the park.
I once left backup lights on my harness by accident when with an OW group, and was told that I was under arrest and my gear would be confiscated in front of all swimmers. I was made to stand in my gear (it was pouring rain by now) and wait while the officer looked at our license and background info that he pulled up on his laptop. I've also heard of times when they allowed divers and the front office instructed them to stay as far away from the manatees as possible. The rule states you have to be something like 100-150ft away, and the spring run isn't even that wide. The officers nearby chewed them out for swimming around the manatees to the spring boil, and told them that they could take all of their gear while arresting them.
I wonder if Janet is bored these days since she left Peacock and would be willing to take that park over?
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adm3745
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they are prety rude there. My worst experience was when they wouldn't let me dive because I had a temp OW card. After some simple questioning on my part, they had 3 officers come down to "escort" me out.
Can't you bring lights in there with a cave card though? Do other state parks do stuff like ginnie where you get a colored bracelet for your cert level?
Can't you bring lights in there with a cave card though? Do other state parks do stuff like ginnie where you get a colored bracelet for your cert level?
Under which law are they going to confiscate my gear? I follow all the rules and don't take lights/knives where they aren't allowed. Even trespassing doesn't give cause to take someones gear. Do they have special laws or has this just been threatened and not followed through?
Back to the original question...
The simple solution for you is to advertise for a buddy either in this forum or in the Florida Conch Divers forum. Find someone who wants to dive when you are there, meet up, and have a nice, safe, and legal dive.
The simple solution for you is to advertise for a buddy either in this forum or in the Florida Conch Divers forum. Find someone who wants to dive when you are there, meet up, and have a nice, safe, and legal dive.
CamG
Contributor
Greetings svs and it can be challenging to find buddies at times. I understand your desire for the Solo option. The thing that has already been made clear is that many places do not advocate Solo diving at all. I just attended a seminar on Solo diving by SDI / TDI and it was very evident that quite a few negative opinions exist in the diving world. One such was a comment about a legal team that was working to make it harder for Solo diving? I guess lawyers get bored too! The general feeling was that Solo training is awesome and of great benefit but not all divers should dive Solo even it they are trained to do so. The elevated awareness and planning takes time and experience to develop. I have been pondering the training to simply be a better buddy and the advanced dive planning is awesome.
In a overhead environment the rules are made to keep people safe and each dive site can determine just exactly what and how to enforce them. As some have mentioned there are places that are very sensitive, "serious" about enforcement.
I decided to get the training and follow the rules and by doing so found several buddies local and in Florida that I can call for a dive when need be. It was great to meet and train with these guys. Just a thought if you are having trouble finding buddies sign up for Cavern / Intro. Cave class or refresher. That will put you into contact with a LDS and introduce you to other divers.
Again I am not telling you what to do but just presenting options. What I do know is that claiming ignorance will not work, I was told far to many stories by my instructor and I believe him! I like to always stay on the good side of law enforcement.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
In a overhead environment the rules are made to keep people safe and each dive site can determine just exactly what and how to enforce them. As some have mentioned there are places that are very sensitive, "serious" about enforcement.
I decided to get the training and follow the rules and by doing so found several buddies local and in Florida that I can call for a dive when need be. It was great to meet and train with these guys. Just a thought if you are having trouble finding buddies sign up for Cavern / Intro. Cave class or refresher. That will put you into contact with a LDS and introduce you to other divers.
Again I am not telling you what to do but just presenting options. What I do know is that claiming ignorance will not work, I was told far to many stories by my instructor and I believe him! I like to always stay on the good side of law enforcement.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
Yup...this park has the rudest employees of ANY park system I've ever been to including about 20 FL state parks and several national parks. I don't find it all that pleasant going there even following the rules. This post doesn't mean I'm excusing breaking the rules (I'd hate to see access to OTHER state parks lost!), just sharing my experience with the park.
I once left backup lights on my harness by accident when with an OW group, and was told that I was under arrest and my gear would be confiscated in front of all swimmers. I was made to stand in my gear (it was pouring rain by now) and wait while the officer looked at our license and background info that he pulled up on his laptop. I've also heard of times when they allowed divers and the front office instructed them to stay as far away from the manatees as possible. The rule states you have to be something like 100-150ft away, and the spring run isn't even that wide. The officers nearby chewed them out for swimming around the manatees to the spring boil, and told them that they could take all of their gear while arresting them.
I wonder if Janet is bored these days since she left Peacock and would be willing to take that park over?
I read about an incident in which they arrested a swimmer because he swam toward the manatees in the spring run. Never mind that he was actually swimming toward the stairs to get out of the water so he would not be breaking the law and the manatees followed him!!!
RICO...They can confiscate anything that assists you in breaking a law. It's such a vague law that it pretty much covers anything, including gear...
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