Orlando area springs

[SkimFisher]

Every diver who visit can have a positive or negative effect depending on how their attitude influences those in charge....let's make it a good one.

Agreed.

Pretty much the latter.

Obey the rules and there isn't an issue.

Challenge their authority, or interpretation of the rules, and they simply may have them changed to dissallow your involvement in the first place.

You're involvement doesn't really concern me... except they wouldn't narrow it down to you. They'd narrow it down to us. IE, no diving.

Suck it up, or you may lose the right to dive at OC Blue Spring all together.

I think you've taken my point the wrong way. I think "follow the rules in the first place" is implied in any circumstance. I'm not speaking to the contrary. I'm not saying, "argue with the rangers". I'm saying to do as your told and pursue whatever issues you have along the proper channels. Albeit, not in so many words, but that's what I was trying to drive at. That's it.

Either way, that's all I got...

 

[Fox-Cousteau]

if you follow the rules you won't have a problem. I've dived blue springs dozens of times and never had an issue. and no one has been rude to me

I live local to Blue Springs and dive there often (along with many divers in our scuba club) WE HAVE NEVER had a problem with any of the rangers! In my experience all of the employees at Blue Springs are professional and friendly. In fact, we often joke and talk with various rangers while we are waiting at the gate for the rest of our group.

I've witnessed a couple of incidents (some divers, some swimmers) where a ranger was trying to do his/her job, warning the visitor. Some people just can't leave well enough alone, they usually get argumentative and try to escalate things.
If you don't like the rules, go dive somewhere else!

 

[Dive-aholic]

The way look at it is like this: that the law can be manipulated and twisted (and just flat out forgot) on the scene in the hands of LEO's. Can they take your gear if they want to? Yes. Can they arrest you? Yes. Will it hold up once I get a lawyer and have my day in court? We shall see.

A perfect example of this is a few encounters I've had with the FWC over last few years. Some of these guys have their own interpretation of the law.

It may not hold up in court...it depends on who the judge is that day...but in the mean time you are very much inconvenienced by having to spend a few hours being booked into jail and bailed out and then having to go to court while paying attorney's fees. And in the mean time, your gear is also not available for your use until several months later when the court case is settled...and only then depending on who the judge is that day...

I spent almost 40 years living in areas of the country where the letter of the law is enforced more than the spirit of the law. Moving to the south, and North Florida is the south, was a big wake up call. Not only do they enforce the spirit of the law in the south, but it's their own spirit of the law...

Regardless of whether you agree with it or not, they still are the authorities and can make our lives very difficult if they want to. Being polite and following the rules, even if you don't agree with them, is the best way to deal with it at the time. If you want the rules changed, then go through the legislature.

 

[SkimFisher]

Being polite and following the rules, even if you don't agree with them, is the best way to deal with it at the time.

Goes without saying.