Private quarry questions

[TracyKent]

There's a large qarry just a few miles from my house that is begging for some divers, problem is it is private property and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how I could approach the owners and make them feel comfortable about someone exploring their quarry. To my knowledge no one has gone down there and I'm not sure anyone has asked. The porperty is a lumbermill on the other end and I'm wondering if they would worry about the liability. Its supposed to be about one hundred feet deet and covers about 15 acres. Like I said BEGGING!!! Please give me any suggestions.

 

[Bob3]

Make up a nice release statement, like this one: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/divers3/release.html and change where appropriate.
Some states have "hold harmless" laws on the books where a property owner cannot be held liable when people are using their land while engaged in "sporting" activities such as snowmobiling, hunting, etc. The laws usually came about to protect landowners from lawsuits brought by trespassers but they benefit the rest of us in the process.

 

[ScubaCatgirl]

On the other hand, there are still states that have laws where a landowner can be sued for another individual being hurt on their property, but if you use a release form, it removes them from most of the liability (as long as their not aware of a potentially dangerous situation in the quarry)

 

[scubaguy655]

Either way, I would be extremely careful about diving in an unknown quarry. There can be (and typically is) a lot of junk in a quarry. In addition, the walls can be unstable from the mining operation and can create a potential hazard when big chunks become dislodged by a diver's bubbles.

...on the other hand.....sounds like fun with the proper planning! Let us know how it works out.

 

[fire_diver]

If all else fails, just offer to buy it from them. They are probably itching to dump a piece of useless realestate.

 

[ckjacques53198]

Sounds like a blast diving where probably nobody else has. Good luck getting permission.

 

[eckybay]

One of the plants by my actually has two quarries on their property that have filled with water. While the surface area of them is on the smaller side, they do have about 85' depths to them. I got the chance to ask one of the management guys there if they'd be willing to let divers in and got a strong no and some explaination about a lot of junk being in them, bad vis, etc. It's the answer that I was expecting, but I had to give it a try anyways.

 

[Web Monkey]

Either way, I would be extremely careful about diving in an unknown quarry. There can be (and typically is) a lot of junk in a quarry. In addition, the walls can be unstable from the mining operation and can create a potential hazard when big chunks become dislodged by a diver's bubbles.

...on the other hand.....sounds like fun with the proper planning! Let us know how it works out.

Not to be the voice of doom, but you should probably also find out what's in the water and what was being mined.

I'd hate to find out after a dive that is was Asbestos, Arsinic, Uranium or something else nasty.

Terry