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I can think of one group very qualified to do the dives! They have proven
the themselves over and over again. Even a new cave diver like me knows
that.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Lester [mailto:caver@at*.ne*]
Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 18:46
To: cavers@cavers.com
Subject: Weeki Wachee Springs & Twin D's
Hello everyone,
This posting is in response to a posting by Michael Blitch. Mr. Blitch
and I did have a conversation. Unfortunately, Mr. Blitch end up with a
misunderstanding. We have talked and I believe I have done a better job
of communicating the facts this time around. Mr. Blitch seems to be a
nice guy who just misunderstood.
The comment made to Mr. Blitch was:
"We are interested in getting people like Larry Green and Jim King to
work on the project."
The misunderstanding is in the word "like", I do believe.
For the record:
"Neptune Divers of Weeki Wachee, Inc. has signed a contract with Weeki
Wachee Springs, LLC. to provide "recreational" diving in the main head
spring of the Weeki Wachee River. Due to liability concerns, the main
cave at Weeki and Twin D's are closed to diving activities. Special
research and mapping projects are being planned, but as of yet no
project team members have been approached, consulted, or asked to
conduct any type of project in either cave system. Quite frankly, the
challenges of opening the spring to recreational diving and the tangle
of negotiations between all the organizations are enough for the
moment."
After a few very short, and hair raising dives to the mouth of the Weeki
system, I can assure everyone that unless the flow lessen dramatically,
nobody will be able to get through the restriction between 150' and
180'. The restriction is just to small to allow a diver and the water
volume to exist in the same place at the same time. We're talking about
170+ millions on gallons of water per day flowing through a crack 3 to 4
feet wide and 8 to 12 feet long. Some very good people have tried before
me, and a few more have investigated it at our request. So far, everyone
agrees the the main Weeki cave can not be accessed safely at this point
in time.
As for Twin D's. I hope every will understand the necessity of closing
this cave at this point in time. An associate, who I respect very much,
told me "Twin D's scares me. The decompression in the solution tube is
not something I want to do.". The fact is that this cave is dangerous,
deep, and potentially deadly. Are there people who are qualified to dive
this cave? Absolutely! Is this the time to dive it? Certainly not.
I have heard many comments recently concerning the closing of the caves
by Gilchrist County. There was even an accusation that the closings were
"pay back" for the involvement of cavers in denying access to a landfill
and a dairy farm. But I much prefer Wes Skiles comments in a response
letter on the matter in the recent NACD Journal. Landowner relations
must be improved if we (cavers) want to continue to explore new systems
and continue to enjoy the systems we have access to now.
In this spirit, I hope everyone will respect the closure of Twin D's at
this time. We are trying very hard to provide a new and unique site to
the diving world. As time progresses, and projects are planned, Twin D's
has the potential to open for those qualified to conduct cave dives in
this type of system.
We invite all divers to come experience a relaxing day of diving. Please
visit
http://www.Neptune-Divers.com
and select the Weeki site or the Neptune Divers of Weeki Wachee site to
learn more about the recreational diving program soon to be offered at
Weeki Wachee.
Respectfully,
--
Bill Lester
Neptune Divers of Largo, Inc.
http://www.Neptune-Divers.com
Bill@Ne*.co*
757-585-1499
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