I have received private emails conveying a sense of frustration and futility
about the WKPP. Many individuals feel that they will never have an
opportunity to dive in such places as Wakulla Springs and other sites under
the WKPP’s aegis, because they are viewed as “bad guys” or feel they are
“hated” either by the director or other members.  It is this abject hopeless
frustration which has motivated many people to sign on with the USDCT or
forever remain as vocal detractors lurking on the periphery of our
organization..

Aside from a tiny handful of people, whose attitude and retrograde mindset
permanently prevents them from changing their ways, no one is excluded from
participation in the activities of the WKPP.  It is well understood, though
perhaps not at first glance, that certain activities are inappropriate for
some members. The WKPP got it’s start and made its initial mark in the deep
exploration of Leon Sinks and there is a potent understanding of the extreme
dangers and challenges of this form of diving. There is obviously a lot to
be learned about mixed gas exploration diving.  Especially prior to taking
on major life or death challenge. The WKPP’s program of gradually exposing
members to all aspects of specialized diving, from surface management, gas
mixing and deployment, dive setup, dive support, scooter diving, gas diving
and exploration diving is a time and result proven enterprise.  We have a
good track record and intend to keep it that way.

It is exceptionally common in this sport to encounter those who are “trying
to prove something” either to themselves or their peer group. The “trying to
prove something” problem is at the core of much of the human carnage in
technical diving, if you haven’t already noticed. Within the WKPP
organization there are many checks and balances and hurdles in place to
prevent people from hastening their demise.  Anybody who is serious about
pursuing mixed gas exploration cave diving should want to embrace this
ideology and not perceive it as a type of punishment for political
divergence.

In short, anybody who really wants to dive and is committed to doing what it
takes will get a shot with the one caveat  “Eventually”.

Jess Armantrout has articulately described the arduous path to diving in
extreme situations, such as Wakulla Springs.  In keeping with the core WKPP
philosophy of the “team is my life support” Jess has disclosed the most
basic of all requirements. That is the requisite of having two other members
who will dive with you as a team before you go anywhere, after all of the
other hurdles have been attained.  The USDCT should think long and hard
about this.

Our problem with the USDCT is not with the rank and file of people with
legitimate aspirations and a desire to share in the opportunity to explore
spectacular natural wonders.  It is with the mistaken believe that there is
a magic shortcut to this activity. We perceive this situation not unlike the
perpetration of a fraud on the innocent and ignorant. Bill Stone, as project
leader presides over this situation and will be the one to accept
responsibility when someone is killed or injured.  You would think that the
experience of  carrying a dead friend out Huatla would have tempered his
enthusiasm for frivolous risk and made him much more careful in is planning
and preparation.

When we listen to his ignorant and nonsensical remarks, which find their way
into the public domain (he will not debate us publicly) we are shocked at
the blatant stupidity of certain of these hare brained schemes. Using the
Cis Lunar Mk 5 without adequate open circuit bailout is a fine example of
this dyslexic reasoning. While we have made our opinion well known regarding
the use of electronic CCRs in an overhead environment (very risky, but
sometimes all 18 wheels will miss the smiling possum) we certainly would
give Stone and King their due with a green light. That is if they  take the
minimum precautions of a basic open circuit escape mechanism, at least for
the others in the project, if not themselves.

Let’s pose the following scenario:  You are on your CIS 4000ft back in A
tunnel in a section with 4ft viz.  You are following your buddy on the line
while trying to maintain control of your scooter without inhaling the line
or other adjacent lines. Suddenly you notice the o2 warning light start
flashing in the heads up display and at the same time you notice that the
oxygen solenoid is not longer firing.  You flash your buddy ahead of you but
he can’t see your light flash because of the bad visibility.  You pause to
switch over to open circuit. This is now a serious emergency and you need to
get on to the backup system asap. Now, your buddy is gone and will not know
that you are in trouble until he gets to clear water which may not be for
another 1000 ft. Your buddy is towing the backup rebreather on the backup
scooter and your open circuit will only last 3 – 5 minutes at best at 280ft.
You think about how foolish you were to have believed in Bill Stone and how
nice your life was.  These are your last thoughts.

When you consider the above and you weigh the measured careful approach of
the WKPP I hope you can understand why we do the things we do and take the
inflexible attitude that we do. The issue here is not hatred of others, but
an overriding concern for the safety and well being of  other humans in what
otherwise is a very serious and dangerous enterprise.  Please view it in
that regard and do not take umbrage of offense.

Best wishes,

Bill Mee


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