>< H U)

r p::: ~ p::j l::: ~ Z

~I

~ :> ,...J ~ :J< E-<

~ l:: ::;> ,...J 0 :>

.. : -".

2. UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY Vol. 12, No.6

CAVE DIVING SECTION OF THE NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

- BOARD OF DIRECTORS -CnaiTlTlan: STEVE ORMEROID

629 West 4th St. Marysvi lIe, OH 43040 (513) 642-7775

Vice-Chairman: MARK LONG P. O. Box 1633 Leesburg, FL 32749-1633 (904) 787-5627

Secretary- JOE PROSSER Treasurer: 7400 N.W. 55th St.

Training Chairman:

Directors:

Miami, FL 33166 (305) 592-3146 WES SKILES P. O. Box 73 Branford, FL 32008 (904) 935-2469 JEFF BOZANIC POB 490462 Key Biscayne, FL 33149-0462 (904) 361-8059 WAYNE MARSHALL P. O. Box 1414 Seffner, FL 33584 (B13) 681-3629 DALE PURCHASE 337 Plymouth Saginaw, MI 48603 (517) 799-0973

- PROGRAM COORDINATORS -

Newsletter: Publications: Safety Coordinator:

Recovery and Accident Investigation:

Cave Files;

Conservation:

Abe Davis Award: Training Coordinator: Winter Workshop

Co-Chairmen: Cavern Manual:

Sump-Diving Project: NSS News Column ----rrSuoaquatic Speleology":

H.V. GREY H.V. GREY MARK LEONARD Rt. 14, Box 136 Lake City, FL 32055 (904) 752-1087 LT. HENRY NICHOLSON-4517 Park St. Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 384-2818 MIKE SANDERS 1367 Rupert Rd. Decatur, GA 30030 (404) 284-1587 DR. BILL FEHRING 3508 Hollow Oak Pl. Brandon, FL 33511 (813) 689-7520 MARK LEONARD JOE PROSSER MARK LONG WES SKILES DR. JOHN ZUMRICK 120 Rusty Gans Dr. Panama City, FL 32407 (904) 234-6002 DALE PURCHASE DR. MILLEDGE MURPHEY 1815 NW 7th Pl. Gainesville, FL 32603 (904) 373-9234

COVER: George Bortnyk at Hole in the Wall, Marianna, FL; depth 90', penetration 500-600'. Photo by Judd Sheets.

Underwater Speleology is the official newsletter of the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society, Inc. Sectlon membership, which includes subscription to the newsletter, is o~en to all members inr···· good standing of the NSS at $5 per year. Subscriptions for non-members are $7 per year. Membership/subscription information, applications, and ,­status may be obtained by writing to the Secretary/Treasurer c/o the Section's permanent address:

Joe Prosser, Treasurer, NSS-CDS P. O. Box 950 Branford, FL 32008-0950

All current news items, reports, articles, photographs, negatives, slides, or other submissions for the newsletter should be sent or phoned in directly to the editor;

H.V. Grey, Editor, UWS bus (813)484-8150 P. O. Box 575 -Venice, FL 34284-0575 res (813)488-4672

All other official dealings with the Cave DiVing Section, including general information inquiries, publications orders, and training certi­fication matters, should be directed to the Section's official, perma­nent address (POB 950, Branford, FL 32008-0950). Specify, if possible, which officer or program coordinator should handle your request in order to speed up the forwarding process. Non-official matters can be taken up with the individual officers or coordinators through their personal addresses.

CALENDAR Oct. 26-27 - NACO Cavern Workshop for Open-Water Instructors, at Manatee

and Ginnie Springs. Contact Steve Gerrard. 5714 Ed White Ct., Tallahassee, FL 32301, (904)656-1223.

Dec. 28-29 - NSS-CDS Winter Workshop, at Branford High School, Branford, FL. Contact Workshop Chairmen: Wes Skiles & Mark Long, NSS-CDS, POB 950, Branford, FL 32008-0950. (See BOD phone numbers.)

NEW-STYLE MAILING LABEL - by Joe Prosser ( Beginning with the August issue of UWS (12:4), a new-stYle label"

made its appearance. This new mailing label is reflective of ongoing changes to better serve the members of the COS and subscri­bers. First, many of you may notice a four or five-digit code appearing above your-name. To the best of our records, this is your NSS member number. If only zeros appear it simply indicates that at press time we did not have this information available. As lists are updated, this will be included. To the right of your NSS number in parentheses is a date. For most of us this is either 5/85 or 12/85. This represents your CDS membership expiration date. In the upper righthand corner is a number (up to 3 digits). This is not a CDS member number. It is a computer file location number and-cin change from time to time. It is assigned by the computer and really means nothing to anyone except another computer buff.

Please look this label over and let us know if something is not correct. Please also check with your caving friends (are there any other kind?). If they are not receiVing UWS and believe they should be, please have them contact the Section.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO DIVE SHOPS AND OTHERS DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CAVE DIVING SECTION - by Joe Prosser

As announced previously, the CDS received its state sales-tax exemption certificate effective September 1, 1985. We must now also collect sales tax on all items purChased and delivered here in Florida. If you are purchaSing items for resale, then please complete and return to the Treasurer (POB 950, Branford, FL 32008-09?0) a blanket c~rtifica~e ~f ~esale. We wish to avoid delaying shipments or charging tax If It IS unnecessary. This is the law, so please cooperate.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO FOREIGN MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS - The Board of _ Directors of the CDS voted to ~nd all first-class air-mail service fr,rm/h to overseas addresses. Effective with the next issue (12:7) of \lll~P' UWS, all overseas delivery will bevia surface transport only. This . will save the Section $10.00 per year for each copy of UWS sent overs~as. It will add approximately 6-8 weeks delivery time. If you Wish to receive future issues of UWS via air mail then it will cost you the additional $10.00. Please notify the Tr~asurer (and send.In your $10.00 [U.S. funds only) if you wish to have air mail serVIce.

October 16. 1985 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY 3

SPECIAL NOTICE TO All MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS - from Joe Prosser, Treasurer.

Shortly you will be receiving renewal notices for 1986. The

('---'tices are self-explanatory, so I won't oore you with details

i/. I would like to point out that to be incluied in the '- d86 membership roster, I need your notices returned as soon

as possible. If your NSS -tRe11lbership has expired, you may renew through the CDS (you nrust be current with both your NSS and CDS dues to be listed as a member). We are also providing a voluntary additional member fee of $2.50. If your expiration date is in Hay, we would like to lIIOVe you to Decanber so that I only have to b.Jg people for money once a year. If you are not current with the NSS or wish to be listed only as a sub-­scriber, please note so on the renewal form. Lastly, a ballot will be enclosed for members to use, so please do so. We have even included a stamped, self-addressed envelope for your convenience.

EBRO BlllE SPRINGS DR(M{[NG - reported by John Crea On Thurs., Oct. 3, 1985, there was a drowning in Ebro

Springs, in [bro, FL. 'The victim, George Alvin Matthews, aged 22, resident of Bay County, FL, and another diving ruddy, also

- aged 22, went diving at the Springs sanetime around noon. Both had been certified as open-water divers alxlut twO months before the accident. They were wearing only single tanks, with single regulators (no octopus rigs), and had only one light apiece. Neither had received any kind of cavern or cave training.

10-15 minutes into the dive, as they were on their way out of the cave, the two divers got separated. The ruddy made his way out, rut - Matthews drowned. His body was recovered by two divers from the Sheriff's Rescue Team (Washington County, Alabama). Crea watched a video report of the ,incident on the Friday night news and said that the recovery divers were not cave-rigged. Pictures of the victim showed that his fins were not taped, and that he was wearing snorkel and weight belt.

Crea said that the Sheriff talked of closing access to Ebro Springs and was quoted specifically as saying, '~e may want to

C-- ',se the springs. We will contact the Corps of Engineers.

~y might be able to blast it and close it." .. Crea also said that 'IV Channel 13 (WMBB) in Panama City said on the air that the victim and his buddy were "certified cave divers." Crea has asked for a retraction and cprrection of this statement.

INDIA FUlLER SENDS GREEITNGS nCM MA<XlN! GEORGIA India Fuller, past Chairman of the CDS, sends warm regards h Id -d' ving toddies. She says that she has not been

to er 0 cave ~ , 't th th r diving for two years but almost got talked ~nto ~ e 0 ~ day! She says that ~he has become an avid White-water cano~st and heads north for the rapids every chance she gets. Good luck India and thanks for your card! (India can be reached at 4220 wood Forest Place, Macon, GA 31210.)

OiAIRM4.N'S MESSAGE The annual meeting of the CDS is just around the corner,

and with it, elections of BOD members and appointments of pro­ject coordinators. As I approach running for another term on the board, I again look forward to working with the close nucleus of rns members that have been the mainstay of our organization for several years. But I always anticipate seeing new, eager members wishing to volunteer their time and talents to help continue the standards the CDS has come to appreciate.

As our mernbership roles push beyond 400, the load on our publications, training, and membership coordinators reaches a point almost beyond volunteer time. The tremendous efforts put forth in the areas by Valerie Grey,- Joe Prosser, Wes Skiles, and Henry Nicholson during my years as chairman, have certainly benefited the entire cave-diving camrunity. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to these four individuals for their dedication to the many mundane and ooring tasks that must be faced and conquered to keep the CDS running.

My continued hopes for the CDS lie in the abilities of our membership to continue to fill the roles created by many of our past and present BOD and project coordinators. I would ask of the membership to always remember that we can only receive What we give to our Section, in our cave diving, caving, and member­ship.

This upcoming year, consider where your talents might con­tribute to the continued growth of the NSS-CDS.

Good Caving, Steve Ormeroid

ROBBERIES AT PFA<XlCK SPRINGS More than $3000 worth of cave-di ving gear, personal effects,

and cash were stolen recently at Peacock Springs. Lamar Hires and Jim Coke were diving out of Mark Leonard's truck. While they were underwater, the driver's window was smashed and the gear and money removed. Another vehicle was also broken into, and a tire slashed. (The vent window of the van was jinmied open, and jewelry and a radar detector were stolen.)

The robberies occurred on a 'fuesday. A suspect vehicle is a red Chevy S10 pickup truck (a smallish truck), either '84 or'8S, which was seen driving around and behaving a little suspiciously shortly before the robberies. Mark Leonard was apparently told by the Sheriff that this was the eighth such robbery to occur this year at Peacock, Olsen, and Orange Grove.

Divers are cautioned about diving these areas on weekdays when there aren't any other vehicles around.

mdlo- l­tQ,,'i v"df($t ... J J. 1 Jo.'-t s-d'n1 to ~e .. Jc1nj /).D'I f ro3rt'.!>.$/if

~\l ll.

"---~~~~~-~-ai~i~i--i'~!.--="'~~~--7i-_~·~j-,-·t~J--~.-~~~~~~~~~5~-~~~-~--~_=-> . -_. ;:::-------=="'::..;:.-.:;.... _-_o--____ ~_-_-__ ----, -_._- by rian,,! Bt-aSs

[ TAt- CQVI!.- 1JN8H. &0 Soo, kellt'J

4 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY Vol. 12, No.6

HAWAIIAN CAVE DROWNING - by Joe Prosser

The following is a review of a cave-diving fatality Which occurred near Cape Kinau, Lapurusa Bay, Maui Island, Hawaii. The basis of the review consists of an initial report made by the team leader (Ed Robinson, a NAUI Open-water Instructor), -plus int~ews with an additional three survivors. Sketches and descriptions of the cave were provided by two open-water divers familiar with the cave. These sketches were illlscaled and inconsistent with eactl other and with the testimony provi­ded by the survivors. Although the interviews and descriptions provided were gathered by professional investigators, none of the parties involved had had any apparent formal cave-diving education. Several ambiguous statements and contradictions were left illlpurSUed. The information in this review was pro­vided without conment by Jeff Bozanic (NSS# 22532) to the Section in August, 1985.

The dive team leader was Ed Robinson. Ed is a dive-boat operator working out of Maui Island. He apparently had dived this cave in the past and had taken other divers on tours through the system. His assistant and safety diver during the fatal dive was Sue (last name unknown). It is not mown if Sue had explored this cave before. Test~ny by the survivors had indicated that the survivors had assuned she was experi­enced in this cave and had acted' in a similar capacity before. There were no direct statements in the report by Sue.

The four other divers were John Baird, Tom Colan, Masao Nakan, and Preston Penny. John Baird had claimed extensive open-water diving experience but, admitted to having tried caves "only three or four times" prior to the fatal dive. Tom Colan was certified as an open-water diver three years prior to this accident but claimed to have made only 10-12 dives prior to his vacation to Hawaii. Tom had dived "extenSively" While in Hawaii but had made no cave dives prior to the fatal dive. Masao Nakan was vacationing in Hawaii from Japan. No reference is n~de to his specific diving background but it was assumed by the other divers that he was a certified open-water diver. It is not known if Masao had explored underwater caves prior to the accident. . Masao, Tom, and John had never met or dived together prior to the fatal .dive. Preston Penny was a

. certified open-water diver. He had made four dives during the two days prior to the accident with Ed Robinson. There was no indication that Preston had any previous cave-diving experi­ence. Preston had not dived or met with any of the other participants (except Sue) prior to this dive.

On February 23, 1984, the group of divers assembled at Ed Robinson's boat at 7:45am. At this time various dive-site alternatives were discussed. According to Tom Colan, Ed suggested that for a first dive the group would dive a cave. Ed issued one light per diver and had indicated that he would lead the group to take a video movie of the dive. Sue was to act as safety diver and follow the group in the cave. Should a member of the team require assistance, he was to go to either Ed or Sue for aid.

In the sketches provided by R.M. Severns and Roy Damron, the cave was a single trilllk passage with three side chambers. These rooms were referred to as the Small Olamber, Turtle Olamber, and Deep Olamber. The depths of the passages and chambers are illlclear. Survivors recalled the depths to be about 50 feet. The report by Ed said that the victim was recovered in 75 feet of water. The sketches indicate depths of 25 feet at the middle exit, to 90 feet in the Turtle Olam­ber, to 100 feet in the Deep Cltamber. Survivors described the initial portion of the cave to be large enough for six divers to swim abreast. Masao stated that there was a "tight" ("tight"--undefined) spot between the initial section and the main t=k. A "very narrow" restriction was referen­ced by the survivors and indicated on both sketches between the main passage and the Deep Cltamber. All survivors described the floor of the cave to be very silty. Both sketches show the middle exit to be about one third of the distance between the pr~ry opening and the planned exit. This middle exit was not on the same plane as the main passage. It was described by the survivors and shown on a sketch to be an hourglass-shape opening. Direct sillllight was visible from this opening only When directly beneath it. The Small Chamber was sketched as being just beyond the midGle exit and on the same side as the small chamber and about halfway between the middle and planned (third) exit. The Deep Chamber is also on

the same side of the passageway as the other chambers and about three fourths of the way between the middle exit and the _ planned exit. C

All divers were using 80-cubic-foot cylinders filled to .: 3000psi. The plan called for Ed to lead the way and film. Tom, John, Masao, and Preston were to follow in a group, with Sue behind the group to act as safety diver. When the team got to the middle exit an air check was to be performed. If any member had less than 1500psi, he would surface at the middle exit and return to the boat. The others would continue on to explore all three chambers and surface at the third, planned exit. The dive went just about as planned up to the check­point. Tom and John reported that they each had the minimum 1500psi. Masao said he had 2000psi r~ining at the check­point. No one took the middle exit and the dive proceeded.

ThE first indication of trouble occurred when all divers had entered the Deep Chamber. Tom reported that he saw he was down to 600psi and went to Ed to signal that he was low on air and wanted to exit. John saw this and recalled that he was down to about 600psi and that visibility was deteriorating. Ed led Tom out of the Deep O1amber, and John followed. Ed led his group towards the third and closest exit. While en route, Tom's sonic alarm went off and he required assistance and air from Ed. When the group surfaced John stated that he had less than lOOpsi showing on his gauge. Tom and Ed had no air left in their cylinders. They· waited for the others to surface.

MeanWhile Masao, Preston, and Sue were in the Deep O1amber. Masao reported that visibility had deteriorated to near zero. He was able only to see the glow of lights from his two remaining partners. One light signaled and the other diver next to him swam toward it. Sue was signaling and directed Masao out of the Deep Chamber. This restriction was "tough to swirnthrough," but once into the main passage, Masao could see that Preston was having "much difficulty" in negoti­ating the restriction. Masao felt at this point that Sue must have pushed Preston through the restriction. As Preston andC'-­then Sue emerged from the restriction, a "cloud of silt overcame us all." ..

ThE events from this point on became rather confusing. Masao either preceded or followed Sue away from the closer or planned exit and back toward the middle exit. It is not known if the two ever saw Preston alive again. Masao and Sue located and surfaced through the middle exit. When Ed noticed that a diver was missing, he took a fresh cylinder and returned to the cave. He surfaced a few moments later with Preston. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. It was speculated that Preston missed the middle exit and ran out of air attemp­ting to reach the initial entry point. Others suggested that Preston ran out of air between the Deep. Chamber and the middle exit. According to Ed, Preston was found on the bottom clutch­ing a camera in one hand and a light in his other hand. The victim was laying prone on the bottom with his gear in place and no air left in his cylinder. His body was located in a portion of the cave which still had clear water remaining.

In analyzing this aCcident, one can return to classic acci­dent analysis. None of the divers involved had received any formalized cave-diving training. None had practiced or pro­vided any specific emergency-escape planning. It was most fortunate that the entire team did not perish in this dive.

The plan was much too elaborate for this team and its equipment. Combining video, still photography, and potential exploration in a group Where at least half of the people had never even dived together, before the fatal dive, must be extremely complicated. This group failed to utilize a guide­line in the cave. Perhaps with a guideline the second group would not have chosen to swim back into the cave bUt could have escaped via the closer exit. The group failed to reserve at least two thirds of their beginning air supply to exit. When the group stopped for an air check at least half the team was already at or beyond normal safe air limits for cave di,· ~lWill Once at this air check the group began to explore the most ~;H~f ,: extensive portion of the cave. At least two divers claiming hr be familiar with the cave stated that depths in the Deep Chamber may have been as much as 100 feet. Combining depth with group size and training, this was an accident waiting to happen. Preston Penny was 37 years old at the time of his death. He was vacationing in Hawaii to celebrate his honeymoon.

-.:

October 16, 1985 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY 5

CUTTING CORNERS - by Randy Bohrer Have you ever:

rl) Junped the gap to the Hill 400 line in Devil' s Eye without \ mnecting it with a line?

" (2) Swun to the permanent line in Devi 1 's Eye wi th no line to the entrance? (3) Calculated a turning pressure of 2000psi when your starting pressure was 3100psi or 3200psi? (4) Continued a cave dive after your primary light failed? (5) Dived alone?

The list goes on and on. At first glance, these acts seem unthinkable. However, if we carefully analyze our past cave dives, many of us will find that we have done some of these things or at least s(XQething similar. We cut corners on lines, rationaliZing that a three-foot gap won't be missed, or that we know the system so well that we can't get lost even in low . visibility. We cut corners on air saying that since it took so much to get down and fight the current, ·we can go just a little bit farther. We cut corners on lights because we think that surely with so many lights in the first place, there will be enough to get us out.

These excuses for breaking cave-diving rules are valid and could be acceptable provided that nothing else goes wrong during the dive. I will illustrate this point with an example.

Three divers who shall remain unnamed (rut one of which is the author) began a cave dive in Madison Blue Spring one evening after dark. I shall protect the guilty and change the names of these divers to Bob, Jim, and Steve.

ERROR #1: Bob was suffering fr(XQ a head cold rut decided to make the dive anyway, loading up on decongestants to aid in clearing his ears.

The three entered the water, and after performing all of their checks, double checks, and calculations, like good cave divers do, they submerged and headed for the smaller of the two cave entrances. At this point, Bob's primary light, a prototype helmet-mount'ed unit in use for the first time,

( ~'liled.

ERROR #2: Bob decided to continUe the dive using one of his . LWO backup lights as the new primary.

Bob poSitioned himself between Jim, the reel man, and Steve, so that he could be seen by both, and would have the benefit of their 50-watt lights to vie\~ the cave.

The visibility was low, somewhere around twenty to thirty feet, as it often is in Madison when the river is high. How­ever, the current was light and the team was looking fo~ard to a challenging journey to the far depths of the cave.

The team continued and at a penetration of about 600 feet, Bob's small light began to dim. Steve offered the use of his secondary light, which was graciously accepted. At a penetra­tion of about 1200 feet, they turned and headed home.

ERROR #3: Jim, Bob, and Steve allowed large gaps to develop between than during the exit, and for all intents and purpoSeS were diving alone since they often coUld not see each other.

When they reached the point where a descent is necessary to continue, Bob found that he was unable to equalize pressure in his ears. He continued until the pain became almost unbearable.

ERROR #4: Bob spotted a dome, and without signalling the others, he left the line and ascended the 15 feet to the ceil­ing, hoping that the change in pressure would make it easier to equalize.

Progress with equalizing was slow'and difficult. Before Bob was ready to descenQ, Jim, the reel man, swam under and past him, leaving him alOne and with no line. Since Jim was using a 50~watt primary light, he did not notice the dim beam of the sec;ondary l~t with which Bob was trying to signal him.

Fortunately, Bob s ears were cooperative and he descended and quickly caught up. The three then exited uneventfully.

After the dive, it was apparent that Jim was unaware that Bob had been left behind. Furthermore, Steve had mistaken Jim's light for that of Bob's, and also assumed all was well.

,,~!q doubt the two would not have learned of Bob's absence alli~~ore surfacing unless they got close enough to recognize ~tfch other.

Three main factors contributed to the near death of Bob: (1) Cutting corners on health. Bob should have aVOided diving until his sinuses were clear and he was feeling perfect. (2) Cutting corners on lights. Bob could have surfaced when his light failed and allowed the others to continue the dive since the three were still in open water.

(3) Carelessly becoming so separated that the divers could not recognize each other.

The danger here was very real. Bob had never dived Madison before and it would have been difficult for him to have found his way out with no line, a dim light, and no sunlight to pinpoint the two exits from the other side of the first chamber.

Anyway, the main point of all this is to illustrate how taking shortcuts tends to encourage more carelessness and has the potential to culminate in a series of errors, the type of errors which kill experienced cave divers. Remember, we expose ourselves to cave--diving hazards more often than those unfortunate ones that our recovery team brings out. Therefore, if we do not adhere to the procedures which we ours ves set up, we are much more vulnerable to accidents.

I will finish this article with a reminder of the ''ren Coomandments For Safe Cave Diving,'" which I have copied without permiSSion fr(XQ Sheck Exley's book Basic Cave Diving:

(1) Always use a Single, continuous guideline from the entrance of the cave thr~hout the dive.

(2) Always use the "third rule in planning your air supply. (3) Avoid deep diving in caves. (4) Avoid panic by bri.lding up experiences slowly and being

prepared for emergencies. (5) Always use at least three lights per diver. (6) Always carry the safest possible SCUBA. (7) Avoid stirring up silt. (8) Practice emergency procedures with your partner before,

going diving, and review them often. (9) Always carry the equipnent necessary for handling

emergencies and know how to use it. (10) NEVER PERMIT OVERCDNFIDENCE TO AllOW YOU TO RATIONALIZE

VIOlATING ~Ell SAFEIY PROCEllURFS.

Have a safe dive. [Randy is-currently working in England and will be there until at least March, 1986. He promises to send material about British cave diving during that time. He says that he has been getting in some cave diving with some of the top cave divers there, including Rob Palmer, Rob Parker, and Geoff Yeadon. He and Geoff are planning some exploration in Northerrt England which could lead to a major breakthrough and possibly a new cave-diving record. Randy may be reached through P. O. Box 367, APONY 09238; home phone [country code - city code -number) 44-8014-572 (3pn - 7pn Eastern time) , work: 44-480-52302 (until 3pn, Eastern time; time difference between US Easten and Great Britain is plu five hours).)

"Single Diver" shirt designs with front ~ are now available again. $8.50 +--rr:-CiO'""POSt/hand. Order through NSS-CDS Publications, POB 950, Branford, FL, 32008-0950. Tan only - S,M,L,XL.

6 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY Vo 1. 12, No _ 6

1985 NSF PALAU CAVE-DIVING EXPEDITION - by Jeffrey Bozanic (NSS 22532)

Palau.... To knowledgeable divers the name conjures up visions of warm waters, myriad hordes of brilliantly colored tro­pical fish, hundreds of different species of corals, l00-foot visibility, and after the dive, large expanses of deserted beaches to lounge around on. Thousands of divers each year flock to Palau to experi­

'ence tropical diving unsurpassed by any other place in the world.

Palau ...• To knowledgeable cave-diving scientists, the name conjures up visions of vast caverns, miles of labyrinthine underwater passages, and multitudes of undescribed animals unknown to science. But until recently, no cave-diving scien­tists had ever visited Palau to investi­gate the runors of such pr(l!lising poten­tiaL

Palau lies just seven degrees north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, barely 600 miles east of the Philippines. It consists of over 200 islands, of which only eight are permanently inhabited. The largest landmass is the volcanic island of Babeldaob; 27 miles long and accounting' for more than 75% of Palau's 196 square miles of area. The remainder of Palau comprises hundreds of limestone islands (mown as the ''Rock Islands") ranging in size from a few square feet to many square miles. Because of its remote geographical location, planning for any expedition would be complex and require much effort. '

Beginning over one year previous to the trip, Dr. Tom Illife (NSS 16703) began organizing a scientific expedition to the Republic of Palau to probe the secrets of Palau's underwater caves. ~unding for the.five-mo~th expedition was applied for

. and prOVlded by the Natlonal SClence Foundation (NSF), the largest scientific funding agency in the United States. The

'sponsoring institution was the Bermuda Biological Station, where Iliffe is based.

.The NSF proposal outlined many objectives for the project. Prlmary was a complete faunal survey and ecological study of P~lau's subaquatic caves. To accomplish this goal, the caves f~rst had to be located, explored, and surveyed. Other objec­~lves were to study the water chemistry and geology of the rock lslands, and to collect land snails from the various rock islands to look at speciation differences.

Shelly Hancock collecting isopods with Sket bottle in Dai-ni Ngermelt cave.

Research permits were applied for from the government of the Republic of Palau to conduct research, and to enter many of the protected rock islands. The Republic of Palau is a new govel7""· ment, having conducted its first national elections in 1981.1 Before that, Palau had been a Trust Territory of the United ~ States since the close of World War II. '

Finally, during the first week of January, 1985, Iliffe departed for Hawaii, the first leg of his journey to Palau. There he was joined by Dennis Williams (NSS 18261) of the Baha­mas. Williams had participated in previous research trips with !litfe; twice traveling to the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, to the Turks and Caicos Islands, and to Bermuda. Williams served as the primary diver and was responsible for co?rdi~ating ~~ot?gr~phic documentation of the expedition. Whlle ln Hawall Wlillams and Iliffe explored several lava tubes, and collected further background information on Palau.

Together, they winged their way through most of Micronesia with over 1000 pounds of baggage. Continental Airlines carried the needed scientific equipment free of charge for the expedition. Stopping at Guam, Truk"Ponape, Yap, and the Marshall I~lands, the pair made exploratory cave dlves and collected indigenous animals. While on Guam, Iliffe presented a seminar at the University of Guam Marine Laboratory on the cave-ecology research he has been involved with in Bermuda.

Iliffe and Williams arrived in Koror, capital of Palau in early February. There they were joined by Jeffrey'Bozanic (NSS 22532), who would serve as a research diver and assist with the photographic documentation, and biologist Cady Soukup (NSS 14047). Diver Shelly Hancock arrived during the second month on Palau to help with the research.

Unidentified sponge from South Point Cave.

...

.. '

October 16, 1985 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY 7

The Micronesian Mariculture Demonstra-tion Center (MMDC) located on Malakal

('''''lland a few miles from Koror, provided

bora tory and dormitory space for the '-- visiting scientists.

The team leased a 17-foot Boston Whaler, with which they traveled from island to island in search of underwater caverns and caves. Weeks were spent crui­sing shorelines looking for cave openings. When, foung, they were first examined by snotkehrig the site, then if warranted, bY;:diving',:wit:h30 cub~c-foot cylinders. Ovejr '1000 "caverp .opemngs were explored inthls" fashiondudng the first two mon'ths or(Paiau.

When the inftial dive showed potential foisericfus Cave, team members returned to dive'With80 cubic-foot cylinders. Appr:oxim<t~e1y50 major caverns of scien­tific interest were located and plotted during the expedition. Fifteen underwater cave systems were also surveyed as part of this effort.

This total also includes caves found by snorkeling the marine lakes found within the rock islands. The lakes are salt-water stratified into many layers, each of differing salinity. To reach the lakes, team members climbed the steep hillsides of the islands, laden with diving gear and collection equipment. Members walked sometimes in excess of an

Unidentified shrimp from Palauan Cave. Note large, well-developed eyes which are indicative of poor cave adaptation. BELOW: Jeff Boanic collecting snail sample. Overhang of island is characteristic sea-level notch formed by water chemistry and erosion from algae-scraping mollusks.

hour to reach the inland cave sites. Along the way they endured sharp limestone rock underfoot, whiLe overh7ad trees dr~pped sap Which caused skin to break into rashes. 'Th~s effort pa~d off as ~jor caves were found originating from the lakes. ,

C", Inland dry caves were explored to their deepest levels in the _oarch for pools and long underwater passages. Artifacts like teapots and expended shells were commonly found during these. penetrations, and in one cave human remains were found. Dur~ng World War II, the caves were used by Japanese soldiers as shelter during some of the bloodiest battles of the war.

The Micronesian Mariculture Demonstration Center was con­structed during the early 1930's by the Japanese, ,who, prior to World War II, governed Palau. It was redesignated as a marine research center in 1973 after serving as base for other opera­tions for many years.

Currently, the major continuing project at MMDC is the spaw­ning and raising of giant clams (Tridacna ssp.) as a food source. This mariculture research is headed by Jerry Helsinga, who has been working with clams for over four years. Helsinga is the first scientist to be able to raise the clams; he has also pioneered the teChniques necessary to spawn them on a commercially feasible basis.

Spawning takes place in large concrete tanks once each month. After allowing the juvenile clams to settle and attach them­selves to the walls of the tank, they are moved to large flats in other tanks to allow growth undisturbed by predators.

Five months later the baby clams are again transplanted, this time to flats located in the natural marine channel which runs alongside of M'IDC. These flats are covered with a wicker­basket top to prevent harmful organisms fran attacking the 'clams. The clams spend two years in these basket-covered trays until they are seven to eight inches long, and able to resist predation on their own. '

Tens of 'thousands of clams have been raised by Helsinga during the project, and are growing in the watercourse in front

,,;,(of MMDC. These clams filter feed upon planktonic organisms lllllll~rought past their waiting syphoi'lS by the twice-daily tides. "h'Feeding in this manner, the clams may grow to weigh as much

as 450 pounds, and measure three feet across. Eventually the clams will be used for food, shell sales, and to repopulate areas of reef stripped of clams by poaching.

Further information on MMDC, the clam mariculture project, or housing information for visiting scientists may be obtained by writing to: Director, MMDC, P.O. Box 359, Koror, Palau 96940.

The caves explored tended to fall into three major types. The first and most common group were solutional voids formed When sea levels were lower, and the islands not submerged as deeply as they are presently. These caves ranged from short, narrow, shallow caverns to the most extensive underwater caves found in Palau. The largest, Lake Eleven Cave was located in marine lake within the rock island of Ngermeua~gel. The paSSagE

8 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY Vol. 12, No. 6

dropped from the entrance at a 25-foot depth to over 120 feet deep, and e~tended 550 feet from air.

Lake drains were the second type of caves found. These ,Jassages provided the means by which the lakes exchanged water ... ith the marine channels around the islands. As tides rose and iell, flow through the drains flowed first into the lake, then from the lake to the sea. These reversing flows occurred as water levels in the lakes adjusted themselves to the tidal levels of the ocean surrounding the islands. Passages averaged 10 to 15 feet deep, 4 to 10 feet wide, and 2 to 4 feet high. They were normally simple tunnels, linking the lake with the outside channel via a conduit SO to 450 feet long.

The least common type of caves found were Aston collapses. These form when roofs collapse in caves deep underground, resulting in hourglass-profile caverns like those common in Florida and the blue holes of the Bahamas. These ranged as deep as 90 feet, and. were found both inland and offshore. All ~f them contained stalactites, stalagmites, and other speleo­thems, shOwing that they too underwent spells as dry caves in their evolution.

On the island of Peliliu, the Aston collapse-type cave of Dai-ni Ngermelt provided some 6f the most varied. environments found within a single cave in Palau. The surface water was fresh, and had been used as drinking water by soldiers based there during World War II. Deeper waters were saline, and ~ontained high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. This gave :he water the aromatic odor of rotten eggs. The fresh water .-on tained populations of blind amphipods and isopods, while ~he anoxic saline water had only bacteria living within.

In Dai-ni Ngermelt and all other caves a variety of data ~ere compiled. Salinity and temperature profiles were deve­loped, measuring the basic characteristics of the cave waters. Jissolved oxygen levels were measured in situ using disposable ~hemical ampules. Oxygen levels are especially important, as findings from the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean indicate ~hat the most interesting cave animals live in waters with iissolved oxygen levels several orders of maginitude less :han mormal sea or lake waters.

Collection of animals was accomplished in many manners. 'lankton nets were towed while scuba diving to gather an issemblage of the smaller life forms. Many species of mysids, ~opepods, and ostracods were accumulated in this fashion.

Traps for ciliates and shrimp were emplaced in the caves. ~iliate traps constructed of empty film cartridges were baited ~nd left in place for two days to a week, allowing colonies to grow on pieces of hermit crab or fish. PVC shrimp traps had a funnel at one end pointing inward, allow-ing the shrimp to easily enter, rut pre-"enting exit. These traps were baited .rith potato, bread, crab, and fish, and remained in place for 24 hours.

Larger shrimp and small fish were col­_ected using clear plastic bags as nets. Ihe bags caused less damage to the ani­nals than normal nets, and because the ~s are nearly invisible in water, they iid not attempt evasive actions to pre­'etlt capture. Plastic bags were also lSed to transport sponges and other ses­;;ile organisms removed from the cave walls.

Free~swimming crustaceans like amphi­-~ and isopods were collected using ,ket bottles. Sket bottles are special ;queeze bottles with a unique arrangement of screens and one-way valves, which allow· the capture and contaiIll\E!llt of small (less tban one-half inch) organisms. They were developed by the Czech scien­tist Boris Sket. This is the primary ?Dllection tool used on most cave dives for the collection of animals of all ":ypes.

After returning to the laboratory each ~vening, the real "work" started. Cave

Jeff Bozanic working on preserving animals in the field laboratory. ~

LAKE ELEVEN CAVE Ngermeuangel Island, Palau

terminates in silt plug

Vertical sha:ft

North

t o

Entrance :from Lake 11

..-Cave wall

Depth o:f ceiling 12 Depth o:f :floor 50

Scale

50 100'

Figure l--Typical solution cave. Features include large rooms, deeper depths, complex passages. Cave walls in this survey are approximate.

October 16, 1985 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY 9

locations were plotted, and surveys were drawn out as necessary. Animals were

GAVE OIVE CAVE Ngeteklou Island, Palau

('"-.. >.ographed while alive to preserve , lils of living coloration, then chilled and fixed in formalin solution. After 24 hours they were transferred to an alcohol solution for permanent storage.

Sponges were split into two groups, one set for preservation as above, the other picked apart under a microscope for orga­nisms living within them. Many species of amphipods, shrimp, teneiids, and poly­cheate worms were gar-nered thusly, adding

Marine Lake

Air bell

4'I~r2' ,--.--------. North to the faunal collec-tion.

Typical cross-section of cave passage

B 18' B'

t Copius notes then had Scale to be written. Besides location and cave maps, descrip­tions of the caves were recorded into research notebooks. Salinity measurements, temperatures, and dissolved-oxygen data were trans-

Figure 2--Typical lake~drain type cave. Note ~~I __ ~IL-~~~I o 20 lj{) 60 80 100'

narrow, non-complex passage Which allows water flow from lake to channel and back tidally.

scribed, building an overall pic-ture of the ecology of the caves. Animals were labeled and summaries of where they were found, brief taxonomic characteristics, propulsion and feeding pecu­liarities, and population densities were added to the records. On especially productive days it was not uncommon to be up

C-- "il three or four o'clock in the morning working in the lab

~hese tasks. . Collections were shipped to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. for distribution to scientists across the United States. Iliffe estimates that approximately thirty new species of animals were collected during the expedition. This will not be confirmed until taxonomists have an oppor­tunity to examine the specimens.

The majority of the animals collected during the expedition were relatively uninteresting to cave researchers. Most of them lacked the characteristics that are common in animals adapted to live in subterranean environments. Such adapta­tions include long antennae for sensing in the dark environ­ment, loss of eyes due to generations of no use, and loss of pigmentation. With the exception of a few amphipods and a cirrilinid isopod, the fauna of Palau's caves did not have these specialized adaptations.

While in Palau, Williams directed filming of the scientific proceedings. Footage will be included in a documentary he is producing on biospeleology, the study of life in caves. The theme revolves around the search for Remipedia, and will include scenes from the Canary Islands, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cozumel, as well as fr9ffi Palau.

Other work accomplished in Palau included the amassing of 42 land-snail samples from 2S of Palau's rock islands. These will be studied by Dr. Fred Thompson of the Florida State Museum at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Because the islands have been geographically separated by water fora long period of time, the snails have evolved into many species from what may have once been a single population stock. Thompson is studying these speciation differences.

Overall, the expedition results repudiated reports that.Palau was honeycombed with major cave systems. Even though no major cave systems were found, and cave and faunal life was not signi­{'j',;:mt, the expedition was a success in that it provided addi­QlltHltal important information on the natural history and ecology (W.' the Palau Islands.

Acknowledgments: I would like to recognize and thank those parties that helped make this research possible. The National Science Foundation p~ovided most of the funding for the trip. Sherwood contributed regulators and slingshot valves for the divers. Nikon supplied a Nikonos V with strobes to document research efforts. Orca Industries loaned an Edge Decompression Computer for use on the dives, and underwear used

( Dennis Williams filming in Palau.

under the drysuits for the long dives was furnished by Pata­gonia. Transportation of the equipment to Palau was donated by Continental Airlines. Several dive shops provided gear or assisted with the purchasing of equipment, including Ocean Sports, Ltd. of California, and Scuba Sports and Ginnie Springs of Florida.

[Jeff Bozanic wrote from Mexico at the end of September, that he and Dennis Williams were in the Yucatan (Mexico) doing more research. He said they added another 1000' of ,line to South Chankanuab (sp?) Cave, so that the total distance there is now 2300'. They collected some more interesting animals, including b new species of shrimp. ]

[EDITOR'S' NOTE: It Came to my attention a mere four days before I was scheduled to go to press with this issue (and long after this article had already been typed and laid out), that the article had been submitted simultaneously to NSS News and printed in a special feature issue (October) on cave dlVing.--My apologies to NSS members for the redundancy. But because of the maps, which were not printed in NSS News, and the fact that a significant portion of our reader­ship does:not receive NSS News, I elected to go ahead and print it anyway. But this article is merely a representative example of a general-problem.

Because of the overlap of subscribers to all three newsletters that concern themselves with cave diving (NSS News, Underwater ~­£!.2&:i, and NACO Ne\~s), redundancy is a conSIderable problem. Even with fairly good communication between the current editors of UWS and NACO News, slip-ups occur, and, while one does not wish to waste paper and money, and tore readers who subscribe to both (or all .. three), one also does not wish to penalize those who do not. But short of a joint NSS-COS/NACD newsletter, what is to be done~

10 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY Vol. 12, No.6

El.ECTION CANDIDATES According ~o Treasurer Joe Prosser, the official candidates

for the Upcom1ng election are Wes Skiles for Training Chairman/ Board Member, and Steve Onneroid, Dale Purchase, and H.V. Grey ~or the"tI:rr"e7 r~gular,board-~ember positions. In other words, 1t s a hn m, so b1Ograph1cai information will be omitted.

LITTIE RIVER DROWNING. In late September there was a drowning at Little River

Springs. Present at the scene were a team of NSS-certified cav7 divers Who were making a dive. Seeing how poorly eqU1~ and obviously'untrained in caving the group of open­water d1vers was, one of the cave divers attempted to caution the group about diving in the cave. The warnings were met with jocular conme.nts like ''1hi.nk you have enough equinnent?--ha ha!" r"

The NSS team made its dive and was decompressing When the open-water team of four divers first entered the cave. All four divers surfaced after a While, and one of the four declined to make a second foray into the cave. The three remaining open-water divers went back into the cave and got about as far back as Table Rock When they realized that they were 7xtrememly low on air (with gauge readings between 400-900p,S1) . They turned around and headed out, and it was a case of 'every man for himself." At' the end of the permanent line one of the three swam up into the dome area above instead of ' turning right and heading out of the cave. The other two made it out successfully.

The NSS team, still at decompreSSion, observed the exit of the two remaining members of the open-water group. One of the open-water divers signaled to an NSS diver that he was out of air. Since they were in all of ten feet of open water at that point, the NSS diver indicated for the fellow to go on up to, the, surface. The other surviving diver had only SOpsi left 1n h1s tank. The NSS divers also observed an enormous silt cloud precede the open-water divers, and in the confu­sion and low visibility, weren't sure at first that all three hadn't come back out. But then one of the two open-water divers came back in with the tank of the fourth diver (Who hadn't gone on the second foray), and soon came back out of the cave bearing the dead body.

The open-water team had only one light per diver and was ;-tot otherwise geared or trained for cave diving. In this ~ase, failure to have a continuous guideline to the entrance o~ th7 cave and, to plan air properly were clearly the preci­p1tat1ng causes of the drowning.

NSS-CDS INSTRUCTORS - Current as of August 2, 1985

FULL CAVE: Lloyd Bai ley Jeffrey Bozanic John Brooks Mary Brooks Gina Chenoweth Roderick Dickens Sammy Diperna

GEAR FOR SALE

Mary Brooks writes that she and John are going to try a super-cruise on their beautiful catamaran sailboat, and SO("'''' selling out their cave-diving gear. Any reasonable offer be accepted. .

- 2 "D-lites" with dual charger and 4 extra bulbs - 2 Sherwood twin-valve manifolds - 1 welded-adapted twin-valve manifold - 1 Wilson line reel (like new) - 1 open-line reel - 1 gap reel - 2 sets of twin bands with harness - 1 set of t~n bands with hump for backpack attachment

Mary and John Brooks can be reached after Nov. 1 and through Dec. 31 at: c/o Rector, P.O. Box 05459, Ft. Myers, FL, 33905. Phone: (813) 694-2716.

ITEMS FOR SALE

A set of steel 104' s, with bands and Sherwood manifold. The tanks are in good condition and in hydro. Asking price: $500.

A Farallon scooter with new Sears batteries, in good condi­tion, Asking price: $1000.

CONTACT: Mary Ellen Exley (904) 364-5908 Thunderhole Cave property also up for sale: (904) 364-5908.

MAPS NOil AVAIlABlE Maps of Peacock Springs, Green Sink, and Madison Blue are

now available again through Publications. Little River and Bonnet Springs are still available, too. Maps are $5.00 each, plus $1.00 post/hand folded or $2.00 post/hand rolled.

Maps are available for sale only to people with a cav;-~Evel certification from NSS-CDS, NACO, (Cavern cert1f1ca­tion is not sufficient.) Please include a copy of your certi­fication card When ordering (unless H.V. Grey knows you (" personally and is certain of your certification level).

Make check or money order out to "NSS-CDS" and send with' your order and certification-card copy to NSS-CDS Fublications, POB 950, Branford, FL 32008-0950.

SPECIAL THANKS The Editor would like to extend a special thanks to the

following people for their help on ~aps a~ publications: Wes Skiles for his beautiful work on L1ttle R1ver and Bonnet, and his ti~e and effort in having them reproduced; Marvin Von Almen, for all his efforts redrafting Sheck Exley's original maps ,of. Peacock, Madison, and Green Sink, and most recently for dr~f~~ng up Guy Bryant's map of Coffee Springs; Joe Prosser, for d:1V1ng all the way to Jacksonville to pick up the map~ from Marv1~; ~d Sergio Zambrano of Mexico City, for making cop~es of the m1ss1ng issues of UWS Volume 9, so that we now have all of that volume available again.

Wi 11 iam Dunn Sheck Exley

Mark Leonard Milledge Murphey Henry Nicholson Stephen Ormeroid Robert Power Joseph Prosser Dale Purchase Wes Skiles Steven Straatsma Dennis Williams Forrest Wilson Billy Young

'Vou're ,\0; n~ \:b wear [hat

Well, you know those. I'eq>\e '5mow.., \ -thou~ht t.h\~'d

\::>e. 1e.55 oPllioU5 tnan a l1olocau5t E-uir with a

Mary Ellen Exley Steven Forman Kim Gissendanner Paul Heinerth Lamar Hires

BASIC CAVE: Richard Allen Peter BlIii Sylvia Catinella Joseph Dabbs

CAVERN:

Ray Young John Zumrick

Warren Hall Peter Jubb

,Jack Rensch Philip Sirota

Donna Askew Jerry Kubicek Brad Graske Mario Mitchell

[Contact Training Chairman, Wes Skiles, NSS-CDS, POB 950, Branford, FL 32008-0950, if you have any questions regarding this list.

Instructors, also please remember that certifi­cation fees are $5.00/student/card. Also, be sure that both your name and the student's name are PRINTED very clearly on each certification form.]

to \:he Halloween costume party l'

mas\::..

BOY! SOME

CosTUtvg:

~'5.1

October 16, 1985 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY 11

ADDITIONAL SURVEY QUESTIONS - Danny Brass INTERFACE WIlli lliE OPEN-WATER COMMUNITY

("'''fiVe diving, by virtue of its many inherent risks, is a

ty-oriented activity. Thus, its participants share wtth other wilderness travelers a high regard for training and experience, as being part and parcel of the wilderness safety concept. In its close affiliation with the scuba industry, the cave-diving community has evolved a greater structural organization than commonly found in other wilder­ness organizations. In so doing, it has developed and refined a series of training programs of proven quality and unequalled excellence.

Cave divers are more than acutely aware of the dangers that so readily follow from the pursuit of cave-diving adven­tureby those untrained in its many technicalities. That an appalling number of people have died in underwater caves over the years is an uncontrovertible fact. Is is clearly apparent, however, that the overwhelming majority of these individuals had little or no training in cave diving and were invariably lacking in the full complement of equipment generally considered necessary for safe exploration of underwater caves.

As years passed and the deaths accumulated, the gradual analysis of accidents revealed the unequivocal commonality in these grievous mishaps. An emerging story of clouds of silt, lack of lights and lines, and inadequate scuba gear came to light, as the data were shuffled through by experts in the cave-diving community.

As legislative threats mounted, as sensationalist press and literature accumulated, and as internal cries of tragic waste of human life reached a point at Which they could no longer be stifled or denied, the cave-diving community began to realize that radical steps were required to curtail the accident rate among scuba divers venturing into Florida's various springs. Clearly, the development of training pro­grams was a major stef in the reduction of cave-related

(-~ths and has been, I m sure, the single most important

or in amplifying diver safety in the last decade. '" , education of the open-water community has, I believe, been of limited value in the past. My own sense of this is that it was due to a reluctance of the open-water agencies to recognize the true nature of cave-diving danger, even When it was staring them in the face. Note the inordinate number of dive-shop sponsored trips to the springs. Even more horrifying is the number of open-water check-out dives taking place in caverns. Although the cave-diving organi­zations have cried out about this in the past, it seems that such cries have fallen on deaf ears.

I am pleased to see, however, that this attitude is slowly beginning to change and open-water agencies are interacting more and more with the cave-diving community. Perhaps they have finally come to realize that the cave­diving community is concerned not with limiting their free­doms, but in expanding their safety.

In recent years, a number of other options for reducing deaths of open-water divers in underwater caves have been repeatedly discussed by cave divers. Some suggestions have been followed by concrete actions, While others have engendered sufficient debate to warrant shelving of ideas until more general agreement exists.

QUESTIONS 1) It has been suggested that the availability of

underwater cave maps be restricted to certified cave divers. Do you believe that this will be effective in curtailing diving accidents or do you believe it will increase the number of accidents by failing to provide open-water divers with an objective source of information detailing potential hazards within a given cave system? Please explain your answer.

2) Why should or shouldn't these same maps be available

~"l'l!h;:ertified cavern divers? giH~) If maps are to be made available to certified cave ?vers only, is there any reason Why their purchase

should not be accompanied by more information than just the name and county of location of a particular cave? Why, for example, should a set a set of directions not accompany each purchase?

4) I have been told repeatedly that the NSS maintains a file of information on caves that it will freely dissemi­nate to NSS members upon request. Since I have never made

such a request, I cannot vouch for the authenticity of those statements. Is there any reason why such information about underwater caves should or should not be made availa­ble to all certified cave divers upon request? Has there been any discussion, in this regard, by either NSS-CDS or the NACD? With What results?

5) Does restriction in the sale of maps trespass upon Our personal freedom to enjoy the wilderness environment in our own fashion?

6) Should cave-diving textbooks be looked upon in the same light as maps? Does it make sense that ,maps of various cave-diving locales be unavailable to open-water divers, but books On cave-diving technique be readily available?

7) There are several commercial enterprises in Florida and elsewhere that provide a cavern-diving site for open­water tourists. These businesses advertise rather heavily in the popular open-water literature. To What extent do you believe such advertising draws oepn-water divers to their deaths in north Florida caves? Should the cave­diving community put pressure on these concerns to allow only cave or caver-certified divers to dive their systems? Obviously, an enormous anount of discussion on these topics has been occurring in recent yearS. Many voices have not been heard. Given the opportunity to address these issues, What points would you make?

8) The scuba industry has, for some time, attempted to decrease diving accidents by limiting the availability of air and the sale or rental of'certain types ,of equipment to those in possession of a C-card.Various dive groups also require documentation of minimal levels of experience before divers are allowed to participate in certain dives. While the effectiveness of these measures has varied, as' has the extent to Which individual shops have complied with this industry-wide policy, such restrictions probably do limit the underwater activity of uncertified divers, thereby increasing overall diver safety. Can such a system work in the north Florida area? Should a cave-diving cer­tification be reqUired for the purchase of dual-valve manifolds or jump reels? Should a cave-diving certifica­tion be required for getting double tanks filled? Should double tank rigs, without a dual-valve manifold, be filled? Should a cavern-diving certification be required for the purchase of exploratory reels, lights, or slingshot valves? Should t.td'lern-.diving certification be required for getting single tanks filled? Should single tanks, without a slingshot valve or evidence of staging use, be filled? Should equipment be rented to those not possessing either a cave or a cavern-diving certification? Do you believe that the adoption of such policy would increase diver safety in the north Florida region? Do you believe this approach would cause economic disaster to area dive shops? Should the NSS-CDS and NACO put pressure on dive shops to adhere to such a policy?

9) Is the teaching of cavern-diving courses a wise idea? See Q. #10 in the Education section.

10) One of the most popular sites for open-water dives has been Peacock Slough. Although I'm uncertain of its future status regarding diver usage, I will assume it to remain open. In any event, even if it does close, another site will merely take its place. The Peacock to Pothole run has been a favorite of open-water divers and this system has seen more than its fair share of accidents. Sugges­tions have been made that a heavy-duty surface-to-surface guideline be installed to increase the safety of open-water divers making this traverse. Do you believe that such a safety feature will, in fact, lead to a lower death rate, ,or, as an

, attractive hazard, will it increase diver deaths by enticing visitors beyond their capacities? Installation of heavy-duty lines will detract conSiderably from the beauty of the system. Rock climbers generally frown on the Wholesale bolting of routes for purposes of making completion of climbs easy for mediocre climbers. These feelings are based on both ethical and esthetic grounds. Such technique, if overused, leaves unsightly scars on rockfaces. Should such esthetic concerns be a matter of consideration with respect to safety of untrained divers in underwater caves? '

11) Should the cave-diving community try to present some sort of unified front with regard to interaction with open-water divers at dive sites? What form should this take?

12) Do you believe that it is appropriate for cave divers to take open~water diving friends on cave or cavern dives?

12 UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY Vol. 12, NO.6 13) Do you believe that lectures and articles about the

beauty and allure of cave diving should be presented to the. open-water community? Even with disclaimers about the fool~sh­ness of making such dives without training, does such publicity increase the number of open-water divers seeking cave training and, therefore decrease the number of accidents?

CAVE-DIVING ORGANIZATIONS Currently there are two major cave-diving organizations in

the United States. These are the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society (NSS-CDS) and the National Association for Cave Diving (NACO). In addition, several smaller cave or cavern-diving organizations exist within some of the much larger open-water agencies. To the best of my knowledge, these programs are generally guided by prevailing NSS-COS and NACO policy.

QUESTIONS 1) Does cave or cavern-diver training by NAUI, PADI, or the

YMCA serve any useful purpose to the cave-diving c~~ty? Do these organizations merely mirror NSS-COS/NACO pr~nc~ples, While inflating their own status in the diving industry?

2) Since the overall coritrol of these sections is ultimately in the hands of the open-water agency itself, aren't we, in effect, taking control of cave-diver training out of the hands of the cave-diving conrnunity when we encourage NSS-COS and NACO divers to certify through. these agencies? Should the cave­diving community recognize the validity of these certifications?

3) Do you believe that there is a fundamental need for two major cave-diving organizations.i~ the Unit~ States? Why? Do you perceive that they both pos1t1vely contr1bute to the cave­diving community? Would the cave-diving community be better off if there was only one organization?

4) If you believe there should be only one cave-diving organizaiton, should it be the NSS-CDS, NACO, or a new one incorporating them both? Please explain your answer. .

5) I have heard it suggested by both NSS-COS and NACO d1vers that the cave-diving comminity would be better off if their ::.ompetitors were put out of business. And yet, I have never '\eard any such remarks 'about cave and cavern-diving divisions ~f the open-water agencies. Why is that?

6) Do you believe it possible for the NSS-COS and the NACO _0 merge into a cooperative organization, or will past diffe­cences and present philosophies always stand in the way? Please explain your·answer.

PUBLIC IMAGE In the early history of cave diving, there seem~ to be a

trend among many cave divers to jealously guard the~r secrets of safe cave travel. A low public profile provided the fledgling cave-diving community with several positive aSP7cts.

On one level, it added a greater dimension to the.m~st~que intrinsic in such a uniquely different category of dwmg adventure. At the same time, the diminished publicity about caves lessened the number of divers seeking them out. Presu­mably, this led to a lower accident rate.

"""But accidents did, in fact, occur and, as is often the case, were accompanied by sensational press coverage. In their attempts to diminish negative press, the motives of early cave divers may have been misinterpreted by the non-diving public, leading to a subsequent alienation of the sport by the general populace. " " Currently, the cave-diving community seems to be undergoing a 180-degree Shift in this regard. Thus, membership recruit-

NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

Cave Diving Section P.O. Box 950

Branford, FL 32008·09,'- 11 '7'

ment has shifted into high gear and the sport-diving community is being motivated, in ever-increasing degrees, toward an unprecedented increase in awareness about cave and cavern diving. Through widespread exposure to cave-related litero/'"~":i., more and more divers are taking cave and cavern-diving cou,­more and more divers are joining the NSS-COS and the NACO, "' .. ~ more and more divers are being attracted annually to the springs.

QUESTIONS 1) Do you believe that increased positive publicity about

cave diving will motivate more divers to join cave-diving organizations, enroll in cave or cavern-diving courses and, ultimately, lead to increased safety of divers in underwater caves? Why?

2) Do you believe that the interests fostered by such publi­city, among divers who are not interested in learning safe cave-rliving teclmiques, will greatly outweigh interest among those who would seek out additional training, thereby, tipping the scales in favor of an increased accident rate? Why?

3) In the September 1983 issue of Skindiver Magazine, an article by Mr. Roy Fielding, entitled Ii Cave or t!Y. Tomb?, portrayed an extremely negative image of cave diving. Do you think it is appropriate for cave divers to write articles pointing to the alluring and pristine beauty of underwater caves and the mystique and attraction in their exploration? Do you believe such publicity will increase the accident rate in north Florida by increasing the attraction of vacationing open­water divers? Please explain.

4) Is there an ethical difference between trying to paint a positive portrait of cave diving to the diving and non-diving public and actively recruiting cave-diving students and organization membership? Please explain.

5) Have the NSS-COS and NACD lost sight of their major safety goals? To what degree do you.believe that membership recruit­ment is aimed primarily at improving diver safety, as opposed to building up revenue and the political prestige associated with boastful remarks about being the largest cave-diving organization in the world? t""

6) A delicate balance exists between dive-site traffic ~ cave conservation. To what extent do you believe this balance is altered by active recruitment policies? Is there a realistic enough gain in safety to justify the potential for increased diver damage and increased landowner problems, attendant with increased numbers of cave-diving par~icipants?

For statistical purposes, the fol wing information would be helpful:

1) Through what oepn-water agency did you receive your open-water training? What open-water certifications do you possess? What year did you receive your certifications in? HoW many open-water dives have you made?

2) Through what agency did you receive your cave-diving training? What y~ar did you become a certified cave diver? How many cave dives have you made?

3) Are you an instructor? Open-water? Cavern? Cave? With what open-water agencies are you affiliated? With what cave­diving organizations? How long have you been an open-water instructor? Cave or cavern-diving instructor?

4) Do you consider yourself to be primarily associated with the NSS-COS, the NACO, or both?

Please address any correspondence to: Danny Brass, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State UniVersity, Ames, Iowa 50010.

Bulk Rate U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 849

23';;":;;' 1 <: 1 2/e,~,) LAr-'1AF: H r RES

MIAMI, FL~lli~;;

F:T 1 4, E:CC< Uir<E 1.:: I T(

1 :.::! ,:s