United States – Alabama

 

            No incidents to report in Alabama for this period. We have had some diving activity, centered around the NSS Convention in Huntsville. DeWayne Hyatt and Forrest Wilson dived at several sites in the Huntsville area. DeWayne laid new line in a virgin spring cave during this outing.  The Blue Springs State Park cave ( Blue Springs, Alabama ) was dived by a team from Wisconsin. I think the members were Tamara Thomsen and Ethan Brodsky and others. They caught the park ranger in a good mood, and were allowed access to the cave for several dives. They surveyed the cave and a map is due out any time. Some nice photos were taken and are available on the Cave Diver's Forum. I haven't heard back from them yet on this project. This cave is only 15 miles from my home and I've been denied access by the state on two occasions, several years back. We have a new State Parks Director, and I will speak with him soon and try and gain access to the cave, for further study and mapping. Not much else to report at this time.

 

- Report provided by Ken Paramore -

 

United States – California – Northern Region

 

            No safety concerns; we don’t have much up north, only a couple of sea caverns.  I am not aware if we have ever had an y accidents in this area.  Since we don’t really have caves up here....The activity is restricted to infrequent cavern classes conducted in the two caverns we do have.

 

- Report provided by Mark Grant -

 

United States – California – Southern Region

 

            No activity to report.

 

- Report provided by Grant Graves -

           

United States – Florida – Lafayette County

 

            Lafayette Blue (aka: Green Sink Cave System): Visibility is around 15-20ft, moderate to moderately strong flow makes this cave an advanced dive, at least until the visibility improves.

 

- Report provided by Mike McAuliffe –

 

 

United States – Florida – Orlando/Tampa Region

 

            Nothing to report this quarter.

 

- Report provided by Brett Floren –.

 

United States - Florida - Panhandle Region

 

            No report received.

 

United States – Florida – Santa Fe River Valley Region

 

            It’s been another quiet quarter in the Santa Fe River Valley. There have been no incidents to report, which is always a good thing to start off the year, especially with the amount of cave diver traffic as of late.

 

A couple of jump lines off of the Double Lines circuit in the Devil’s system were reported broken, these were repaired promptly and the gold line is still running along the floor of the Gallery.

 

We have not had our usual spring flooding as of yet, so the visibility is good everywhere in the region, apart from Telford which is lower than normal.

 

There was a temporary line run in Little River from the steps past the rebar and down to the mainline during the period when the basin was tannic, but that was removed approximately three weeks ago. Please remember if you’re using the rebar as a primary tie off, that it is not in open water and you might want to consider starting your primary line on one of the logs or rock protrusions in the basin. 

 

We still do not have an update for the state’s plans about the sign at Manatee so until we hear otherwise, that has temporarily been put on hold.

 

We would like to thank everybody involved with the clean ups at Telford and the phosphate pit in High Springs, and also everyone who was present at the citizens meeting at the High Springs Civic Center to discuss the proposed Wal-Mart Super Center abutting Mill Creek Sink.

 

- Report provided by Rich Courtney -

 

United States – Florida – Southeast Coastal Region

 

            No report at this time from me.

 

- Report provided by Bruce Campbell –

 

 

 

 

 

United States – Georgia

 

            Nothing new from Georgia that I'm aware of for 1st quarter.

 

- Report provided by Lewis Puckett –

 

United States – Indiana

 

            No report received.

 

United States – Maryland

 

            No report received.

 

United States – Midwest Region

 

            We have been exploring and surveying several mines in the southern Wisconsin.  We currently have access to 5 mines.  Piquette mine currently has a stop sign, 2000’ of permanent Guideline, and 4000’ of exploration line.  Total system length seems to be around 11,000 ft.  I am not aware of any accidents in this region, and will be installing 4 new stop signs throughout the course of the summer as well as working with Larry to develop a mine diving program.

 

- Report provided by Richard Dreher -   

 

United States – New England Region

 

            Last month, Michael O'Leary gave me a new NACD Stop Sign for True Blue Mine, in Rutland Vt.  It is for the least used entrance, but is frequented by open water divers, and is the site used by the victim of last years Memorial Day fatality.  I will start working on something to mount it to, and make plans to get it installed early this Spring.  The ice is going away as we speak...

 

- Report provided by Scott Robinson –

 

United States – New York/New Jersey Region

 

            No report received.

 

United States – Tennessee

 

            No report received.

 

United States – Virginia

 

            No report received.

 

United States – Washington DC Region

 

            No report received.

Austria

 

            We have a lot more snow this year than the last 15 years.  Most of the people here are skiing – diving is still wintersleeping.....
So nothing is really going on with cave diving at the moment!

 

- Report provided by Horst Schmid –

 

Bahamas

 

            No report received.

 

England

 

            No report received.

 

Germany

 

            No report received.

 

Mexico – Akumal/Tulum Region

 

            No report received.

 

Mexico – Cozumel

 

Accidents or Incidents:   We have an outstanding safety record on Cozumel.  no accidents or incidents yet.

 

Line Changes:  After Wilma some the permanent guidelines had some damage.  Finally all of them had been replace in those particular passages.

 

Jungle paths:   All are open now.

 

Site conditions:  All The Cozumel Cenotes are in good conditions for diving.  you may find a couple debris inside some main entrances but 20 ft inside its perfect.

In some passages percolation has been a problem for some cave divers but its just after wonderland section of Aerolito. its getting less and less in every dive.

 

Research:  The University of Quintana Roo campus Cozumel is conducting water samples with an UW Hidrolab.  some of the preliminary results didnt found negative changes in salinity, ph, Oxygen saturation, nutrients, temp,  etc..  seems at this point all stable.

This research it has been made by Phd Luis Mejia.

 

During the international WATER DAY, the University organize seminars in geohidrology, hidrology and cenotes. 

 

The only damage from Wilma was the partial collpase of the right side of la Quebrada cave system from the ocean entry. didnt affect the guidelines or the divers entrance. is stable and doesnt represent any mayor hazard.

 

CHANKANAAB PARK:  In august or september at the most, i will be the manager of la Quebrada cave system inside the Chankanaab Park.  this is a good sign !  after 15 years of almost close the cave for cave divers now will be open. we will set up a couple requirements for the access of this cave. once we work this with lawyers i will post a message in the CDS and NACD journals concerning all the paperwork that any cavern or cave diver must fill.

  

- Report provided by German Yaρez -

 

South East Asia

 

            No report received.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reports have been compiled by Richard Dreher – NACD International Safety Director