Camp Indian Springs Projectwww.bigbenddiving.com/cisp

Interim Report

Camp Indian Springs Project•Created in Fall of 2004 by local Tallahassee cave divers,  Jason Ottinger (local YMCA scuba instructor), Jeff Bauer, Hector Marerro, and Nick Leone.•Got permission to dive from Camp Director Al Ferreira, and the president of the Tallahassee YMCA, Peggy Conklin.•Owner had little to no knowledge of the cave system on their property.•Project formed to document the system, help protect the Camp Indian Springs cave system through science, conservation, survey and outreach education.•Owner now has cave maps and local knowledge of their cave system

Camp Indian Springs Project Surveying, filming and exploration efforts•Mike and Sandra Poucher and teams of volunteer surveyors were invited to join the project to update the existing map created by Tex Chalkley and Sheck Exley more than 30 years ago•A number of volunteer cave divers and both the NACD and NSS/CDS have contributed expertise and materials to the project•Survey work has concentrated on refining the earlier maps and “ground truthing” through the use of Brian Pease’s radio location devices•To date, we have had 12 project weekends & one cleanup weekend

Camp Indian Springs Project Surveying, filming and exploration efforts

Proposed Diving PolicyPlans to open Indian Springs for the general cave diving community are proposed for the

beginning of 2006. The final arrangements are still be worked out at this time.  What can be expected for when it is open to the Cave Diving Community are the following:

Diver Qualifications:

•All dives must be done with a Camp Indian Springs dive guide•At least Normoxic Trimix Certified•Full Cave Certified•100 safe cave dives (12 within the last year)•Proof of DAN insurance (or equivalent)•Completion of Indian Springs Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk forms•First 3 dives either upstream or downstream will be limited to swim dives•If DPV and Stage Diver certified, cannot scooter beyond the goldline in either upstream or downstream

Proposed Fees:

•A Guide fee and Entrance Donation to the park will be assessed•The Entrance Donation will be between $25-30 per day •The Guide Fee will be no more than $75 per day

Proposed Diving Policy

Access Limitations:

•Guides to guided diver ratio will be 2:1•No more than 4 teams shall be permitted to dive per day. •No more than two teams of divers can be in the cave system at the same time. •No diving during the summer camping season•Possibility of renting camp cabins for cave divers

Thank you!•Al Ferreira, Camp Director•Mike & Sandra Poucher•Jerry Murphy•Kelly Jessop•Hector Marerro•Nick Leone•Rodney Nairne & Suzie Dudas•Edd Sorenson•Chip Wuerz•John Blankenship•Bill Main•Jim Womble•Jitka Hyniova•Rick Crawford•John Jones•Lamar Hires•Dan Lins•Jim Pierce•Brett Hemphill•Doug Chapelle•John Kimberl•John Dowd•Jordan Carriveau•Kelly & Beverly Roberts•Cleanup day volunteers