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That is a headline you will soon see unless you speak up.

Current NSS-CDS BOD members have already made up their minds to stop printing the UWS. They have sent out statements, written vague UWS articles, posted witty comments on the NSS-CDS web site -- "No need to run to your mailbox.", and even created a misleading poll on the NSS-CDS website.  All of these will provide them what they need to defend their decision to stop printing UWS.

Why would they stop printing UWS? Is it the massive costs of printing? Actually, it kind of is. They need that money for other things. They need that money to create a "state of the art training" facility at Cow Springs replete with a changing room and steps. This is what they have to have so their customers can have a "better" experience.

I have noticed more and more pictures and conversations online of outings to this new "private" training facility. Check out a PADI TecRec blog entry, you will see one of the NSS-CDS BOD members (Harry Averill) and 3 other people getting ready for a dive at Cow Springs. Only 1 of the other 3 divers is listed as an NSS-CDS member (Grant Graves). Don't you have to be a member of the NSS-CDS to dive Cow Springs? Not really, NSS-CDS instructors may use Cow Springs as a training site. So was our BOD member teaching the PADI TecRec folks or just plain breaking the rules? Maybe they are all NSS-CDS members and just aren't listed in the member database.

TAKE ACTION! Let the BOD members know that you reject their attempts to decimate the organization and create their own private training and guided diving agency complete with customized marketing list and "left wanting" new website with stylized new NSS-CDS logo. To me, it really seems like they are pushing certifications and trying to fill their pockets vs. actually doing something for the membership (is anyone else tired of socials, socials, socials?). An example of this ramped up effort would be me getting a NSS-CDS e-mail at my work e-mail address. To my knowledge, I have never given the NSS-CDS that e-mail address. It looks like they are are loading up their databases so the members of the NSS-CDS BOD can market to as many people as they can -- they need more money and the BOD is a perfect platform from which to accomplish that goal. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Not all the BOD members are performing their duties as a benefit to the organization (altruism); they are simply trying to benefit themselves (greed). Some will immediately ask why I don't / haven't run for the NSS-CDS BOD. Quite frankly, I do not have the time to perform that duty as it should be; I understand that and am not afraid of that as a decision.

Do you really want the printed version of UWS to go away? If you do, no worries, keep doing nothing like everyone else. The 40 or so responses of those wanting to keep the printed UWS pale in comparison to the rest of the membership that wants it to go away (written tongue-in-cheek). It's hard to believe so many NSS-CDS members want the printed version of the UWS to go away. At the NACD conference Saturday an informal poll (raising of hands) was taken. Only 4 people raised their hands when the membership was asked if they wanted the NACD to stop publishing the NACD Journal. I like the approach the NACD took -- actually asking the membership. If the current NSS-CDS BOD decides to no longer print the UWS I will cease being a member. I currently pay for a 3 year membership and that expires this year. I will now be going year-to-year until this issue is resolved.

For NSS-CDS members, I implore you to DO SOMETHING! SPEAK UP! If you are not satisfied with the BOD's decisions, vote with your wallet -- I WILL!

The Dominican Republic trip we took in June turned out to be a lot more than just beating the bush, dry caving, finding virgin cave and laying line. Some of what we found in the caves actually turned out to be very interesting to Brooklyn College, CUNY as well. So much so that they brought us back down to the Dominican Republic earlier this month to recover some fossils. The fossils were removed from the cave with government permits and are being housed in the Museum of the Dominican Man in Santo Domingo; there they will study them and hopefully you will soon be able to read of these studies in some prestigious science journals. I am actually very happy with this new endeavor. For many years archaeologists and paleontologists have worked in caves to better understand species that have long been extinct. We are now entering a period of time where cave divers and scientists can work together for the better of science. This has long been a goal of the ADM Exploration Foundation and we are happy to oblige our new friends in academia. The picture to the left was taken by Curt Bowen in a cave called Padre Nuestro in the Dominican Republic.  Keep your eye out for issue 32 of  Advanced Diver Magazine, in it is an editorial about our trip to the Dominican Republic as well as some of Curt's amazing photography.

There are some great things coming up in the diving community; DEMA for one. DEMA is back in Orlando this year and I am looking forward to looking at all the exciting things I can do to my new KISS Classic Rebreather (thank you Kim and Curt for making this a reality) I know many of my friends will quickly point out that I have never been a fan of rebreathers but I am looking at it as just another tool in the bag.  I intend on using this new tool during my next expedition with Advanced Diver Magazine in January.  We will be headed to some very remote parts of the the Yucatan and managing 30 or so SCUBA tanks for open circuit just won't cut it. Therefore, this trip will be rebreather only for the sake of logistics. Hence, my having to learn the rebreather -- learn it or don't go.

Here in Florida, we are looking forward to the NACD's 41^st Annual World Seminar. This great event will be held in the Gainesville, Florida area starting November 21^st. The 3^rd Annual Rebreather Summit will be held in conjunction with the NACD Seminar at Camp Kulaqua on November 22^nd. The NACD is always busy working for their members, I heard great things about the Survey Workshop Mike Poucher held last month for the NACD; I wish I could have attended. Mike is an amazing cave cartographer and has already forgotten more than I will ever know about cave survey.

My new cave atlas is coming along. When I launch it, I hope to have over a 1,000 systems in quite a few different countries. Stay tuned for that. I am hoping I have some spare time soon to work on this. Until then, please continue to post condition reports for the caves you are visiting. Many other readers have come to depend on the condition reports for planning their cave diving trips. I am happy to see quite a few people have decided to follow CaveConditions on Twitter. Personally, I enjoy getting text messages letting me know how others are enjoying the caves when I am not.

Thanks again for those of you that read my blog and use the site. I hope the new site will be even easier to use. Take a look at the Cave & Cavern List. I have added quite a few new systems in Florida as well as other countries. Drop me a note if you would like to see other features added to the site or you just have something you would like to say.  I also wanted to mention some GREAT news! If you are looking for a new dive light or need yours repaired, Joel & Corey are back! They have have opened up a new business called Light Monkey.  Check them out for more information.

So I haven't posted to my blog since April.  I often sit and wonder what I should write and it is just some way for me to place milestones along the paths I travel.  I am very blessed in all facets of my life and am grateful for the people I know and the things I am able to do.  However, I will not simply sit here and nostalgically wax on.  Let me start by looking at our cave diving agencies and doing a quick roll-up.

The NSS-CDS had elections and there are new board members. Jeff Loflin is now the CDS Chairman and has posted a nice letter on the CDS site. I wish him well and hope the agency can move forward from a somewhat stalled state. It seems that the agencies have only pushed membership and teaching, unfortunately leaving exploration, education and conservation on the back burner.  The CDS conference, held in May, was very informative.  As an aside, I am part of a group that has worked on getting School Sink (Wayne's World) reopened through the creation of a guide program, a new website dedicated solely to School Sink and an online reservation system. The NSS-CDS recognized our accomplishments by presenting the Guide Team with the NSS-CDS Safety Award during the NSS-CDS Conference. If you are interested in diving School Sink please visit the School Sink Diving website or just simply let me know.

On the NACD side of things, they too have a new director; Jacki Clark was installed as the newest board member and I couldn't be happier. I am confident she will be beneficial to the success of the organization. I really appreciate that the NACD is hosting a survey workshop in October.  I feel this is a good step in providing for the membership versus simply collecting memberships and certifying students. Mike Poucher is leading the survey workshop so it will definitely be worthwhile. Mike is astonishingly good at cave survey and his efforts speak for themselves! Mike was my survey mentor a few years ago and without his help in the field and on the computer I would have failed miserably.

Enough politics (although I have really left them out -- so much unneeded BS in cave country) and on to diving. As I mentioned earlier, I am blessed! I have been given so many opportunities to dive new caves and simply explore this magnificent blue marble we call Earth.  I am always amazed.

I am blessed to be part of the ongoing Weeki Wachee Spring exploration. This year's exploration ended in June with the window shutting almost as fast as it opened. Although, we did not push the cave this year, we positioned ourselves as a team that can perform scientific functions as well as explore. The jewel of this year's exploration is the video shot by Liquid Productions. There are some screen grabs, as well as a week-by-week journal of this year's exploration, on the Karst Underwater Research Blog. The pictures alone are well worth the visit!

Another big project I was blessed to be a part of was in the Dominican Republic. We spent a week in the Dominican with Advanced Diver Magazine and the ADM Foundation to help Gri Gri Divers look for new caves their clients could dive. Unfortunately, we found more that they shouldn't or can't dive than ones that they can. Our team of four cave explorers joined a sponsored team near the Dominican village of Bayahibe, located on the southeastern shore. A week of brush beating, dry cave searching, and tight cave exploring resulted in the discovery of several underwater caves, never before seen dry cave passages, and finding the remains of exotic mega fauna. Long story short, there is cave in the Dominican and it is gorgeous! Brett found the most beautiful virgin dry cave (beyond a few hundred foot sump). We were amazed by the two foot long bacon and four foot long soda straws. It is simply incredible to be the first person to ever see some of the hidden treasures in our world. There will be an article in the upcoming issue of Advanced Diver Magazine highlighting our trip -- keep your eye out for it. If you just can't wait and would like to see some "raw" video of our trip take a look at this video. Many thanks to everyone at Gri Gri Divers, Uwe, Mark, Alexi and everyone else for having us and putting up with our constant singing!

As always, I appreciate everyone's support of the site and welcome any suggestions for features. Lately I have been playing with Twitter. I have actually found a good use for it (in my opinion). By "following" CaveConditions on Twitter, you can have the latest cave condition reports sent to your cell phone. You can also follow me on Twitter. Sometimes I have something interesting to say.