Lake WA wrecks access

lundysd · Post by **lundysd** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:10 pm

The problem is that we don't know who is doing the damage. If it's the charters, we as a dive community can fix by speaking with our $$$. If it's the fisherman, we're probably screwed because that is far more scattered than our little dive group. If it's individual divers/personal boats, then that opens up a whole bag of worms on how to police sites without coming off as political. No matter the cause, the simple fact of life is that damage will occur somehow, and we have to do our best at limiting that damage due to our diving these sites. Make sure people know the value of these wrecks and spread the word that "hands-off" isn't just a recommendation, it's required.

Honestly I think running lines to some of these wrecks is a great idea -- it takes a pretty monumental screwup to damage a wreck when you're scootering to it from 2-3k feet away

Joshua Smith · Post by **Joshua Smith** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:25 pm

Like I said.....

John Rawlings · Post by **John Rawlings** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:15 am

Here's something that hasn't yet been addressed: running lines from shore will act as a magnet for divers unqualified for these dives to try following them out to the wrecks. I'm already aware of at least one guy (Huh! I'm Advanced Open Water!) that is talking about finding a line and "going out to see the planes".

If you MUST lay your lines, start them away from shore at a location YOU can find but few others can.

For years, diving these wrecks has been limited to those that put in the time to locate them from the historical record or were taken there by those that had. By laying lines to them from shore you are opening them up to any clown that "thinks" he can do it. You think there's damage NOW, just wait until the idiot-brigade starts finding your lines!

- John

Zen Diver · Post by **Zen Diver** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:37 am

John Rawlings wrote:...By laying lines to them from shore you are opening them up to any clown that "thinks" he can do it. You think there's damage NOW, just wait until the idiot-brigade starts finding your lines!

- John

Not to mention the human damage (ie, loss of life) from someone who "think" he can do it... ](*,)

-Valerie

Aquanautchuck · Post by **Aquanautchuck** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:51 am

Very interesting and sad post. I never could understand why it was always so hard to find where little known dive sites were from other divers in the past. I now know why. Since I try to do at least one exploratory dive each time I take the zodiac out I am a little more likely to keep them to myself. Watching dive sites deteriorate because of jerks is one reason.

dsteding · Post by **dsteding** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:28 pm

Nailer99 wrote:It's hopeless- we can yammer about it on the 'net until the cows come home, but at the end of the day, the best thing we can do is to try and create a culture within our dive "Community" (and I use that term loosely- more like a family- well, more like my family, and most of the ones I know- lotsa feuds, power struggles, slander, politics, backstabbing....what's your family like?) anyway, where was I?

Oh, yeah- ....create a culture within our dive "community" wherein touching, damaging, or salvaging from the wrecks is verboten- anyone who does so will be ostracized, reported to the relevant authorities, and dragged through the streets by the rear bumper of my van.

Well said.

I think you are right on the money as well. And, I'd agree with what Bob said over on TDM about this being an opportunity to bring the various factions within our dive community together.

John Rawlings · Post by **John Rawlings** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:13 pm

dsteding wrote: Well said.

I think you are right on the money as well. And, I'd agree with what Bob said over on TDM about this being an opportunity to bring the various factions within our dive community together.

Doug....what is "TDM"? I'd like to read Bob's post.

- John

lundysd · Post by **lundysd** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:15 pm

TDM -- http://www.divematrix.com

It seems that we have a risk management situation here -- by limiting the number of weights dropped on oe near these sites (by runnign line), less damage will be done. On the other hand, lines can attract people who shouldn't be using them. I think each site will have a different set of risks in each situation, and we should manage them accordingly.

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:09 pm

John Rawlings wrote:
dsteding wrote: Well said.

I think you are right on the money as well. And, I'd agree with what Bob said over on TDM about this being an opportunity to bring the various factions within our dive community together.
Doug....what is "TDM"? I'd like to read Bob's post.

- John

Actuall, we prefer the acronym "DMX" ... http://www.divematrix.com/forums.php

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

dsteding · Post by **dsteding** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:35 pm

Grateful Diver wrote:
Actuall, we prefer the acronym "DMX" ... http://www.divematrix.com/forums.php

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Forgive me, I wrote that in a oxycodone, no more wisdom teeth haze.

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:48 pm

dsteding wrote:
Grateful Diver wrote:
Actuall, we prefer the acronym "DMX" ... http://www.divematrix.com/forums.php

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Forgive me, I wrote that in a oxycodone, no more wisdom teeth haze.

Dude! The teeth may be gone, but the wisdom remains ... get well enough to dive soon ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:35 pm

Grateful Diver wrote:
dsteding wrote:
Grateful Diver wrote:
Actuall, we prefer the acronym "DMX" ... http://www.divematrix.com/forums.php

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Forgive me, I wrote that in a oxycodone, no more wisdom teeth haze.
Dude! The teeth may be gone, but the wisdom remains ... get well enough to dive soon ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Yeah, get well bro! In the meantime, enjoy the pills...

I hate those little buggas - they make me itch!!

dsteding · Post by **dsteding** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:50 pm

Thanks guys, I'm off the oxy, that stuff is nasty. Things feel pretty good, no swelling, minimal pain.

Can't dive for a week or two, however . . .

Pez7378 · Post by **Pez7378** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 6:58 pm

A week?!?!?! That sux. Well if your scooter starts whining and scratching at the door to go for a swim give me a call? Otherwise it'll start pooping all over the carpet.

I also agree with Bobs message on "DMX".

we can really only speculate about who's creating the problem ... and whether it's due to maliciousness, ignorance, or simple human error. So education and awareness seems to be a logical approach.

We recently had a tech diver's symposium here that brought a lot of the dive community together ... although I didn't get a chance to go, I thought it was a great idea. Something like that would be useful to raise awareness, and perhaps establish some "guidelines" for accessing these wrecks. You still won't be able to "enforce" anything universally ... all you really need to dive these wrecks is a boat, depth sounder, and a reasonable idea of where they are after all ... but you can reach those who might be damaging them thru acts of ignorance or error, and provide them with enough knowledge to prevent that from happening.

dsteding · Post by **dsteding** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:01 am

Pez7378 wrote:A week?!?!?! That sux. Well if your scooter starts whining and scratching at the door to go for a swim give me a call? Otherwise it'll start pooping all over the carpet.

Ha, I appreciate the offer to take the scoot for a walk. Very kind of you.

This will be the longest I've been out of the water in over a year and a half. I know, I checked my logbook . . .