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Protecting a Fragile Cave Environment

RESPECT FOR THE DIVE SITE
The most valuable resource is our water supply. With water everywhere we naturally take for granted that the source of water is endless. Unfortunately, we have learned that the natural resources of our oceans are not boundless. Why? Because of the growing overuse and pollution of our natural resources. We cannot afford to make the same mistake with the cenotes.  With good education and proper management, our cenotes can continue to serve divers, scientists and the Mayans while providing needed water.

Springs, sinkholes, cenotes, and the blue holes serve as windows to the underground aquifers. These entrances provide recreational, scientific, scenic, and spiritual activities to all of us. Of course, these windows also provide us with valuable water resources. Abuse and carelessness can destroy these natural wonders. Once they are ruined, it is extremely difficult to return them to their original state. Protecting and preserving our water resources is the responsibility for everyone, particularly divers, snorkelers, boaters and swimmers who gain so much pleasure from using them. It is discipline that must be the highest priority among all visitors and users. Education and proper policies are a major part of the preservation effort. Establishing policies need to be carefully designed and implemented to insure their protection.

THE CAVE DIVER
Every cave diver must practice respect towards the cave environment. Cave divers are guests in this unique world and should act accordingly. Be gentile while diving underwater and walking around on the land’s surface, particularly near a dive site. Damage can easily occur if cave divers are not careful and observant of their surroundings. The fragile biological life, the brittle limestone features and formations, the history and overall ambiance of the cave entrances, and their surrounding area are there for the cave diver’s interpretation and enjoyment. Everything should be left the same way as it is found. Trees, plant life, and the neighboring land are essential to maintaining these natural resources. Irresponsible behavior by anyone will force closure of a dive site and deny access to the pleasures they provide.

LANDOWNER RELATIONS
Someone owns all of the dive sites where underwater caves are found, whether it be local, state, or federal government, private organizations, corporations, or importantly, private individuals. The number one priority for every cave diver is respect for the landowner’s rights. Permission to dive or use a site is everyone’s most important responsibility.

Usually, a nominal fee is charged to gain access to the dive sites and all divers should gratefully honor that request. In return, many of the sites provide easier and more convenient access. Picking up litter and keeping the dive site clean leads to a safer and better environment. Many dive sites are kept clean by annually organized clean up events by various diving associations or dive clubs. Conservation can have a solid foundation because of the attitude and good habits demonstrated by all who help in keeping our dive sites clean and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.

GRAFITTI
Vandalism is the form of graffiti that is disgusting and totally irresponsible. All cave divers must help educate those who are not aware or do not understand the negative consequences of their destructive behavior. These unthinking acts by a few people ruin the future enjoyment of a dive site by others. Any time an individual carves or scratches his name, initials, or personal messages into the silt floor or soft limestone walls, a permanent disfigurement is created that cannot be erased or repaired. These scars will continue to remind all visitors of an ugly act of the past. It is vital to prevent this childish and immature demonstration of idiotic human conduct.

ENTRANCES AND EXITS
Access to the water for an enjoyable and rewarding dive is one of the first things to be considered. Because each dive site is different, nature provides an array of choices of how to enter and leave the water. Many times this is easy: on the other hand, it can be quite challenging or treacherous. As mentioned before, a classic quote often used is, “The most dangerous part of the cave dive is getting in and out of the water.” Popularity and possible special facilities determine how the spring, sinkhole, blue hole, or cenote handles the wear and tear of cave divers climbing in and out of the entrance.

Erosion is the largest concern, because the continuous pressure of people walking, climbing, and pulling themselves in and out of the water takes it toll through soil kicked in, loose rocks pulled, and tree roots being exposed or broken. Rainwater adds to this serious problem by accelerating the erosion process and pushing a tremendous amount of runoff containing soil, sand, leaves, and other debris into the water. Fortunately, landowners at many dive sites have constructed walkways, platforms, ladders, or steps to the water. These greatly minimize damage and considerably help to protect and preserve this fragile environment. As a bonus, safety is dramatically increased, to every diver’s benefit.

The Florida State Park system is a shining example of planning and constructing walkways to allow access to many of the springs and sinkholes they manage. Because it is severely handicapped by a lack of funds to properly perform this service, many organizations, clubs, and service groups have donated time, money, and labor to help construct the walkways to these precious bodies of water. The Peacock Springs State Recreation Area located in Suwannee County is a prime example of how this process works. The cave diving community represented by several of the cave and technical training agencies has contributed a substantial amount of money, material, and labor to make this program a success. Though it takes a significant amount of time, the results are well worth the investment.  Today, quality walkways and steps are installed at Peacock Springs and Orange Grove Sink, making access to the water very safe, especially for the handicapped. Other Florida State Park dive sites gaining from these benefits are Emerald Sinkhole, Wakulla County; Little River Springs, Suwannee County, Madison Springs, Madison County; Manatee Springs and Catfish Hotel Sinkhole, Levy County and in the near future Blue Springs, Jackson County. In addition to providing easier access, they are protecting the dive site from further damage and erosion, which is a major step in the efforts toward good conservation.

Individual landowners also do a remarkable amount of work to provide their dive sites with safe and easy entrances. They usually charge a fee for the privilege to dive or swim, but the expense is well worth the price to gain a better way to and from the water.

The same thing happens at the beautiful cenotes found along the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. The Maya families own the majority of the cenotes. They have constructed platforms, walkways, and steps for divers and snorkelers. Some of these entries are primitive, which means you must be careful and use good judgment when accessing them. Two examples is the Cenote Carwash, located near the city of Tulum and owned and operated by the Ejido Tulum, and the Cenotes Dos Ojos (Two Eyes) owned and operated by Ejido Jacinto Pat, both large groups of Maya families. They have constructed wooden platforms along the water’s edge, with ladders attached for access to the water. This has greatly minimized the erosion problem and made entry safe, easy and comfortable. They have provided tables to set up dive equipment, and bathrooms and dressing rooms for the cave diver’s convenience and comfort.

CONTAMINATION FROM THE SURFACE
This is a worldwide problem in any body of water that is used by people. At dive sites, this contamination consists of any debris flushed in by rainwater or brought into the water by human or animal activity. When the contaminants are caused by human interference, this must be corrected. Rose Sink, located in Columbia County, Florida is a prime example of human-caused pollution that has been scientifically proven to harm the aquifer of Florida. Several miles from Rose Sink is the Ichetucknee River, which is a beautiful seven-mile spring run that boils from several springs, including the largest, Ichedtucknee Springs. This river serves as the border between Suwannee and Columbia counties and empties into the Santa Fe River. Over the past two decades, the water quality of this spring-fed river has noticeably deteriorated in clarity and algae have slowly appeared on much of the plant life found in the riverbed. It was suspected that surface intrusion of runoff at Rose Sink containing fertilizers used in farming in the immediate area was increasing the level of nitrates in the aquifer that resurged to form the Ichetucknee River valley, where growing use of fertilizers has had a major impact on the water quality of all the springs. Many of these springs were crystal=clear thirty years ago. Today, the water in them has evolved into a distinctly greenish color. The best example is the Green Sink Cave System, Lafayette County near Mayo, where the headspring was named decades ago Blue Springs. This is a difficult problem to manage, as the balance between a farming industry providing food and the need to protect our natural resources is a challenging political issue.

Suntan oil, insect repellents, deodorants, and lotions represent another form of surface intrusion that causes much harm to the aquifer. When people swim, snorkel, or dive to enjoy the springs, sinkholes, or cenotes these chemicals worn on the body will wash off and become a deadly form of toxin to native life in the waters. The responsibility of every individual is to remove the emollients before entering the water or avoid using these products when planning to visit these water sites.

The sudden growth in tourism and tourist resorts along the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Caribbean coast in the Yucatan peninsula during the late 1990’s and into the new century has stirred a continuing and intense debate about sewage treatment and solid-waste disposal. The popular Cenote Eden and the Ponderosa cave system has shown sporadic evidence of sewage seeping into the cave system and being trapped underneath the halocline layer until it slowly is flushed downstream and eventually into the Caribbean. A popular method of disposing of treated sewage water by many hotel resorts in this area is by deep well injection. Unfortunately, with limestone being so porous, this sewage eventually finds it way back up through cracks and faults and into cave systems that drain into the ocean, making this a risky method of sewage disposal.

In addition, the rapid growth in population and development of this area has put a difficult strain on solid waste disposal. Inappropriate methods are also being used in the local landfills, which are not adequate for handling the needs of the burgeoning tourist population.

There is an unusual example of surface pollution in a cave system called Sistema Crustacea, located near Puerto Morelos, Mexico, twenty-six kilometers

South of Cancun first explored in May 1999 by Steve Gerrard, Marike Jasper and Kate Lewis, it was found to have a prolific population of two species of underwater cave creatures, an amphipod and another tiny crustacean. Eventually, this led the explorers to the source of surface contamination 8,000 feet (2438 meters) upstream at a hog ranch. The hogs are butchered daily for the market, and their viscera and body fluids were disposed of into a cenote adjacent to the slaughter area. After many years, this pollution has generated a rich nutrient source and created a population outbreak way beyond the norm for these particular troglobitic animals. In addition, plastic bags and other manmade debris are found in areas of the cave system downstream from the cenote at the ranch.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EDUCATION
Every cave diver who visits and dives these gateways to an incredible underground world must make a dedicated effort to protect these precious portals to our aquifers. Education will help everyone understand and enjoy the privilege of visiting this unique environment, and create awareness of the need for protecting and preserving it as a pristine realm.

Anytime that you observe an act by an individual that is detrimental to the environment while you are diving or visiting a spring, sinkhole, or cenote, please do not hesitate to voice your concern or objection. Always be sure to approach a person in a diplomatic and positive manner whenever you attempt to correct someone’s bad behavior.

All cave diving instructors should spend a substantial amount of time in their courses emphasizing the importance of conservation and protection of the caves, teaching students the benefits of preservation. By teaching students the benefits of preserving their environment, the number of people engaged in this effort will expand many times.

THE FUTURE
What lies ahead for all of our bodies of water that offer the beautiful cave environment as well as our precious water supplies will be the continuing challenge for future generations. In some parts of the world, wars will arise from competition for water. As the population of Florida continues to grow, the demand for water will increase many times over. Today, Florida uses the same amount of water that nature provides, and increasing that usage may cause a catastrophe.

SUMMARY
Our enjoyment of the cave environment puts a tremendous responsibility on us all. It is our duty to preserve these extraordinary places. Let us work together to safeguard this exceptional world.