NACD Survey Workshops

Location:                      Peacock Springs State Park

Workshop Time:         11 AM until 2 PM

Bi-annually, we will be hosting an informal workshop on “surveying underwater caves”, sponsored by the National Association for Cave Diving. This is a series of workshops designed to increase the cave divers knowledge, in the basic processes of surveying underwater caves. Cave divers, interested in learning more about this procedure are welcome.

The day will be broken into two parts. The first two hours or so will include, but not be limited to:

•       Motives for surveying underwater caves
•       Challenges of surveying underwater caves
•       Pre-requisites for surveying
•       Use of maps for dive planning/scientific/land use
•       Map Grades/accuracy
•       Buoyancy Control
•       Data to be taken
•       The line plot
•       Outer limits
•       Measurement criteria
•       Tools needed for surveying
•       Line placement and laying
•       Communications
•       Safety
•       Data retention
•       Consistency
•       Vertical measurements/high angles
•       Error reduction

Following a detailed explanation of the above, and a reasonable question and discussion period, those that are sincerely interested may participate in an actual survey dive. Data will be taken, line plots developed, and data corrected for errors.

Survey slates, equipped with compasses will be provided, and a laptop will be on site to upload survey data into. Brief discussions on minimizing transference of data, PC based map programs, and map publishing will be discussed.

 To register your attendance, email jhurley@cfl.rr.com

 James A. Hurley – Exploration & Survey, NACD 

National Association for Cave Diving, PO Box 14492, Gainesville, FL 32604, Telephone and Fax: 1-888-565-NACD (6223)