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As everyone knows, I used to be heavily involved with the NACD (National Association for Cave Diving). However, the course the organization has taken over the past few years has proven to me that it is nothing more than a group of instructors that want to make money using NACD members’ dues and not do anything for themselves.

To me, it is proven by the fact that not all NACD BoD members are actual members of the NACD (WTF?) and that the BoD gives away NACD memberships to people they want things from. Let's look at a couple of the stellar individuals in the current field running for the NACD BoD.

1. Bill Lester. A self-anointed something that seems to hold himself in much higher regard than anyone else in the cave community (if you don't love yourself, who will?) that was officially described by the NACD BoD with "the Board of the NACD holds Mr. Lester to a higher standard of professional conduct, and has voted, unanimously, to remove Mr. Lester from the positions of Journal Editor and Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee". After that, I find it hard to believe he was vetted to run for the BoD of the NACD. I guess if we look at who the NACD is today it isn't hard to believe. This is simply his reward for standing up for the NACD BoDs stand on retaining a convicted criminal as an instructor for the NACD. Reading Bill Lester's platform statement makes me wonder if it is he who is running or the deceased Debra Green. Bill "I make copyright infringement websites and then get slapped for it (remember your lies against Jim Wyatt?)" Lester or Debra Green. Does he really have to mention Debra's name 5 times? I wonder why he simply doesn't post pictures of himself (dressed in drag) and Larry Green holding hands to show how badly he wants to replace/be Debra.
2. Jeff Bauer. The previous, milquetoast, president of the NACD that proclaimed "F**K it" when faced with dealing with the fact that Johnny Richards (NACD instructor of the year) was convicted on cocaine charges. Anyone remember what Jeff did? Jeff quit! Sounds like a great guy for the NACD BoD -- a quitter. I feel his platform statement should be "vote for me, if things get tough, I'll just quit". In my opinion, Jeff is just looking for more student referrals. That is what being on the NACD BoD means right -- student referrals?

For those of you that are still members of the NACD (why?), if you really want to make a difference in the cave community, stop paying your dues and donate your time and money to a cave organization who's apparent agenda is not making money off the backs of the membership. Instead of sending in your ballot (yeah, you can't vote electronically) send in your resignation!

Recently, there have been some pretty shady things coming out of the National Association for Cave Diving (NACD) and I am worried that the organization is heading for insolvency. It is worth noting that the NACD is the oldest US cave diving organization.

By the current BoD, there has been rampant and blatant violation of By-Laws to protect the ability for a criminal to remain a cave instructor, there was a seating of a board of director (BOD) member (Rob Neto) that was in direct violation of the By-Laws and they terminated two BoD members (Bert Wilcher and Curt Bowen) on false charges or simply because they didn't agree with the rest of the NACD BoD.

However, the worst offense in my opinion, is my receipt of a GAG ORDER by Rick Murcar, the NACD vice president. It appears as though my telling the truth about thier actions and posting facts to support my posts has really gotten under the skin of the current BoD. To me it seems as though they feel I (nor any other member) should not have the ability to post facts and truths about their actions and decisions on forums such as the Cave Divers Forum or The Deco Stop.

Sunday, 9.9.2012, I received the following email from Rick Murcar (rickofgdi@aol.com), vice president of the NACD. The email was copied to all other NACD BoD members (Tracy Grubbs - DIVEHYPE@aol.com, Rob Neto - chipoladivers@gmail.com, Don Syme - underh20@comcast.net and Larry Green - lgreen@atlantic.net) and the subject was CAUTION.

Walter,

You are very busy on the chat boards these days.

The NACD Bylaws will be applied fairly and to the best ability without prejudice. You may read the current Bylaws of the NACD at http://www.safecavediving.com/bylaws.htm Of particular interest are the articles 3.09 through to 3.11 as these paragraphs surmise the standards and administrative procedures of membership termination and will govern the BoDs in the application of the Bylaws. "

Of specific interest to you Walter is that I will be consistent in applying the by-laws and point out the by-law article 3.09 (6) as a caution towards membership termination. You asked the other day if you were still a NACD member? I answered "yes" because you are still a member.

Other NACD members are complaining regarding your posts on the chat board. I caution you as I will take the required administrative action deemed necessary to protect the NACD and its membership.

Walter I am all about the membership.

Rick Murcar
NACD BoD

If you disagree with the direction the current BoD is taking the NACD as well as their rampant disregard for the NACD's corporate By-Laws, I strongly encourage you to make your voice heard at Cave Alliance. If you would like to contact me directly please feel free. I would also recommend reading the posts on the Cave Diver's Forum or The Deco Stop as well.

If you are reading this (hi mom), you and I probably share the same affinity for caves and the entire karst landform. Some of you know me personally yet others do not. To that end, let me use this blog post to share a little about myself.

I have been exploring all of my life (thanks mom) and diving for over 25 years, I grew up diving golf course lakes for golf balls and the black rivers of the South Carolina low country in hopes of treasure or anything historic. I served in the US Navy where I became a true diver and worked as a ship’s diver (submarines) and as an underwater husbandry diver (submarine tender). After moving to Florida and a break from diving; my interests soon returned to diving and I started focusing on technical diving. This eventually led me to the beauty of Florida’s caves and caverns as a cave diver.

My love and appreciation for caves was extended to dry caves years ago through the friendly pushing of my amazing friend
and long lost brother Robert Brooks. The combination of both disciplines, caving and cave diving, have provided me a unique perspective and appreciation for all that is karst.

My passion for caves extended to dry caves, fully developing my perspective of the entire karst landform that we all appreciate as cave explorers. The combination of both disciplines, caving and cave diving, has provided me a unique perspective and appreciation of caves. I share my passion for caves and conservation by hosting vertical clinics, leading dry cave trips, and speaking at events for the NSS Cave Diving Section (CDS) and the National Association of Cave Diving.

Presently, I am active in three major areas of conservation and exploration of both dry and wet caves. In Florida, I serve as an explorer and the dive safety officer for the Weeki Wachee Springs Exploration Project; Weeki Wachee is currently the deepest naturally formed spring in the U.S. In the Dominican Republic, I discovered significant primate fossils that changed the direction of how New World primates are studied. In Mexico and the U.S., I am an explorer and logistics director for various ADM Exploration Team expeditions.

I am very blessed as a person and have had the great fortune to a member of The Explorers Club, a board of director (BOD) member of the ADM Exploration Foundation and previously work with the BOD of the The Karst Conservancy and Karst Underwater Research. I have also served as the National Association for Cave Diving (NACD) Public Relations committee chairman and Election Administrator for the NSS-CDS.

Above all, I am the father of an amazing son and an EXPLORER! If anyone ever has a question about exploration, wants to learn how to climb or simply wants to go stomp around in the swamp, don't hesitate to contact me.