Chairman's Corner

This issue of Underwater Speleology [Volume 37 #4] is dedicated to the memory of Wes Skiles.  He is dearly missed by all who knew him.  Wes really grew up in cave diving.  His mother would drive him to areas around the North Florida springs on Friday afternoons after he got out of school (Note - Wes wasn’t old enough to drive yet!). 

Gear would be unloaded, a pick up time would be arranged for later in the weekend, and Wes would be ready to start an adventure that most kids his age would barely comprehend.  After he got his license and a vehicle, his teenage years would be spent learning to explore the underwater caves.  During his school years, Wes had the good fortune to be around Rory Dickens, truly one of the earliest pioneers of cave diving gear innovation and techniques.  When Wes wasn’t off diving, he was constantly absorbing all the information he could get from Rory.

Wes and Terri’s home was always open to cave divers.  Any time you stopped for a visit, there would be cave divers not just from all over the country, but cave divers from around the world.   Wes decided very early in his diving career that he wanted to be a professional underwater cave photographer.  He started out with a basic Nikonos and later found a housing for a little Sony Super 8.  It wasn’t long before he was not only taking wonderful images, but he was developing stories and scripts. His imagination and his eye for a great image kept expanding as he grew older.  Though his first motivations were to capture the beauty of underwater caves through photography, Wes discovered the fragility and importance of the underground aquifer.  He became not only a renowned photographer, but a statesmen and spokesperson for not only the Floridan aquifer, but for underwater caves throughout the world.  The NSS-CDS had no finer friend and advocate.  He helped the Section many times without asking for acknowledgement or recognition.  As Training Director, he started the evolution of the current training levels. 

Many of us can share adventures we had with Wes.  The evening session and the 2011 workshop will be dedicated to the remembrance of Wes.  A fireside chat is in order so we can relate some of the excitement we had with him.   Hope to see you there. 

By early December, the conversion will be completed, changing the membership processing to the NSS.  All dues (both NSS and NSS-CDS) will be paid directly to the NSS.  Your membership card will be mailed by the NSS with the Primary Affiliation (Cave Diving Section) printed on it.  You will have only one membership card to show your membership to both organizations.  Membership expiration dates will be the same and the dues reminders will continue to be mailed by the NSS.  Another major benefit of the shift in dues collection will be to eliminate duplicate processing and reduce Section expenses relating to membership.  The NSS will send the Section dues on a bi-weekly basis.

Cheryl Doran has volunteered to be the Editor of Underwater Speleology.  Her contact information for your articles and photos:  Email: cccheryld@aol.com, Cell: 732-674-6550.  Welcome and thank you Cheryl.

Dive safely,
Gene