New, local museum chronicling, preserving cave diving history
By Christa Jenkins-Desrets
Herald Writer

HIGH SPRINGS n Deadly, mysterious, beautiful, dangerous.

The underwater caverns that make the Crescent Communities “the cave diving capital of the world” have been described in many ways.

But to the divers themselves, the caves also represent the evolving history of the sport they love most n a sport that several individuals from the area have decided to document.

The Cave Diving Museum and Library, recently opened in High Springs, has become a mechanism to document the rich history of cave diving.

And it’s a history that was largely developed right in the heart of the Crescent Communities.

The museum began as an idea between Gainesville resident Cindy Butler and two of her friends.

There was no one place that divers could go to get information about cave diving or the history of the sport, Butler said.

“It was kind of an evolving process,” Butler said of starting the museum. “I noticed most of the cave diving organizations had data here and there n there simply was not one centralized location you could go. We’re trying to take all this information and make it centrally accessible for everyone.”

And since the sport has become more and more recognized as an important tool to learning about the earth, Butler said, that documentation will become more important in the future.

“Cave diving isn’t just a sport. People are seeing it more and more as an asset,” she said. “It’s gone from a couple of people poking their heads in things to really a science.”

With these ideas in mind, Butler opened the museum and library in February. Now with a 10-member board and continually growing, the museum is still in the beginning process of taking shape.

With a collection of old diving equipment, books and DVDs on the subject, maps of caves, underwater photography and a catalogue file of diving publications and magazines, the museum has come a long way but still has a long way to go, Butler said.

“It’s a work in progress,” she said.

Butler recognized that many of the advancements the sport had made over the past 30 years still had not been well documented, and those divers who had made the accomplishments might die before they could ever tell their stories.

Butler said she first realized what could be lost from such stories when long-time cave diver Roderick “Rory” Dickens died in 2000 and his entire collection of historical writings, maps and dive gear was lost.

“When (Rory) died, everything that he had was gone,” Butler said. “That really pushed me over the edge.”

Her hope is that she can help document that which may otherwise be lost.

“A lot of cave divers are great storytellers,” she said. “Their stories are just as important as the equipment.”

Those stories, along with the innovative equipment that many pioneer cave divers made, are key to preserving the history of the sport, Butler said.

Wayne Kinard, a local cave diver since 1971 and museum board member, said that he witnessed personally just how much cave diving has progressed over the past several decades.

“If you had cave gear, you pretty much made it yourself,” Kinard said of his early days cave diving as a teenager.

Fort White resident Larry Green, a member of two cave diving training panels, said that by having such historical equipment on display, newcomers to the sport can learn about the beginnings of cave diving.

“They can come in and see where the sport has come from, especially in the ever changing technology,” he said.

And by keeping some of this historical equipment in an interactive display where visitors can actually handle it, Butler said, even veteran cave divers are moved by their memories.

“I like people to be able to come in here and revisit their memories by looking at and touching the equipment,” Butler said.

One woman who visited and saw old equipment from the ‘70s was so touched by the memories that were evoked that she cried, Butler said.

Butler thanks the countless people who have donated such equipment to the museum, she said, because without them her cause would become nearly impossible.

Kinard first got involved with the museum when he heard that old gear was being collected, he said.

“Cindy was collecting stuff, and I knew people who had all sorts of goodies to donate,” Kinard said. “And I had some stuff myself, so everyone started gathering their old gear and bringing it in. There’s a lot of history. We want to preserve that.”

And equipment isn’t the only thing that’s been donated, Butler said. Materials to create exhibits, a computer, books, maps, DVDs and photography also have been generously given by those interested in the project, along with their time and labor.

Since the museum is a not-for-profit business, Butler said, she relies heavily on donations to keep the project going since grants aren’t usually given out to such businesses until they have been open for at least two years.

Sometimes, someone will hear of the museum and just leave a box full of old equipment outside the back door, she said.

“Every once in a while, I’ll come up and there will be something just left outside like abandoned kittens,” she said.

In the future, Butler said, she hopes she can make a museum that would be fun for the whole family and an all-inclusive resource to learn about the sport.

With ideas for a virtual museum online, a kids’ area with cave dive-related games and educational programs, future documentaries on various aspects of the sport, better labeling of equipment, outreach programs and numerous future exhibits, Butler has years of work ahead of her, but she is happy to be involved with the process, she said.

Green said that since the area draws in cave divers from all over the world, the museum may become a tourist attraction for those visitors, as well.

“I think a lot of the visiting people to this museum will probably be from other countries,” he said. “It’s amazing how many people come here just for the cave diving.”

But for now, Butler said she is trying to get the museum more established and local-friendly. She wants the museum and library to become a true asset to the cave diving community, she said.

“I want to know that this will continue even if I’m not around,” she said.

About the Cave Diving Museum and Library

Location: 910 NW First Ave., High Springs

Phone Number: 386-454-3262

Website: http://www.overheadtimes.com

Hours: Wednesday n 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday n 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All other days n By appointment

How to Donate: Donations can be brought to the museum during open hours or pickup can be arranged by calling the museum. Any and all donations appreciated.

Movie Night: All are invited to attend monthly movie nights at the museum, with free popcorn and a movie shown on a projector. Movie night is hosted on the second Saturday of every month starting at 6 p.m. This month’s movie night is this Saturday, July 8.