Dont know if anyone is interested in how this is unfolding...changes hourly...

http://members3.boardhost.com/Modiver/

Personally...dont have a problem with a yearly free permit, but the advance permission thing is a bit over the top... just my $0.02

A permit to dive where we've been diving for years without a single incident (that I can remember)?????? Thats friggen ridiculous. What's next, registering our tank serial numbers with them to make sure they are in hydro?

There was a truly unfortunate incident this summer where a student drowned.

The permit system was apparently in response to this incident.

I understand that diver reponse to the permits has been heavy and the Parks Department has reconsidered thier position on this and currently they will not be requiring individual permits or calls. Only groups of students will require permits.

I am glad to see that that divers did respond to this issue so swiftly and that the parks dept has responded to the individual divers concerns in such a dive friendly manner. Kudos to both

I don't know what registering will do to prevent a student from drowning.

I just spoke to Freeholder John Bartlett on the phone regarding the permits. It shows a tremendous commitment to his job that he returned my call from yesterday.... actually he called twice just to confirm the information.

He told me that at this time the permits will not be inforced until next year when they have all procedures in place. There will be a free yearly permit that divers can apply for and they will be able to call the Recreation Dept (during working hours) or an alternative number during non-working hours before they dive. These numbers will be placed on the sign. (so we can call from the lot before gearing up and cant loose the number as it will be posted on the sign)

While it requires a yearly form and a phone call on our part, I think the time frames are reasonable for us. And it was a good compromise.

My thanks to Mr Barlett for his cooperation and help.

This has truly been a back and forth thing with rules changing on almost a daily basis....

latest is that the whole idea has been abandoned and there will be diving as usual at the railroad bridge.....