Support Overview

The Woodville Karst Plain Project has over 35 years of experience exploring, mapping, and conducting research in some of Florida’s most challenging underwater cave systems. This success is built on a foundation of teamwork, preparedness, and skill. All WKPP members are expected to respond to support requests, attend scheduled WKPP events when possible, maintain their equipment, follow team protocols, keep skills current, and always be team players.

If you’ve joined the team, you have a sponsoring member, and your application has been reviewed and approved by senior WKPP divers. Congratulations! We believe that you have what it takes to be an asset to the Project. However, joining the WKPP is just the beginning. Junior members are encouraged to dive with their sponsor and to turn to them with any questions or for advice. Likewise, divers who are in the position to sponsor new members are encouraged to dive with the new members they sponsor.

Your first days on site with the team are likely to focus only on surface support, learning procedures, and culture. You might help place stage or deco cylinders in the front of the cave or support divers during their shallow decompression stops. All of this will depend on the team’s needs, the location, and your skills and abilities. Flexibility, teamwork, and a positive attitude are important to the success of the day.

Support divers should bring at least one full set of LP104 (or equivalent) doubles and 2 AL80 stages, all filled with 32% Nitrox, for each diving day. All tanks must be filled with approved WKPP standard gases, analyzed, and marked appropriately (See Cylinder Marking & Gas Switching). This is non-negotiable. Stage bottles are used in order to keep the back gas cylinders full. It’s easier to swap out a stage bottle than it is to swap out a set of doubles. Any deviations from this standard or additional equipment needs will be communicated directly to support divers. Additionally, it is good practice to bring an AL40 of oxygen. If you have a suitable DPV (ask your sponsor) and are qualified to use it, bring it.

In water shifts can be long, sinkholes could be colder (especially offset sinks in winter months), and the weather could be cold and rainy. Consider your personal thermal requirements for those conditions. Chairs, pop-up tents, bug spray, food, drinks, etc., all help to make the day a bit more comfortable when topside. Ask your sponsor for more suggestions. Plan to be self-sufficient and include lunch, snacks, and drinks.

Spares for everything are highly recommended. WKPP dives require a lot of equipment, and there aren’t typically any options locally for fills or parts. We plan for things to go wrong, and the volume of equipment staged for exploration means something is likely to break. Spares prevent you from having to tinker at the dive site and forgo delaying the dive schedule.

Please show up with your equipment assembled and ready to go. Even if your support shift isn’t scheduled until later in the day, illness, injury, or another unforeseen circumstance could bump it up to the start of the day. Be ready and be flexible.