Well well - we're finally famous
Many thanks for the nice and supportive comments.
I've been caving since I was a kid and was 'brought up' in the caving world as my family have been heavily involved, my Uncle's been caving since he was at Uni and still digs every Wednesday. My Mum was Hut Dragon at the Wessex CC for 7 ish years.
It was a tentative venture, aimed at widening my horizons and finding out exactly what this 'commercial caving' lark was all about - and why it got so much stick. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised - and even impressed - at the level of instruction I've received and the genuinely nice people I have met along the way.
As you'll gather, I'm something of a cave diver and I believe it's important for peope like me (and Chris et al) who are actively involved in exploration to be 'out there' to show others what its all about.
I'm lucky (?) that I have a full time career as a Paramedic, so I can pick and choose my 'clients' (I prefer to call them cavers, because by the end of their experience, they are) carefully. I have to say I've never come across the flabby businessman type yet. Quite the opposite
All my cavers seem to have quite a lot of natural ability, very few need any help and most help carry the kit quite abley. So far, every group or individual I have taken wants to come back and go again if they haven't already.
Some have bought their own kit and others have asked to join caving clubs.
What could possibly go wrong indeed
I've adopted one of our sites as a conservation project, so in addition to the education on caves, formation and conservation that they get prior to every trip (complete with slideshow) they are offered 'conservation' trips, where they can monitor, recognise and understand the local flora and fauna. We were jammy enough to get to photograph an albino trout in LNRC - they thought that was the dogs wotsits (and so did I TBH!)
The aim was originally to make a few quid to help fund my diving, which is getting progressively expensive where helium is involved, but what I have found is that I actually love taking people underground on their first excursions. Every group is different, they make me laugh til it hurts and it is a world apart from the extensive club caving I had become used to.
Great you all spotted the Chesil Beach clean
We have another BIG event in May (18th) in conjunction with the Marine Conservation Society, Plastic Oceans and Scimitar diving. If anyone is interested, keep an eye on my website (or I can post a link here) as the Beach Clean website is due to go 'live' very soon with loads more info.