UIS Cave Diving Commission

 

Report to the closing session of the UIS General Assembly at Athens-Kalamos, August 27, 2005

 

The Commission met on august 25. Twenty five persons attended the meeting and twelve countries were represented: Belgium, Canada, France, Greece, Japan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. The future tasks and methods of the Commission were discussed and decided upon.

 

The Commission will attempt to protect the interest of every committed cave diver to practice his activities as he or she sees it appropriate. To this end, the Commission will try to establish a true representation of all committed cave divers around the world. We will seek to re-enforce our international organization, and its capability to support, on request, any cave divers or their organizations if that interest is compromised. We will establish a framework of principles and guidelines regarding safety, cave protection, landowner relations, etcetera. This framework is to be implemented according to the local technical, legal and cultural situation. The Commission will not seek to impose, but will try to convince, and because of the diversity of cave diving techniques used worldwide, the Commission will not set up rules. We will invite, encourage and support local committed cave divers, or, preferably, their organizations, in the implementation of principles and recommendations. Whatever the framework or guidelines the Commission might devise, local specificities will be respected.

 

The Commission will collect and disseminate information about cave diving, including (but not limited to) technical developments, guidelines for safety, training and minimizing environmental impact, and about legal, cultural and insurance aspects.  Local groups will be invited to supply such information.

 

The Commission will consist of a Board and Delegates. The Board will comprise a President and two vice-Presidents. Delegates, President and vice-Presidents must be experienced cave divers, preferably involved in their country’s cave diving activities. They should preferably also have administration skills. Delegates must attempt to represent all cave divers in their country. Whenever representative, non-commercial cave diving organizations exist in their country, these will appoint the Delegate. The Delegate should, as a second priority, also be supported by non-profit caving organizations.

 

Delegates are expected to provide an information channel between the Commission and local organizations. Delegates will contribute to the development of the Commission as a solid representative body and help to collect and disseminate information. Delegates will decide on policy matters, propose a President to the UIS General Assembly, appoint other Board members, and set the limits of competence of the Board, as they see it appropriate. They may replace by a vote any completely inactive member of the Board. Delegates will normally discuss and vote by e-mail, but can chose any other means of communication whenever need arises.

 

The Board will decide on daily matters, maintain a public page on the UIS web site for the dissemination of information and a private webpage, accessible for the Delegates, where all decisions, polls, incoming and outgoing information will be reported. The Board will also maintain an e-mail forum restricted to Delegates, for internal discussions and voting. Board members will share all information between themselves. The Board will decide by the majority rule. It will maintain and publicise a list of names and addresses of Delegates and Board members. The names and addresses of all Board members will also appear on the UIS officials’ list.

 

The Board will, as a priority, attempt to establish a sound representation. It will contact caving organizations in all affiliated countries and invite them to elect a Delegate to the Commission. We will focus our efforts first on the European caving organisations.

 

The new Board was elected:

 

Proposed President:   Philippe Brunet, France (9 votes out of 12)

Vice- Presidents:   Antoine Comaty, Lebanon (unanimous voting)

Arjan van Waardenburg, The Netherlands (unanimous voting)

 

Interpretation and translation of minutes of meeting: Bruno Delprat, France

 

September 5 - 2005