I have dove Morrison in October, part of Voctoberfest. The "No Diving" sign was up at the boat ramp, and I had the same reaction: Do they mean SCUBA? Or that folks should not dive out of the nearby trees into the shallow water? Or that you shouldn't swim at the boat ramp?
The boat ramp, and sign, are down a spur of a road, leading off to the "side" of the parking area as I recall, that goes to the river or watershed. Neither the ramp or the sign are visible to anyone parking in the lot or approaching the entrance to the Spring and going in the way we always have. When I was there, there was NO sign, along the direct path or at the entrance to the spring, saying "No Trespassing," or "No Diving," or any such thing. There was a gate, at the traditional spring entrance road, obstructing vehicular traffic down to the Spring and its beach; but pedestrian access from the new parking lot, outside the gate, was wide-open and with no indication that pedestrian access was forbidden.
So, we geared up in the parking lot and walked down and dove. Another dive party was also there.
Maybe there is some obscure rule or code that says we shouldn't have done that, but I am not aware of that. To me, it was a public place closed to vehicles.
I have heard the rumor that "they" were writing tickets for diving the spring, but was that for folks who "violated" the sign by entering at and swimming from the boat ramp? Also, what was the charge on the tickets? Was it criminal trespass, by way of a Notice to Appear? Or was it some form of civil citation with a fine only? Was there an offer of a hearing?
I wanna dive there!
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