The National Speleological Society-Cave Diving Section (NSS-CDS) is a 501(3)c non-profit corporation with a rich history in conservation, education, exploration, and safety. In fact, the roots of the organization run so deep that it is impossible to separate NSS-CDS history from the history of cave diving itself! The NSS-CDS was started by cave diving members of the NSS (National Speleological Society, the largest dry caving organization in the world) in 1973. The organization grew out of meetings in Missouri and Indiana in 1973 at the annual NSS convention. Sheck Exley was the first chairman, and Volume #1, Issue #1 of the journal later became Underwater Speleology. By 1976, the NSS-CDS was the largest cave diving organization in the world.