2/18-2/20 Ginnie, Crystal River, Alexander, and Paradise Report and more...

[OCDinNC]

The Ned Deloach book, the owner, and some of the internet sites I visited all state a 140' depth at Paradise. scubafool and jeandiver here confirmed this earlier in the post Water levels must have been low the weekend I was there because I was at 97' at the reaper, I guess I could've hogged down into the silt for triple digits though.

I was at Paradise last Sunday; the owner (Curt) told me himself the cave goes to 147'. The grim reaper sign, I think I hit at about 92'; just couldn't resist the small cave opening to the left, down to 112', but didn't go out of the "large" (LOL) room into the smaller opening. Curt told me it opens to a large room after going first through a smaller opening, on its way to 147.

I really enjoyed your report. Sounded like deja vu. I did Crystal 4 weeks ago after a week in Jupiter and the Keys, and went down to Ginnie this past weekend to do the cavern course. Highly recommend Johnny Richards as instructor. On the last dive, we did Devil's Ear, went down to 63', taken just past the grim reaper sign one at a time by our instructor to be asked a hypothetical question "One of these ways is an exit. Which one?" That was interesting. I did choose correctly, which made me feel good. Had a blast, so your story and pix from there and Paradise were fun to look at. It would be cool if I could come down and hook up with you one weekend to do some springs/caverns. And yes, I agree: you should "spring" for the cavern course...

 

[jviehe]

Great report and pictures! I'm leaving Friday for my spring break including diving all of those destinations. I'm wondering about Paradise Springs though. I'm looking at these maps:
http://www.floridacaves.com/paradisemap.JPG
http://www.floridacaves.com/paradiseprofile.JPG

I'm a very comfortable yet still novice diver and the maps make me wonder if just an open water diver without cavern training has any business diving this sinkhole. A website I was reading made it seem like it's ok for open water divers as long as they limit their depth to about 60'. Anybody's thoughts?

It depends on the diver, but it wouldnt hurt to take a cavern class.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

It would be cool if I could come down and hook up with you one weekend to do some springs/caverns. And yes, I agree: you should "spring" for the cavern course...

I do more of the panhandle stuff than anything else, its much closer. If you ever want to head out this way, I'm game for a dive or 6 though. The panhandle has alot to offer as well.

 

[OCDinNC]

I do more of the panhandle stuff than anything else, its much closer. If you ever want to head out this way, I'm game for a dive or 6 though. The panhandle has alot to offer as well.

I'll be down in PC on family vacation the 2nd week of Aug. I want to do a couple of days of Gulf dives, and maybe we could squeeze in a good day of springs (?)

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Probably, August is a long time away though - get with me closer to then