The staff of Sink or Swim Scuba will be running a trip to Alexander Springs March 9-12 if anyone wants to go. We have a few spots left. We have a fun trip planned, I have included the info below. The last day is listed as a site seeing day but we can always skip it and go diving.
Brent
March 9-12, 2007
Price:
Open water students: $300; Certified Divers: $250; Non-Divers: $230
Additional Fees:
Optional Single Supplement: $200
Group Size:
4-12. Trip needs 4 divers to run
Additional Activities Available: (park service fee may apply)
Hiking the Timucuan Indian Trail, Canoeing 7 mile run, Paisley Woods Bike Trail, Snorkeling, Beach and
cook-out area, Fishing: Largemouth Bass, pan fish, and Mullet
Accommodations:
3 nights lodging. Double occupancy.
Area Information:
Alexander Springs, located in Central Florida, is known for its safe open water dive. The shallow depths and
small caverns make an for excellent novice dive. The spring basin is almost 300 ft. wide. While depths don't exceed 30
ft, there are some small caverns to explore that make it an enjoyable scuba dive. There is a lot of marine wildlife here
and a chance you might even see a gator! Public phones, hot showers, snack bar, and general store are located at the
beach area.
The City of St. Augustine is the nation's oldest permanently occupied European settlement founded by the
Spanish in 1565. Because of North Florida's year around mild climate, but especially in the warm spring and summer
months, the area's delightful historic district, with its cobblestone streets and its quaint cafes, bars, unique shops and
bed-and-breakfast inns, comes alive with locals and tourists setting out on foot to explore significant landmarks such as:
Castillo de San Marcos , Fort Matanzas, and Flagler College. The town also boasts 43 pristine miles of beaches.
There's the right type of beach for everyone: some permit vehicles while others allow only pedestrians. Some of the area
beaches produce abundant shelling opportunities, while others are covered only in luxurious fine, golden sand.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Plan to meet at Sink or Swim Scuba at noon. Guests will finalize their gear needs and decide upon car pooling
arrangements. While directions will be provided, and following the lead car is recommended Sink or Swim is not
responsible for participants who experience transportation issues. Please make every effort to arrive at our destination
safely.
Day 2: We will start our first day of diving by departing our hotel at 9:00 AM and driving deep into the Ocala National
Forrest. Although the trek from your vehicle to the dive site can be tiresome (about 200 yards) picnic tables (the perfect
place to don your gear) await . At that point certified divers are welcome to start diving while the class practices skills.
Once you hit the water you may find it to be a little chilly, 72 degrees to be exact. Then, put your fins on and wade
toward the middle of the spring until waist deep. Set your computer (if available) place your regulator in your mouth,
deflate your BC, and swim along the bottom (about 4 feet) until you hit the opening of the spring which will appear out of
nowhere, its like looking down the side of a perfectly carved mountain. Descend down a limestone slope that resembles
a sand dune you would see at the beach.
Day 2 continued: On either side of the spring is a world of underwater exploration awaiting. A cave entrance intrigues the
most curious of divers. Enter the opening of the cave to the right of the entrance. Ten feet in is a limestone wall that
stops you immediately, but with a light you can peer into the depth of the aquifer. Outside, to the left of the 1st cave entrance
is a small cavern which allows only a body length entrance. If you shine your light into the opening you can see 2
cave passageways which are too small to enter but continue into the darkness as far as your light can reach. On the
other side of the dune the outflow of the spring is massive. You can swim through a tight passage at 20 feet and come
out on the top of a limestone shelf at around 8 feet. If you swim into the outflow of the spring at 20 feet you can grip the
limestone on either side and hold on while pulling yourself down. Let go and you are blasted like a rocket through the
spring. Be sure to hold on to your mask, as it may very well be ripped from your face.
After breaks for lunch and rest the class will continue with their second dive. We will hang out in the park long
enough for the class members to explore the beach, hike trails, or shower.
We will return to the hotel following our day at Alexander Springs. While dinner is on your own, we highly suggest
Maddux Fish House and Old Crow Real Pit BBQ. Please let us know if youd like to dine as a group. Otherwise,
directions will be available.
Day 3: Please be prepared to check out of our hotel by 9:00 AM. Before heading back to Alexander, group members
can decide if they would like to dine at one of the most unique and traditional options in FL The Old Spanish Sugar
Mill which is located in DeLeon Springs State Park. There, when you order pancakes waiters bring out pitchers of batter,
made with flour ground at the restaurant. Diners do their own cooking by puddling the batter onto griddles built into the
tables. Toppings for the 'cakes include blueberries, apples and chocolate chips. A meal of unlimited pancakes, coffee, a
topping and two eggs runs about $10. You can think of this as breakfast and lunch.
While there, we will have time to peruse the visitors center, where displays show how Indians occupied the land
for thousands of years and how the spring was a popular winter resort as far back as the 1880s. Or you can walk off your
carb haze on a short, paved nature trail nearby. Here, among pignut hickories, beautyberry and azaleas lives "Old Methuselah,"
a gnarly 400-year-old bald cypress that long ago escaped loggers.
Our second dives day will start at noon. (Guests who chose other morning activities must meet at the park by
noon. Please notify us of your plans in advance so your entrance into Alexander Springs can be arranged.) We will depart
Alexander Springs by 5:00 PM and travel to St. Augustine, which is about 1.5 hours away.
Once we arrive in St. Augustine we will check into our hotel and begin exploring the city. Our hotel is located in
the historic district and within walking distance of historic sites, shopping, and dining. In addition, there is a trolley stop
nearby. Group dining is available as are suggested restaurants.
Day 4: While all guests must check out of the hotel by 11 AM, we encourage you to explore the city if you wish. Gastonia
is approximately 7.5 hours from The Old City. Directions and car pooling will be arranged.
Note on Itinerary:
Althoguht we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous
reasons beyond our control including weather and terrain conditions.
Single Travelers:
If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single
supplement noted on the trip itinerary. Otherwise, if available, we will assign you a roommate. If a roommate can not be
found, you will be asked to pay half of the single supplement.
Dive Fees:
All gear, air, and instruction will be provided to open water students. Certified divers are responsible for providing
their own gear and fills. Please note, there are no fill facilities at Alexander Springs. Rental equipment is available for
certified divers.
Qualifications:
This trip offers the opportunity to participate in a variety of different outdoor activities. Participants should arrive
in good physical condition and be able to swim. The minimum age to participate in this trip is 12 years (with parental supervision).
Weather:
High temperatures average in the mid 70s. Low temperatures average in theh mid 50s. The water in the springs
is a constant 72 degrees. Recommended clothing and gear lists will be provided upon registration.
We look forward to leading you to underwater adventure!
Why wait?
Space is limited, reserve your adventure now!
Brent
March 9-12, 2007
Price:
Open water students: $300; Certified Divers: $250; Non-Divers: $230
Additional Fees:
Optional Single Supplement: $200
Group Size:
4-12. Trip needs 4 divers to run
Additional Activities Available: (park service fee may apply)
Hiking the Timucuan Indian Trail, Canoeing 7 mile run, Paisley Woods Bike Trail, Snorkeling, Beach and
cook-out area, Fishing: Largemouth Bass, pan fish, and Mullet
Accommodations:
3 nights lodging. Double occupancy.
Area Information:
Alexander Springs, located in Central Florida, is known for its safe open water dive. The shallow depths and
small caverns make an for excellent novice dive. The spring basin is almost 300 ft. wide. While depths don't exceed 30
ft, there are some small caverns to explore that make it an enjoyable scuba dive. There is a lot of marine wildlife here
and a chance you might even see a gator! Public phones, hot showers, snack bar, and general store are located at the
beach area.
The City of St. Augustine is the nation's oldest permanently occupied European settlement founded by the
Spanish in 1565. Because of North Florida's year around mild climate, but especially in the warm spring and summer
months, the area's delightful historic district, with its cobblestone streets and its quaint cafes, bars, unique shops and
bed-and-breakfast inns, comes alive with locals and tourists setting out on foot to explore significant landmarks such as:
Castillo de San Marcos , Fort Matanzas, and Flagler College. The town also boasts 43 pristine miles of beaches.
There's the right type of beach for everyone: some permit vehicles while others allow only pedestrians. Some of the area
beaches produce abundant shelling opportunities, while others are covered only in luxurious fine, golden sand.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Plan to meet at Sink or Swim Scuba at noon. Guests will finalize their gear needs and decide upon car pooling
arrangements. While directions will be provided, and following the lead car is recommended Sink or Swim is not
responsible for participants who experience transportation issues. Please make every effort to arrive at our destination
safely.
Day 2: We will start our first day of diving by departing our hotel at 9:00 AM and driving deep into the Ocala National
Forrest. Although the trek from your vehicle to the dive site can be tiresome (about 200 yards) picnic tables (the perfect
place to don your gear) await . At that point certified divers are welcome to start diving while the class practices skills.
Once you hit the water you may find it to be a little chilly, 72 degrees to be exact. Then, put your fins on and wade
toward the middle of the spring until waist deep. Set your computer (if available) place your regulator in your mouth,
deflate your BC, and swim along the bottom (about 4 feet) until you hit the opening of the spring which will appear out of
nowhere, its like looking down the side of a perfectly carved mountain. Descend down a limestone slope that resembles
a sand dune you would see at the beach.
Day 2 continued: On either side of the spring is a world of underwater exploration awaiting. A cave entrance intrigues the
most curious of divers. Enter the opening of the cave to the right of the entrance. Ten feet in is a limestone wall that
stops you immediately, but with a light you can peer into the depth of the aquifer. Outside, to the left of the 1st cave entrance
is a small cavern which allows only a body length entrance. If you shine your light into the opening you can see 2
cave passageways which are too small to enter but continue into the darkness as far as your light can reach. On the
other side of the dune the outflow of the spring is massive. You can swim through a tight passage at 20 feet and come
out on the top of a limestone shelf at around 8 feet. If you swim into the outflow of the spring at 20 feet you can grip the
limestone on either side and hold on while pulling yourself down. Let go and you are blasted like a rocket through the
spring. Be sure to hold on to your mask, as it may very well be ripped from your face.
After breaks for lunch and rest the class will continue with their second dive. We will hang out in the park long
enough for the class members to explore the beach, hike trails, or shower.
We will return to the hotel following our day at Alexander Springs. While dinner is on your own, we highly suggest
Maddux Fish House and Old Crow Real Pit BBQ. Please let us know if youd like to dine as a group. Otherwise,
directions will be available.
Day 3: Please be prepared to check out of our hotel by 9:00 AM. Before heading back to Alexander, group members
can decide if they would like to dine at one of the most unique and traditional options in FL The Old Spanish Sugar
Mill which is located in DeLeon Springs State Park. There, when you order pancakes waiters bring out pitchers of batter,
made with flour ground at the restaurant. Diners do their own cooking by puddling the batter onto griddles built into the
tables. Toppings for the 'cakes include blueberries, apples and chocolate chips. A meal of unlimited pancakes, coffee, a
topping and two eggs runs about $10. You can think of this as breakfast and lunch.
While there, we will have time to peruse the visitors center, where displays show how Indians occupied the land
for thousands of years and how the spring was a popular winter resort as far back as the 1880s. Or you can walk off your
carb haze on a short, paved nature trail nearby. Here, among pignut hickories, beautyberry and azaleas lives "Old Methuselah,"
a gnarly 400-year-old bald cypress that long ago escaped loggers.
Our second dives day will start at noon. (Guests who chose other morning activities must meet at the park by
noon. Please notify us of your plans in advance so your entrance into Alexander Springs can be arranged.) We will depart
Alexander Springs by 5:00 PM and travel to St. Augustine, which is about 1.5 hours away.
Once we arrive in St. Augustine we will check into our hotel and begin exploring the city. Our hotel is located in
the historic district and within walking distance of historic sites, shopping, and dining. In addition, there is a trolley stop
nearby. Group dining is available as are suggested restaurants.
Day 4: While all guests must check out of the hotel by 11 AM, we encourage you to explore the city if you wish. Gastonia
is approximately 7.5 hours from The Old City. Directions and car pooling will be arranged.
Note on Itinerary:
Althoguht we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous
reasons beyond our control including weather and terrain conditions.
Single Travelers:
If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single
supplement noted on the trip itinerary. Otherwise, if available, we will assign you a roommate. If a roommate can not be
found, you will be asked to pay half of the single supplement.
Dive Fees:
All gear, air, and instruction will be provided to open water students. Certified divers are responsible for providing
their own gear and fills. Please note, there are no fill facilities at Alexander Springs. Rental equipment is available for
certified divers.
Qualifications:
This trip offers the opportunity to participate in a variety of different outdoor activities. Participants should arrive
in good physical condition and be able to swim. The minimum age to participate in this trip is 12 years (with parental supervision).
Weather:
High temperatures average in the mid 70s. Low temperatures average in theh mid 50s. The water in the springs
is a constant 72 degrees. Recommended clothing and gear lists will be provided upon registration.
We look forward to leading you to underwater adventure!
Why wait?
Space is limited, reserve your adventure now!
