Ginnie Springs Ball Room

[kelemvor]

Now that you brought it up: Don't leave anything unsupervised on the surface at Ginnie. Almost lost some dive gear, so did my instructor, until he noticed a suspicious pile of picnic stuff on a table surrounded by a bunch of teen / twentys party people.

One of my buddies had a gopro hero3 black stolen from his unlocked car at Ginnie a few weeks ago. There's definitely a lot of college kids through there.. some untrustworthy. Be smart and lock up your stuff.


Back to the issue at hand. The ballroom was one of my earliest dives. It was a lot of fun for me. There's some extra concerns due to the overhead but it's far from a cramped cave. I thought there was a lot to see. I've been twice (or maybe 3 times?) and I've got another trip out there planned.

 

[lowviz]

Nice summary. Yes, worthwhile. Just be vigilant.

 

[karstdvr]

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I don't particularly agree that they allow this ,but hey, its private property, they can do as they like.

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I agree. There is an open water fatality there once every 4-5 years,which is really one too many. If someone is not comfortable about going in there,then don't dumb it down by saying it is easy,just don't do it.

 

[Lorenzoid]

In view of the replies here from many experienced divers, I'm going to retract what I said about it being easy and safe for beginners as well as it being not very interesting. I guess "your mileage may vary" applies. My wife and I thought Ginnie, including the Ballroom, was THE most boring place we have ever dived. We did get a kick out of seeing the grate at the back of the Ballroom and thinking of what amazing sights must lie beyond for the cave diver. Maybe corvettejoe is right that with a powerful light the seemingly monotonous Ballroom comes alive. Also, the two times I've been to Ginnie it's been mobbed with families and young revelers (this was the height of summer) drinking beer and partying in the water. Swimming around non-divers' legs in 3-10 feet of water while having little to look at than cracks that we OW divers are warned to stay out of is just not my idea of a good dive. It piques my interest in cave diving all right, but it was not entertaining for me as an OW diver. I suspect I'll be back when I take Fundies next year, and maybe I'll warm to the place eventually. Anyway, I recognize now that my initial comment was based on my lack of real familiarity with Ginnie.

 

[TSandM]

There is an open water fatality there once every 4-5 years,which is really one too many

That's in the Devil's system, isn't it? I can't remember reading about that many deaths in the Ballroom -- in fact, I can only recall one, and I can't remember whether she lost her weights and got pinned to the ceiling or panicked and ended up stuck to the ceiling.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The other thing about it is it's ok unless you get two or three groups of newly minted OW divers being led in there. Like they just did their checkout dives on the two days before and the instructor thinks it's a good idea to take em in. Then it becomes a royal mess with people kicking each other and getting that bug eyed I think I'm gonna shoot up now look. Or when there are a couple groups doing a night time let's pollute the water with glowing chemicals dive.

The shallow runs that TS&M and Lowviz noted can be incredible dives if you go really slow and actually try to see something. I saw freshwater flounder, huge crayfish, turtles, and lots of other really cool little mini environments among the exposed tree roots and rocks. But you have to take your time and look for them. Which is a great way to work on buoyancy and trim at the same time.

 

[LiteHedded]

I've seen more than one diver panic in the ballroom and one almost drown.
if she's squared away mentally it's fine but don't downplay the dangers of that cavern

 

[karstdvr]

That's in the Devil's system, isn't it? I can't remember reading about that many deaths in the Ballroom -- in fact, I can only recall one, and I can't remember whether she lost her weights and got pinned to the ceiling or panicked and ended up stuck to the ceiling.

No the Ballroom (Ginnie cavern).Wish there had been just one. They aren't listed on the IUCRR site because it is considered a recreational OW fatality,but it really should be a cave/cavern diving accident,and lumped in the category of not being trained. I can recall several accidents over the last number of years,also put Vortex in that category too. It pains me that Jackson Co allows OW divers to the sign.

 

[TONY CHANEY]

I am glad to see that I am not alone in beliving that The Ballroom is anything but OW dive. It is a cavern at the least! Now, as for the dive there I don't see how someone could give an honest opinion after being in there for 3 or 4 minutes. After I did my final full cave cert dive Artic Mike and jogged over from the Eye to the Ballroom. It was night and cold. I have never been in there before. What a blast! Going to the grate, holding on for a few seconds and letting go and flying backwards as the water flow blows you across the room. Crawling on the ceiling, simple exploration in between the rocks etc. We spent over an hour in there. I have not had a real chance to get back in there but will the next time I am at Ginnie.

 

[karstdvr]

I am glad to see that I am not alone in beliving that The Ballroom is anything but OW dive. It is a cavern at the least! .

What kills me the most is the OW divers who do a night dive there,now it is a cave dive.