Ginnie springs - safe for AOW?

[ferretchen]

OK, before you flame me, I do not want to do any diving that I'm not trained to do.
I'm an AOW/nitrox diver with 50 dives in the last three years.

I have heard that Ginnie Springs is safe for OW divers. Is this true? I'm headed to the area for a short trip and want opinions/experiences. I'll be by myself, but won't dive unless I can find a buddy (maybe I'll just hang out with a sign, like a scuba hitch hiker).

 

[LiteHedded]

you'd be ok in the ballroom
just stay away from the ear and the eye

 

[herman]

Even the ear and eye are OK as long as you respect the no lights rule.....and don't go past where you can see. Ginnie basin is pretty easy and fun to do once in a while.

 

[bogrady]

The Ginnie Cavern/Ballroom is a great dive for an OW/AOW diver. My son and I stopped there last year on the way to Disney and had a great time. You have a clear path to the exit, it's clearly guided with a cave line and you can swim right up to the entrance to the Ginnie Cave and feel the power of the springs outflow.

There's a rock ledge/swim through to one side for the truly adventurous. This is an excellent and safe way to get a taste of what an overhead environment is like, and more importantly how dangerous and technical a cave dive would be. I specifically remember looking into the cave (it's blocked by a welded steel gate) and thinking - "Who in their right mind would ever want to go in there?" and then shuddering as I realized my son was looking in at the same time and thinking "I can't wait to get the training to go in there ..."

 

[LiteHedded]

Even the ear and eye are OK as long as you respect the no lights rule.....and don't go past where you can see. Ginnie basin is pretty easy and fun to do once in a while.

i hate open water divers in the ear and the eye.
it's a lousy open water dive and there are cave divers entering and more importantly exiting the system.
if you have to take a peek try and stay out of the way

 

[Dive-aholic]

OW/AOW divers have died in the ballroom.


If you're going to be in the area, why not take a cavern class?

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

...it's a lousy open water dive...

No its not. Its shallow, and the direct area isn't very large, but its fun and you can always drift down the river when you're finished looking at the springs. OW divers have every right to be there as long as they stick withing their training/experience standards. The same should be said for cave divers.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I agree, Mat. I was already cave trained, but was there with my sister who was OW trained, and we checked out the Eye and the Ear and then headed over to July Spring across the river, and then back down the river to the Ginnie run. It was an excellent dive!

 

[herman]

i hate open water divers in the ear and the eye.
it's a lousy open water dive and there are cave divers entering and more importantly exiting the system.
if you have to take a peek try and stay out of the way

 

[stairman]

I would say definetly dive the main Ginnie cavern.Anybody with any sense can do it.Lots to see above and below the water.Your ascent will be at an angle and not straight up.If your relaxed then youll be o.k.Lights are allowed in that one.At the bottom and to the left is a small room and you may lose surface light when you round the corner.Swim up to the ceiling and youll see a low opening back into the cavern.The eye would be a short dive.No lights so you wont go far.The ear,in the river is high flow and very narrow under the tree.Another short dive also.Dont pass up Ginnie springs,its well worth it.