Today starts the first day of the dive season. The North Florida Springs Alliance wanted to pass along some info:
The site is open for cave and cavern diving,and since it is a state park the same rules that you are used to at Peacock etc still apply. There may be a ranger at the entrance,if so be prepared to show your gear for a search for nonindigenous plant species ie duck weed,so it may be wise to clean it an advance.
For those unfamiliar with the system you will go to the entrance off Elim Church Rd,same road Amigos Dive Center is on. You'll enter a large parking area,and there is a trail leading back to the spring. There is a 5' diameter opening in the bottom of the basin,the opens into a very large,"jug" shaped cavern. The cave is 550' long with a very low bedding plane to start,and a restriction called the Diamond Sands midway in. It is highly recommended this cave only be done in sidemount for safety and conservation reasons.
As many will testify the walk to the spring is quite significant,but very much worth it due to the beauty of this cavern and cave system. Thanks to North Florida Springs Alliance we have provided a cart that can be used by all to carry your gear back there. North Florida Springs Alliance Membership List & Sponsors All we ask it that you please return the cart to the location you found it and padlock it. If you like what we have done,we would appreciate you join our organization,because we depend on support from people like yourself.
Special thanks to John Nascheck for a donation toward the cart,and Jim Wyatt for getting the cart and placing it on site.
Enjoy
Kelly Jessop
The site is open for cave and cavern diving,and since it is a state park the same rules that you are used to at Peacock etc still apply. There may be a ranger at the entrance,if so be prepared to show your gear for a search for nonindigenous plant species ie duck weed,so it may be wise to clean it an advance.
For those unfamiliar with the system you will go to the entrance off Elim Church Rd,same road Amigos Dive Center is on. You'll enter a large parking area,and there is a trail leading back to the spring. There is a 5' diameter opening in the bottom of the basin,the opens into a very large,"jug" shaped cavern. The cave is 550' long with a very low bedding plane to start,and a restriction called the Diamond Sands midway in. It is highly recommended this cave only be done in sidemount for safety and conservation reasons.
As many will testify the walk to the spring is quite significant,but very much worth it due to the beauty of this cavern and cave system. Thanks to North Florida Springs Alliance we have provided a cart that can be used by all to carry your gear back there. North Florida Springs Alliance Membership List & Sponsors All we ask it that you please return the cart to the location you found it and padlock it. If you like what we have done,we would appreciate you join our organization,because we depend on support from people like yourself.
Special thanks to John Nascheck for a donation toward the cart,and Jim Wyatt for getting the cart and placing it on site.
Enjoy
Kelly Jessop
