Need a place to dive in March

[eandiver]

we plan to be in Fl.for 10 days. Thanks again for all the help.If we didn't LET you guys WIN last year would you guys still be so nice to me? Now thats funny!!! LOL

I've been waiting for this for a while

Don't worry about the Gators.......they are still ranked below USF!

As far as springs go for OW divers Ginnie is #1 with the several different spots to dive plus a cool river drift dive, dive shop and sandwich shop. Alexander Spring is the most beautiful, Blue Grotto has lots of room and is good for a couple of trips a year, Paradise Spring is really nice but should be visited by divers who are really good with finning and bouyancy control and Blue Spring in Orange City has some cool limestone ledges and a river drift run.
There are more but this is just to start. All the springs average 70 to 72 degrees year around.

 

[GOBUCKEYES]

MOKEY7... that would be great thank you

Eandiver...thank you on the springs report we may need to look into the springs more I have to see how far they are from Oldsmar

 

[DiveBandit]

Very true. now tell them about the springs, since you seem to be living in them of late.

:11: ..... :mooner:

Blame Eandiver, I was happy being a salty until he went and showed me The ballroom at Ginnie, next thing I know I'm wearing 2 tanks and I have this 7 foot hose wrapped around me....

 

[eandiver]

:11: ..... :mooner:Blame Eandiver,

Go ahead and tell everyone the story of why a 7' hose is important.........

 

[frogman_5]

"Luke, come over to the dark side!"

Or in this case, a dark hole in the ground!

 

[eandiver]

I've brought 3 over to the dark side so far and I'm just getting started

 

[Mokey7]

OK.. just made it back from Ginnie Springs. Please note, this was my 5th and 6th dive, so take this with a newbie grain of salt. Water temp was 72, and I was fine in my 5mm. The cavern is really quite interesting, and can be a tiny bit crowded. There is one paticular area that you can swim from the top of the ballroom through a smallish opening, that simply goes down and loop back around to the ballroom again. This is the part that I found most interesting, since this was tight, and seemed like a very minute introduction to cave diving. My dive buddy, who was extremely nervous about diving, actually went through FIRST! But you can get stuck, as I did, so make sure you and your buddy are watching each other the entire time. (BTW, this is only about 2 feet long, so there's no real OOA problems unless you buddy is not watching you. The other thing to note, is this is a very good place to work on your bouacny skills, especially as your are ascending. I forgot to release the small amount of air in my BCD as I ascended, and my head rather forcefully meet with the rock. I would do about 4 more dives here before I think I've explored it all.

Also note, this is the exit area for the tubers.. so you may go under alone, but come back up with the water full of people swimming, snorkeling, and in inner tubes.

 

[eandiver]

Sounds like ya'll had a good time. There are 2 restrictions (so to speak) that may pose a problem for OW divers if they choose to try them. When I do a swim like that I try to keep my hands on my chest and extend a pinkie to feel for the bottom, sort of a "low on air" sign with the finger extended down and I move as slow as need be. Once the tanks touch the ceiling then it becomes an even slower process. If the restriction get too tight stop and back out with help from you buddy. Even trying to do something like that you should never start with less then 2500 psi (AL 80)

 

[Missdirected]

Great first report. I'll look forward to more. At least the bump on your head didn't leave you looking like this fella :shiner:

:wink1:

 

[Missdirected]

I've brought 3 over to the dark side so far and I'm just getting started

:evil: