Planning Vortex Springs and USS Oriskany

[Dive-aholic]

How long are the trips you're planning? Like Reefhound said, Vortex isn't really worth a trip in itself. You can see the entire basin in 1/2 a dive. And on weekends, you'll need it because all the classes that happen there will cause the visibility to diminish quite fast. If you're coming over for a few days, I'm sure a few of us could offer several recommendations that would keep you busy. The panhandle has a lot to offer. You might also want to consider doing a cavern course while you're out here. It would open up even more sites and diving for you.

 

[vam302]

The reason that we are thinking of two seperate trips is because one of the trips will be with several beginner divers. My buddy is an instructor and likes to plan an out of state trip at the end of the semester to give the basic students the sense of venturing outside the state for diving. We were thinking that vortex springs might be a good place to go with them.

The second trip would be for the rest of us to have some real fun on. The carrier sounds really cool, but maybe should we try and do a bunch of smaller ones instead? How many could we possibly do in, say, a 4 day weekend? How long would it take to get cave certified?

 

[mike_s]

hmmm... I've got to agree with the others that Vortex alone isn't worth a drive from Houston. It's a great place for training new divers though as it's calm and refined, but it can get really crowed also in the small basin they have.

Vortex and Morrison would be worth driving after diving the Orriskany for a fresh water rinse of your gear, but according to Google Maps directions it's a 9 hour drive from Houston to Vortex.

How long would it take to get cave certified?

I've never taken this class... so maybe the others have better answers than I do...

but I think to take the prerequisite classes of Cavern and Intro to Cave are two days each (four days total). (Someone else please correct me if I'm wrong...)

 

[Dive-aholic]

If you have enough divers, you can probably schedule a charter each day with 2 dives per day. If you're planning on doing land based dives, the number of dives depends on where you go. Vortex is good for a leisurely day. Morrison is also. Canoe rentals will provide you with access to Cypress, but you'll likely only get one dive in that day due to the paddle up and back. Heading to Marianna (an hour east) can give you a day of diving the Mill Pond. It's shallow, but lots of life.

Cave certification takes 8 days minimum. However, the pass rate for the zero to hero course is lower than if you do it in blocks. Cavern is a 2 day course. Intro is a 2 day course. Both can be done in 3 days if you really push yourself and pick up the skills easily. I don't recommend this approach, though. It's a hard 3 days and you likely won't have as much fun or learn as much. The 4 day course allows you to spend more time on surface intervals. I use the surface intervals to teach my students more and to let them relax and wind down a little. If you're considering having several people complete the training, keep in mind that standards limit cavern to 4 students and Intro to 3 students and at those numbers, a 3 day course is nearly impossible.

 

[vam302]

Ok so I guess the cave cert would be a cool thing to do over a week of vacation. I'll keep that in mind if I decide not to go to spring training this year. I'd probably have to get some special gear for that I think.

I like the idea of doing a fresh water dive as a good rinse. That's something I hadn't thought of. Do you guys know of a web site that shows a map of all the panhandle dive sites, both wrecks offshore and the springs? Thanks for your help, I'm glad I made this thread.

 

[ReefHound]

The best single site I've found for dive sites in the area is at MBT Divers, check along the left side under Diving Pensacola for Local Dive Sites.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Ok so I guess the cave cert would be a cool thing to do over a week of vacation. I'll keep that in mind if I decide not to go to spring training this year. I'd probably have to get some special gear for that I think.

For cavern, you'll likely be able to use what you already have. For cave training, you'll need doubles, regs for them, backplate and wings, canister light, back up lights, spools/reels, etc, etc., and several dozen dives in the doubles to be able to task load while maintaining horizontal trim and near perfect buoyancy.

 

[vam302]

For cavern, you'll likely be able to use what you already have. For cave training, you'll need doubles, regs for them, backplate and wings, canister light, back up lights, spools/reels, etc, etc., and several dozen dives in the doubles to be able to task load while maintaining horizontal trim and near perfect buoyancy.

When/if I do take the course, I'll be coming to you with more questions.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Feel free to ask all the questions you want when you want. We can take it to PM or e-mail - chipoladivers@gmail.com - or even over the phone - 850-272-7484.

 

[Diveral]

The reason that we are thinking of two seperate trips is because one of the trips will be with several beginner divers. My buddy is an instructor and likes to plan an out of state trip at the end of the semester to give the basic students the sense of venturing outside the state for diving. We were thinking that vortex springs might be a good place to go with them.

The second trip would be for the rest of us to have some real fun on. The carrier sounds really cool, but maybe should we try and do a bunch of smaller ones instead? How many could we possibly do in, say, a 4 day weekend? How long would it take to get cave certified?

Beginner divers - Vortex and/or Morrison, San Pablo, Pete Tide II, Navy Tug, Atlantis, Rome.

You guys - Oriskany, Cypress Springs, Avocet, YTD 14 & 15, Oil Rigs, Massachuesetts, Antares

Dive Sites listed in Gary Gulf Divers website: http://www.gulfdiver.net/dive_sites.htm

Other Dive Site List http://www.florida-divepros.com/Diving Sites.htm

AL