Peacock to Orange traverse

[chilldive]

Feeling lazy always doing long range scooter dives. Thinking about doing the Peacock to Orange traverse. Would like to hear from those who have done it. How did you set it up - ie plan it. Looking for thoughts, advice, etc. Got my own ideas, but always good to hear from the voices of experience.

Obviously, after a person is very familiar with the system and has done this a few times, they will approach in a different manner than they did the very first time they did it. I'd like to hear from the perspective of setting up this dive for the first time.

(BTW, I've been in this system many times and have done most of the circuits, etc. Just haven't done the Grand Tour yet).

[LiteHedded]

I'd go from orange grove to peacock. ur swimming with the flow for a big chunk of the dive if you do it that way.
i'd follow the gold line all the way through all the sinks so i could pop up and take a break every once in a while as opposed to jumping to the peanut line.
generally if you hit orange grove before thirds you're good to go for the whole way.

[deanme]

I’ve done the Grand Traverse about 15 times. One of my favorite dives.

The first few times, I took a stage bottle with me. Now I don’t take any stage, but I dive 120’s. you can drop your stage in Challenge. Be sure and not drop your stage on some divers.

If you can make the 1800 feet to Challenge on thirds, you can easily make it to Olsen and then to P1. I think Challenge to Olsen is 1400 feet, and a little less from Olsen to P1. I like to pop up in both Challenge and in Olsen for a few minutes to share my dive with my buddy and relax a bit.

The dive from Challenge to the Peanut restriction is one of my favorite and least dove parts of the cave. Very big, but a bit dark from tannin. This traverse is very easy from a navigation perspective, because you simply follow the mainline the whole way. There are jumps in Challenge and in Olsen, but sometimes these jumps have a temporary permanent line. The last two times I dove the Grand Traverse (last dive was about 3 weeks ago) I saw a temporary / permanent line from the Peanut restriction to the mainline.

Be sure and have a key for one of the cars you leave at P1. More than once, we forget that and had to hitch a ride to Orange Grove.

The dive to Challenge takes about 45 minutes; from Challenge to Olsen about 35 minutes; and from Olsen to P1 about 35 minutes. If you dive wet, you can pee along the way. If you dive dry, be sure and have everything in order. the whole dive, including pop-ups, is about 2 hours.

Be sure and know where the line begins in Orange Grove. Otherwise you will waste valuable gas finding it.

[LiteHedded]

I’ve done the Grand Traverse about 15 times. One of my favorite dives.

The first few times, I took a stage bottle with me. Now I don’t take any stage, but I dive 120’s. you can drop your stage in Challenge. Be sure and not drop your stage on some divers.

If you can make the 1800 feet to Challenge on thirds, you can easily make it to Olsen and then to P1. I think Challenge to Olsen is 1400 feet, and a little less from Olsen to P1. I like to pop up in both Challenge and in Olsen for a few minutes to share my dive with my buddy and relax a bit.

The dive from Challenge to the Peanut restriction is one of my favorite and least dove parts of the cave. Very big, but a bit dark from tannin. This traverse is very easy from a navigation perspective, because you simply follow the mainline the whole way. There are jumps in Challenge and in Olsen, but sometimes these jumps have a temporary permanent line. The last two times I dove the Grand Traverse (last dive was about 3 weeks ago) I saw a temporary / permanent line from the Peanut restriction to the mainline.

Be sure and have a key for one of the cars you leave at P1. More than once, we forget that and had to hitch a ride to Orange Grove.

The dive to Challenge takes about 45 minutes; from Challenge to Olsen about 35 minutes; and from Olsen to P1 about 35 minutes. If you dive wet, you can pee along the way. If you dive dry, be sure and have everything in order. the whole dive, including pop-ups, is about 2 hours.

Be sure and know where the line begins in Orange Grove. Otherwise you will waste valuable gas finding it.

did it in my cave class. instructor made us walk back... :mad:

[deanme]

Forgot to mention. On 32%, depending on pace, you typically don’t go into deco before hitting P1, but if you do, it is only about 5 minutes of deco. I like to drop a 100% bottle in P1, which usually lands close to the beginning of the Olsen line. If you see someone in the P1 parking lot, you can ask them to tie off the 100% bottle to the line to make sure it is out of the way.

Go slow and have fun. I always like when my buddy is ok with a slow pace. I like to look around and peek down some of the many side tunnels.

[cavediver27]

Like the others have said, it's best to go from Orange Grove to Peacock. One of the main reasons is that you have more emergency exits available for the last half of the swim when your gas supply is more limited. With any kind of a decent SAC rate you won't need a stage. This can be easily done with 85's and a cave fill. If you don't hit thirds by Challenge just recalculate thirds and you should be good to go. If you had any problems past Challenge you have lots of options. You have Olsen, Pot Hole, or return to Challenge.

[chilldive]

Be sure and have a key for one of the cars you leave at P1. More than once, we forget that and had to hitch a ride to Orange Grove.



Hmmm... Good indirect thought. We'll only have one vehicle. That means someone is hiking or hitching.

[jj1987]

You can use 2 stages and go both ways if you're feeling guilty for being lazy....we did it that way to avoid having to do a setup dive or visual gaps. It's a loooong swim and I don't see myself EVER doing that again!

[chilldive]

You can use 2 stages and go both ways if you're feeling guilty for being lazy....we did it that way to avoid having to do a setup dive or visual gaps. It's a loooong swim and I don't see myself EVER doing that again!

Wow. I think the walk back to the car would be the lessor of those two evils. I've done the trip from Peacock to Challenge and back - that was bad enough. You're talkin' adding about 3600' more feet to that swim - ouch. I think if I did that, I'd never get off a scooter again!

[chilldive]

Like the others have said, it's best to go from Orange Grove to Peacock. One of the main reasons is that you have more emergency exits available for the last half of the swim when your gas supply is more limited. With any kind of a decent SAC rate you won't need a stage. This can be easily done with 85's and a cave fill. If you don't hit thirds by Challenge just recalculate thirds and you should be good to go. If you had any problems past Challenge you have lots of options. You have Olsen, Pot Hole, or return to Challenge.

I agree on gas supply. I've gone from Peacock to Challenge on 1/3's, so no worries there. I'll be in LP-104's or HP-130's with cave fill.

Can a person really get up the Pot Hole?

[cavediver256]

Can a person really get up the Pot Hole?

I guess you could if you really wanted/had to.........

When are ya planning on doing the traverse???

[chilldive]

I guess you could if you really wanted/had to.........

When are ya planning on doing the traverse???

Not exactly sure. We'll be diving all over the area between Marianna and High Springs, from Nov 12 - 18.

We're trying to squeeze in a tec dive on the Oriskany also, so that kind of drives where we are and when.

[cavediver256]

Not exactly sure. We'll be diving all over the area between Marianna and High Springs, from Nov 12 - 18.

We're trying to squeeze in a tec dive on the Oriskany also, so that kind of drives where we are and when.

Gotcha. Good luck with it, it is a nice dive.

[cavediver27]

Can a person really get up the Pot Hole?

Yup, that's why there is a line leading up to it. Would it be easy and would I like to do it? Nope. But it sure beats the alternative if conditions don't allow you to get to Peacock.

[jeandiver]

You can get up into PotHole , if you really had to ... (smile)
I've been right to where the line goes into the sink.
It's doable ...
But the standard disclaimer applies...

Your milage may vary. ( lol )

Beano

[OneBrightGator]

I agree with the previous comments, especially about direction.

With only one vehicle, we've always set everything up at Orange Grove. One buddy stayed there with the gear, the other drove to Peacock and walked back to Orange Grove. That way the vehicle was waiting for you at the end of your dive.

My times have always been around 90 min or so, no deco on 32%.

[MengTze]

My times have always been around 90 min or so, .
Captain slow. :yawinkle:

[cavediver256]

Captain slow. :yawinkle:

LOL, Play nice guys !!!!:yawinkle:

[chilldive]

Captain slow. :yawinkle:

Ouch. Sounds like a challenge. Something new? Competition cave diving?

[WEPIV]

The last two times I dove the Grand Traverse (last dive was about 3 weeks ago) I saw a temporary / permanent line from the Peanut restriction to the mainline.

Yes, I saw this myself and wondered about it. When was this put in and why? It looks like it has been there for awhile.
Just curious...

[OneBrightGator]

Captain slow. :yawinkle:
Sorry about that, Captain Siltout :yawinkle:

[sdenney]

I do this as a recalculation dive. If you haven't hit sixths by the time you get to the half-way point between sinks, you're all good. Otherwise, turn back and exit at the previous sink. And yes, you can climb out of Challenge (I've done it with 108s on; something I ate for lunch didn't agree with me).

[chilldive]

I do this as a recalculation dive. If you haven't hit sixths by the time you get to the half-way point between sinks, you're all good. Otherwise, turn back and exit at the previous sink. And yes, you can climb out of Challenge (I've done it with 108s on; something I ate for lunch didn't agree with me).

I've never actually seen Challenge Sink above ground. Isn't is across the road from the main road entrance to the park?

[Slüdge]

Coming from Luraville, it's about a hundred feet before the park entrance, on the left side of the road. There's a utility box next to the path to the sink.

[aainslie]

Sorry about that, Captain Siltout :yawinkle:

Actually the last time I saw Freddie in a cave, he was Captain Stuck!

(at the Henkel in his rebreather, carrying a bunch of tanks for me. Thanks!!)

[JahJahwarrior]

You know, I never really thought about the fact that it goes under the road...interesting.

[refinished]

I've never actually seen Challenge Sink above ground. Isn't is across the road from the main road entrance to the park?

The NFSA has an overlay map on it's page. I really can't wait to see the progress on the interpretive trail in a couple weeks.

http://www.northfloridaspringsalliance.org/

[MedCop]

Yes, I saw this myself and wondered about it. When was this put in and why? It looks like it has been there for awhile.
Just curious...

This line was placed before the flood earlier this year. My buddy and I dove right after Peacock was opened (first in btw) and the jump was there. It has a name or initials on it (can't remember what is says) so someone put it in and has never collected it.

[chilldive]

Coming from Luraville, it's about a hundred feet before the park entrance, on the left side of the road. There's a utility box next to the path to the sink.


Thanks. That's kind of where I was thinking. May have to get out and go look at it from topside.

[chilldive]

The NFSA has an overlay map on it's page. I really can't wait to see the progress on the interpretive trail in a couple weeks.

http://www.northfloridaspringsalliance.org/

That's a cool map. Really gives you a perspective on things.

[MengTze]

Actually the last time I saw Freddie in a cave, he was Captain Stuck!

(at the Henkel in his rebreather, carrying a bunch of tanks for me. Thanks!!)

Shhhh! Don't tell everyone, now they all want to be your Sherpa.

[DiveMonkey]

I agree with the previous comments, especially about direction.

With only one vehicle, we've always set everything up at Orange Grove. One buddy stayed there with the gear, the other drove to Peacock and walked back to Orange Grove. That way the vehicle was waiting for you at the end of your dive.

My times have always been around 90 min or so, no deco on 32%.


We usually walk back after the dive, just in case we get in the water and find something not quite right. Also go from Orange Grove to Peacock.

Sometimes we'll do a set-up prior to the traverse to run a continuous line across Olson, and we'll take a trip to the Crypt as a set-up dive reward. Did that last Friday and had a blast.

Also saw the moldy jump line at Peanut Restriction...and wondered about the storyline behind it.

[Slüdge]

With us, there's usually hitchhiking involved. The last time I did it I left my buddy at OG with all the gear and drove the truck/trailer to P1 and hitched a ride back. It was then that I realized my canister light was still in the trailer.

Ranger Janet to the rescue! She felt sorry for me and drove me to P1 and back.

[stairman]

We always start in OG as well. Well run a line there and pick it up on the way out. Its a long way back to the mainline and I wouldnt want to come out of there without one. P1 doesnt matter with the line practically in open water. Definetely a better exit IMO. Its nice if someones in OG to pull it for you but its rare.

[RN]

Man, you guys are lazy. The walk from P1 to OG is not that far or long!!!

To set up this dive properly...start at P1 and swim your route. When you reach your turn pressure, drop a marker on the line and turn around. Break for lunch. 2nd dive starts at OG. If you reach your marker before reaching your turn pressure, then keep going. Exit P1. Leave tanks on tank stands and walk to OG to collect vehicle.

I did this in 95s with 32%, no stage bottle. No deco and it took about 90 minutes to complete the traverse. You will need to do a clean up dive to collect reels/spools.

[MedCop]

I have never completed the Grand Traverse. I have went from P1 to Challenge and back a couple times, have went from P1 Peanut line to Peanut Restriction back to P1 via Olsen line. I have been from OG to challenge...just never "done it all."

LOL...part of the reason we have never done it is we didn't want to walk. Guess this is sorta' funny since we swam almost twice as far.

[stairman]

Ive done this with Dean a couple times and he's right about the swim from Challenge to Olsen being the pertyest.

[cavediver27]

Ive done this with Dean a couple times and he's right about the swim from Challenge to Olsen being the pertyest.

Not only is Challenge to Olsen some of the prettiest passage in the system, there are some very nice jumps along there that get virtually no traffic and are really worth taking. Most aren't marked so you have to look for them and that's part of the fun. I've staged back to this area so I've had lots of spare gas to explore when there.

[MORGAN]

Man, you guys are lazy. The walk from P1 to OG is not that far or long!!!

To set up this dive properly...start at P1 and swim your route. When you reach your turn pressure, drop a marker on the line and turn around. Break for lunch. 2nd dive starts at OG. If you reach your marker before reaching your turn pressure, then keep going. Exit P1. Leave tanks on tank stands and walk to OG to collect vehicle.

I did this in 95s with 32%, no stage bottle. No deco and it took about 90 minutes to complete the traverse. You will need to do a clean up dive to collect reels/spools.

Yup - this is how we did it the first time, except that we hit Challenge from P1 just above thirds, so we used Challenge as our cookie. Didn't put gap reels in Challenge or Olsen, so our only clean-up was picking up our primary in OG. LP95's, 32%, no stage, no deco, 100 minutes. According to our truck odometer, it's half a mile from OG to P1 by road, so not too long a walk. Yes, I am lazy, :) but not too lazy for a leisurely half mile stroll.

Mike

[Slüdge]

he's right about the swim from Challenge to Olsen being the pertyest.

And I don't think it's coincidence that this is the least-dived part of the system...

[Benthic]

And I don't think it's coincidence that this is the least-dived part of the system...

Funny how that works...

Brian