04-26-2005, 03:15 PM
Dive Number:
Trimix Dive Number:
CCR Dive Number / Hours:
Location: Blue Springs, Orange City
Flow: 1st magnitude spring
Dive Plan: 15 minutes at the bottom in 117’
Objective: To get wet, take pictures and have fun.
Time In: 9:40 AM
Time Out: 10:45 AM
Gas: Trimix 19/29, oxygen and air for bailout gas / dry suit inflation
Gas Used: 8 ft^3 19/29, 3 ft^3 oxygen and 2 ft^3 air
Configuration: Hammerhead / Inspiration Closed Circuit Rebreather with Dive Rite Dual Super Wings
Computers: Hammerhead with GF 10/100 and a VR3 in CCR mode with a 1.2 set point
Weight: 7 pounds on top of the rebreather and an OMS stainless steel backplate
Exposure Protection: DUI TLS 350 (air for inflation gas), DUI Rock Boots, Weasel Extreme undergarment and a hood.
Computer Stops: 90’ for 2 minutes, 60’ feet for 2 minutes and 15’ for 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 72 degrees
Air Temperature: 65 – 72 degrees
Environmental Conditions: Sunny and cool
Run Time: 65 minutes total (15 minutes @ 117’, 3 minutes @ 90’, 10 minutes @ 60’, 10 minutes @ 40’, 11 minutes @ 15’ and 16 minutes going down the spring run)
Average Depth: 55’ in the spring for 49 minutes
Visibility: 40’ – 60’
Dive Partners: Ray Eccleston, John Green and Curt Schu
Other Dive Configurations: Curt was diving double 80s with air. Ray and John each had a primary tank with a smaller bailout cylinder. Both were diving on air.
My Camera: SeaLife Reef Master DC-310 Pro Set (camera, housing and strobe) with a 24 mm wide angle lens
Ray’s Camera: Olympus C5050Z 5 MP camera, an Ikelite housing, dome port lens and strobe.
The plan was to meet at the Ranger’s Station in Blue Springs State Park, Orange City, at 8 AM. I met Ray when I arrived. We signed in and John and Curt arrived and signed in. Curt had his brother along for a tune-up cavern dive. Curt was going to sign out from our group, and sign in with his brother, for a second dive later in the day. After everybody signed in, we headed down to the parking area to get ready for the dive.
The dive plan was to head down to the bottom to take pictures. We signed in as a cavern / cave group, so we could use lights. Ray took some pictures in the parking lot after everyone geared up. When everyone was ready, we headed down the boardwalk to the water entry.
When we got to the end of the steps, we had Ray jump in. He’s our depth gauge! We know we need to put our masks on, if he sinks. Everyone entered and we headed up. The water level was down from where it was earlier this year, and late last year, so we got to walk up along the right edge of the spring run.
We took about 10 minutes, up by the boil, to wait for a class to exit. When Ray and John were ready, we all headed down. We went by the log in about 10’ of water and continued our head first plunge down to the bottom with our dive lights on. We did a quick stop at 60’ and then continued our descent. The "PREVENT YOUR DEATH" sign is at about 60’ and at this point the cavern goes down at a 30 degree angle. There are lots of rocks along the bottom here, which kind of looks like a rock slide. Here’s a map of the system ( http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2411 ).
Once we got to the bottom, in about 117’, Ray started working on his camera and I started playing with the set point on my Hammerhead primary. Even though I replaced the batteries in my Hammerhead handsets, the primary battery (Energizer AA) was too low to fire the solenoid (to automatically inject oxygen) across a threshold change of 0.7 to a 1.3 set point. I manually injected oxygen, so I could get the set point above 1.3, and then I switched the automatic set point on the Hammerhead to 1.3.
Next, I picked up my camera and started lighting up the place with my 10 W HID. Ray was taking some pictures of John. We started taking more pictures and after about 15 minutes we headed back up. You can see a nice picture that Ray took of the chimney in the links to the pictures at the bottom of this post.
On the way up, I had some deep stops on my computers. The stops on the VR3 were a little deeper than the stops on the Hammerhead and the Hammerhead cleared each stop before the VR3. My first stop was in about 90’ where Ray took a picture of me next to the small log in the rock slide area. After I cleared the deep stop, we headed up to 60’.
We took more pictures back in the cavern at 60, which is located on the West side. You can see some of the pictures, which I took of Ray, below in the links. We then headed up to 30’ and we took some more pictures. The limestone ledges in Blue Springs are very pretty. You can see some of them in the pictures. If you run your hand along one, it will stir up a little cloud of dust.
In 15’ of water, I went back into the little cavern / cave. This is a very silty little cave, so be careful not to stir things up. I like the little room in the back. I usually see lots of small Catfish (you can see a couple pictures in the links). This little cave is excellent for taking pictures. I took more pictures of Ray and John in this location (you can see the broken up rock formations). Unfortunately, my pictures of John had lots of particulates, so I didn’t post them.
After about 49 minutes, we exited the boil and we headed for a side ledge. Shortly after I surfaced, we headed down the spring run. This was one of my best dives in the run, because it had lots of fish. I saw some Bass, Brim, Mullet and Alligator Gar. One of the Alligator Gars was huge. It probably weighed 30 or 40 pounds. It was wider than some of the bigger logs, in the run, and it looked about 4’ long. He was a little shy, so I couldn’t get any close pictures of him. I was able to get some nice pictures of some Mullet and other Alligator Gar.
My closed circuit rebreather works great with a camera. I found some of the Alligator Gar were very curious and the came very close to me, to check me out. I could almost hear the, “Look Mom, no bubbles”. I exited the run with about a 65 minute bottom time and I headed back to my SUV.
In the parking lot, I showed Curt the NiTeK He, VR3, HydroSpace Explorer and the Hammerhead. He got a quick demo, before I headed to join Ray and John for lunch. They said we were to meet at the Mexican Restaurant by the McDonalds. We usually meet at the Cow Restaurant after a dive, but the Cow was sold. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the Mexican restaurant, so I headed home.
Ray’s Pictures (more to be added later):
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3420&cat=504
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3421&cat=504
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3422&cat=504
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3423&cat=504
My pictures:
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3424&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3425&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3426&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3427&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3428&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3429&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3431&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3432&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3433&cat=502
Small Catfish in upper cavern:
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3436&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3437&cat=502
Mullet in the spring run:
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3439&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3440&cat=502
Alligator Gar in the spring run:
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3441&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3442&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3443&cat=502
Trimix Dive Number:
CCR Dive Number / Hours:
Location: Blue Springs, Orange City
Flow: 1st magnitude spring
Dive Plan: 15 minutes at the bottom in 117’
Objective: To get wet, take pictures and have fun.
Time In: 9:40 AM
Time Out: 10:45 AM
Gas: Trimix 19/29, oxygen and air for bailout gas / dry suit inflation
Gas Used: 8 ft^3 19/29, 3 ft^3 oxygen and 2 ft^3 air
Configuration: Hammerhead / Inspiration Closed Circuit Rebreather with Dive Rite Dual Super Wings
Computers: Hammerhead with GF 10/100 and a VR3 in CCR mode with a 1.2 set point
Weight: 7 pounds on top of the rebreather and an OMS stainless steel backplate
Exposure Protection: DUI TLS 350 (air for inflation gas), DUI Rock Boots, Weasel Extreme undergarment and a hood.
Computer Stops: 90’ for 2 minutes, 60’ feet for 2 minutes and 15’ for 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 72 degrees
Air Temperature: 65 – 72 degrees
Environmental Conditions: Sunny and cool
Run Time: 65 minutes total (15 minutes @ 117’, 3 minutes @ 90’, 10 minutes @ 60’, 10 minutes @ 40’, 11 minutes @ 15’ and 16 minutes going down the spring run)
Average Depth: 55’ in the spring for 49 minutes
Visibility: 40’ – 60’
Dive Partners: Ray Eccleston, John Green and Curt Schu
Other Dive Configurations: Curt was diving double 80s with air. Ray and John each had a primary tank with a smaller bailout cylinder. Both were diving on air.
My Camera: SeaLife Reef Master DC-310 Pro Set (camera, housing and strobe) with a 24 mm wide angle lens
Ray’s Camera: Olympus C5050Z 5 MP camera, an Ikelite housing, dome port lens and strobe.
The plan was to meet at the Ranger’s Station in Blue Springs State Park, Orange City, at 8 AM. I met Ray when I arrived. We signed in and John and Curt arrived and signed in. Curt had his brother along for a tune-up cavern dive. Curt was going to sign out from our group, and sign in with his brother, for a second dive later in the day. After everybody signed in, we headed down to the parking area to get ready for the dive.
The dive plan was to head down to the bottom to take pictures. We signed in as a cavern / cave group, so we could use lights. Ray took some pictures in the parking lot after everyone geared up. When everyone was ready, we headed down the boardwalk to the water entry.
When we got to the end of the steps, we had Ray jump in. He’s our depth gauge! We know we need to put our masks on, if he sinks. Everyone entered and we headed up. The water level was down from where it was earlier this year, and late last year, so we got to walk up along the right edge of the spring run.
We took about 10 minutes, up by the boil, to wait for a class to exit. When Ray and John were ready, we all headed down. We went by the log in about 10’ of water and continued our head first plunge down to the bottom with our dive lights on. We did a quick stop at 60’ and then continued our descent. The "PREVENT YOUR DEATH" sign is at about 60’ and at this point the cavern goes down at a 30 degree angle. There are lots of rocks along the bottom here, which kind of looks like a rock slide. Here’s a map of the system ( http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2411 ).
Once we got to the bottom, in about 117’, Ray started working on his camera and I started playing with the set point on my Hammerhead primary. Even though I replaced the batteries in my Hammerhead handsets, the primary battery (Energizer AA) was too low to fire the solenoid (to automatically inject oxygen) across a threshold change of 0.7 to a 1.3 set point. I manually injected oxygen, so I could get the set point above 1.3, and then I switched the automatic set point on the Hammerhead to 1.3.
Next, I picked up my camera and started lighting up the place with my 10 W HID. Ray was taking some pictures of John. We started taking more pictures and after about 15 minutes we headed back up. You can see a nice picture that Ray took of the chimney in the links to the pictures at the bottom of this post.
On the way up, I had some deep stops on my computers. The stops on the VR3 were a little deeper than the stops on the Hammerhead and the Hammerhead cleared each stop before the VR3. My first stop was in about 90’ where Ray took a picture of me next to the small log in the rock slide area. After I cleared the deep stop, we headed up to 60’.
We took more pictures back in the cavern at 60, which is located on the West side. You can see some of the pictures, which I took of Ray, below in the links. We then headed up to 30’ and we took some more pictures. The limestone ledges in Blue Springs are very pretty. You can see some of them in the pictures. If you run your hand along one, it will stir up a little cloud of dust.
In 15’ of water, I went back into the little cavern / cave. This is a very silty little cave, so be careful not to stir things up. I like the little room in the back. I usually see lots of small Catfish (you can see a couple pictures in the links). This little cave is excellent for taking pictures. I took more pictures of Ray and John in this location (you can see the broken up rock formations). Unfortunately, my pictures of John had lots of particulates, so I didn’t post them.
After about 49 minutes, we exited the boil and we headed for a side ledge. Shortly after I surfaced, we headed down the spring run. This was one of my best dives in the run, because it had lots of fish. I saw some Bass, Brim, Mullet and Alligator Gar. One of the Alligator Gars was huge. It probably weighed 30 or 40 pounds. It was wider than some of the bigger logs, in the run, and it looked about 4’ long. He was a little shy, so I couldn’t get any close pictures of him. I was able to get some nice pictures of some Mullet and other Alligator Gar.
My closed circuit rebreather works great with a camera. I found some of the Alligator Gar were very curious and the came very close to me, to check me out. I could almost hear the, “Look Mom, no bubbles”. I exited the run with about a 65 minute bottom time and I headed back to my SUV.
In the parking lot, I showed Curt the NiTeK He, VR3, HydroSpace Explorer and the Hammerhead. He got a quick demo, before I headed to join Ray and John for lunch. They said we were to meet at the Mexican Restaurant by the McDonalds. We usually meet at the Cow Restaurant after a dive, but the Cow was sold. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the Mexican restaurant, so I headed home.
Ray’s Pictures (more to be added later):
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3420&cat=504
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3421&cat=504
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3422&cat=504
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3423&cat=504
My pictures:
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3424&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3425&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3426&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3427&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3428&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3429&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3431&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3432&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3433&cat=502
Small Catfish in upper cavern:
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3436&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3437&cat=502
Mullet in the spring run:
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3439&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3440&cat=502
Alligator Gar in the spring run:
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3441&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3442&cat=502
http://cavediver.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3443&cat=502