Rick Palm
12-18-2004, 08:01 AM
Biggest adrenaline jolt in 30 years of diving:
Ed Parks and I staggered up the spring run for the millionth time, trying to avoid tripping over Manatees on our way to the 120’ deep hole that is Blue Spring. We also saw big Garfish, and Plecostomus en route—lots of cool fish and mammals; I never get tired of this place. However, I have never seen any significant fish life in the cave. . . until today.
Ed swam down first, with me following, lights on. Ed stopped at the 85’ level, puzzling me. I peered farther down and could see some shadows flying around. Big fish! They were agitated, darting, and charging at Ed, veering off at the last second at his light. They were lightning fast, huge and pissed. (Later, Ed said they also had big bared teeth). Straining to see, I tried to make out the profile of the fish, finally and alarmingly identifying the classic tetra shape of a piranha. The adrenaline shot out of my adrenal medulla. I waved my light frantically at Ed and gave him an athletic thumbs up sign for we’re getting the hell out of there. And we were gone.
I almost elected to climb the slope up to the tourist lookout, but followed Ed back down the run. I ran to tell the Ranger about the encounter. He listened politely and then told me the fish were “Pacu,” members of the Piranha family, but that they were not usually found in the bottom of the cave. He informed me that they were vegetarians and the big teeth are for chopping up hickory nuts. I felt sheepish, and confirmed that the ranger was probably laughing inside when later, another ranger in a patrol car in the parking lot asked us if we were okay after the feeding frenzy of the veggie Piranhas.
Cold beer quieted our adrenal glands and restored our manhood.
Now, off to buy a new wetsuit.
Ed Parks and I staggered up the spring run for the millionth time, trying to avoid tripping over Manatees on our way to the 120’ deep hole that is Blue Spring. We also saw big Garfish, and Plecostomus en route—lots of cool fish and mammals; I never get tired of this place. However, I have never seen any significant fish life in the cave. . . until today.
Ed swam down first, with me following, lights on. Ed stopped at the 85’ level, puzzling me. I peered farther down and could see some shadows flying around. Big fish! They were agitated, darting, and charging at Ed, veering off at the last second at his light. They were lightning fast, huge and pissed. (Later, Ed said they also had big bared teeth). Straining to see, I tried to make out the profile of the fish, finally and alarmingly identifying the classic tetra shape of a piranha. The adrenaline shot out of my adrenal medulla. I waved my light frantically at Ed and gave him an athletic thumbs up sign for we’re getting the hell out of there. And we were gone.
I almost elected to climb the slope up to the tourist lookout, but followed Ed back down the run. I ran to tell the Ranger about the encounter. He listened politely and then told me the fish were “Pacu,” members of the Piranha family, but that they were not usually found in the bottom of the cave. He informed me that they were vegetarians and the big teeth are for chopping up hickory nuts. I felt sheepish, and confirmed that the ranger was probably laughing inside when later, another ranger in a patrol car in the parking lot asked us if we were okay after the feeding frenzy of the veggie Piranhas.
Cold beer quieted our adrenal glands and restored our manhood.
Now, off to buy a new wetsuit.