Paradise Springs Sidemount Tunnel

[ScubaSteveL]

I was just at Paradise Springs today with some non-cave diving friends and noticed a sidemount tunnel off the left hand side (as you face the cave sign) in about 75 to 80 feet of water. Has anyone been in that hole, and if so, how far back does it go?

[Greenwood_60]

I've been told it goes 100 to 200 feet back, is very unstable, and very silty. The diver I talked to said he has no interest in doing it again.

[bpcfire1]

Yes the whole is narrow and goes to about 140/150ft. It is VERY silty and there is no way to turn around unless you silt it up. I would not do it personally if I were you!!

[Tegg]

I've been told it goes 100 to 200 feet back, is very unstable, and very silty. The diver I talked to said he has no interest in doing it again.

Correct. I would not do it again. I hate milkouts and that tunnel is milkout city.

[jeandiver]

Ya , we've peeked into that tunnel and it looks nassy !!!
WAY too nassy for my taste.
Tegg: I think milkout would be a very correct term in that place.

Beano

[ScubaSteveL]

Thanks for the info. One day I may try it. After all, you don't become a better diver if all you do is stick with the big caves in Peacock and Ginnie...

[Tegg]

Thanks for the info. One day I may try it. After all, you don't become a better diver if all you do is stick with the big caves in Peacock and Ginnie...

There are WAY more places worth checking out with some milkout passages... The kind where after the milky section it gets real nice. Stick with those, the one in paradise isn't worth the risk or effort. (just my .02)

[stairman]

Royal either!

[John L.]

Like Tegg said, you are better off steering clear of Paradise for any overhead stuff. Years ago, I went into the regular cave and turned at 170' deep (on air). It's silty, stagnate, and nasty. I would never go back in there again.

[ScubaSteveL]

Like Tegg said, you are better off steering clear of Paradise for any overhead stuff. Years ago, I went into the regular cave and turned at 170' deep (on air). It's silty, stagnate, and nasty. I would never go back in there again.

Where did you go to hit 170??? Was this back when water levels everywhere were up 20 feet? The deepest I can get now, without removing gear and squeezing through a tight hole, is 140'.

I have been to Paradise numerous times, and for me, it's a pretty descent dive. I have been to the bottom and had open water divers above me (on their side of the cave sign) kick crap down on me making my exit a zero vis exit. Following my line out made that easy.

Will I go there and tell everyone I'm going cave diving? No. Will I go there for a dive and venture into the cave with the proper gear? Yes. Since the whole place is an overhead environment, any dive I do there will be "overhead stuff". And Tegg said to avoid the milk out tunnels at Paradise, not avoid Paradise all together.