Jackson Blue - Monday March 30th

A friend took me here last Monday after we dove Peacock (Olsen line and the Peanut tunnel) and Hole in the Wall both directions over the weekend. As primarily a MX cave diver, JB was my first introduction to "flow". I actually thought it was pretty fun, we turned right before the first T on energy and time moreso than gas. I especially liked coming up the Fisher cracks into the cavern with the sun streaming into the opening. Pretty cool.

1st question:
The mill pond seemed to be about 2-3inches up from "normal" (based on the slime line). I was just wondering if the flow in JB was roughly comparible to "normal"? Has anyone else dived JB over the last couple days? Is the flow typical right now? enhanced by the rain? or reduced by the lower head from the mill pond elevation?

2nd question:
Are there established definitions for "first order spring" and such? How much volume etc?

Thanks

first magnitude springs have a flow greater than 100 cubic feet per second.

This has some good info on spring magnitudes:

http://www.tfn.net/springs/Springboo...tMagnitude.htm

kind of a fun site to look around on too, although it's focus is not primarily cave diving.

Cool thanks for the lesson on springs vs. karst windows etc.

So anyone know if the flow at JB right now is typical? I just wanna know if I was suckered lol.

I've seen it a lot higher (May 2005 is the strongest I've seen since 2000), and I've seen it a fair bit lower (December 2007).

Right now's about average.

I was diving it Sunday(3/29). Flow was down considerably(read as very easy compared to the last few months) since diving it in January. Flow in January was kickin, but not nearly as bad as I remember it in 2005.

JB does not have very high flow right now. I still prefer scootering it, especially past the 2nd breakdown, but it's definitely swimmable. A couple of years ago I swam back to 3000' with a single stage. About a year ago, the flow was a lot higher. It all varies. I've heard stories of it taking a stage to swim to the 1st T.