Recommendations for Hernando, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties

I'm going to be visiting the Sunshine State from about 12/18-1/3. I plan to stop in cave country on the way to and from my vacation which will mostly be in the Keys, but a few days will be spent slightly north east of Tampa.

Will someone please give me some recommendations on cave systems to dive in Hernando, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties that will get me started and give me something to do without driving all the way north to dive? I haven't dived any systems further south than Manatee Springs, so recommendations on systems from Manatee south to Tampa will work.

I'll be diving CCR, am an NSS-CDS member, and I may be diving solo, if that helps narrow the options. I have a scooter, so I can reach some places in the rivers if the ride isn't too long. I'm also pretty lazy, so the easier it is to get into the water the better, but I don't mind a little work if it is worth it.

Thanks for your help.

Paul

Are you full cave? Abe Davis/ Wakulla-Bronze? Trimix/ Adv. Trimix? Sidemount? This makes a big difference in your choices of caves. Most of the caves in that area are going to be limited to either deep depths (meaning Trimix or Adv. Trimix), or they are advanced cave dives requiring Abe Davis/ Wakulla Bronze level experience (at minimum), or some caves are sidemount or no-mount entrances, or a combination of these.

Solo diving in those caves is extremely unforgiving. There are plenty of divers in the area that would be glad to dive with someone.

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Originally Posted by sdenney

Are you full cave? Abe Davis/ Wakulla-Bronze? Trimix/ Adv. Trimix? Sidemount? This makes a big difference in your choices of caves. Most of the caves in that area are going to be limited to either deep depths (meaning Trimix or Adv. Trimix), or they are advanced cave dives requiring Abe Davis/ Wakulla Bronze level experience (at minimum), or some caves are sidemount or no-mount entrances, or a combination of these.

Solo diving in those caves is extremely unforgiving. There are plenty of divers in the area that would be glad to dive with someone.

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Full cave, Trimix, CCR (I haven't done a cave dive with open circuit in about 2 years and I'm not interested in sidemount caves.)

I'm not an Abe Davis award holder and I'm not likely to be unless the award is made less open circuit-centric. My understanding is that the requirement is 100 dives. A CCR diver will often do 1 cave dive in a day and spend 3-4 hours in the cave. The # of hours in the cave is sometimes double or greater than an OC diver doing 2 dives per day. Maybe it should be modified to be 100 dives or 100 hours? If that was the case, I'd be getting close.

....100 dives in overhead environment of 20 minutes + or the equivalent of that. Anyways check www.floridacaves.com or mike emanuels dive page . Have fun, take care...

When I was shooting for my Abe Davis, dives had to be at least thirty minutes, not including deco. I had several 29-minute dives that didn't make the cut.

The Abe Davis rules have changed back to the original intent. 100 cave dives beyond full cave. No more minimum minutes.

"Only dives made after (full) Cave Diver certification be counted toward any award. The Abe Davis Safe Cave Diving Award is presented to divers who have completed 100 safe cave dives."

FWIW, the NACD Wakulla award can be either number of cave dives, or total minutes.

"Bronze Wakulla Award - 100 or more hours of bottom time in the cave zone or 100 or more safe cave dives."

Luckily the 100 dives has stuck... with a rebreather, one can easily do 25 dives and get the award. (just my opinion)

On the other hand, the backmountable caves in the area are deep, require a guide or boat, or are "interesting solo dives" for the first dive there.

The Florida Caves Site does have a decent list if you really want to see whats around.

Does this mean my 29-minute dives (and a few other sub-30 minute dives) can be added to my list toward my Henry Nicholson award? That would put me close enough to make getting it at the 2010 Workshop doable.

The NACD Wakulla Bronze safety award is either 100 safe full cave dives or 100 hours (completed during safe full cave dives). This is all counted after you have completed your full cave cert (multiple agencies certs are accepted). [You have to sign up for at minimum a 1year NACD membership to receive the award, but it does go to a good cause.]

As for Full Cave + Trimix, and if you meet the Wakulla Bronze requirements, you can schedule a guided dive in Diepolder 3. If you find a buddy to go with who has been there, there is always Eagles Nest (Give a call to CaveEast or Amigos as there are always people that want to go, but want a buddy). In the same area as Eagles Nest is Bufford. The trek is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it to dive this cave/cavern at least once.

Also check tampadiving.com for cavern/cave locations and recent dive reports.

Safe diving

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Originally Posted by pwl4476

Full cave, Trimix, CCR (I haven't done a cave dive with open circuit in about 2 years and I'm not interested in sidemount caves.)

I'm not an Abe Davis award holder and I'm not likely to be unless the award is made less open circuit-centric. My understanding is that the requirement is 100 dives. A CCR diver will often do 1 cave dive in a day and spend 3-4 hours in the cave. The # of hours in the cave is sometimes double or greater than an OC diver doing 2 dives per day. Maybe it should be modified to be 100 dives or 100 hours? If that was the case, I'd be getting close.

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

Does this mean my 29-minute dives (and a few other sub-30 minute dives) can be added to my list toward my Henry Nicholson award? That would put me close enough to make getting it at the 2010 Workshop doable.

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Yes, but you have to be nice to the awards coordinator :-)