Lafayette Blue update

I got "first Bell" on Opening Day, Friday 7/1....

The Rangers were quite suprised to see me (actually, to see ANYBODY)...met Ranger Stan, who I was told is the primary Ranger.

Diving will be allowed as soon as the River recedes and the system clears; the Natural Bridge is only about 1-2 feet under by my eye.

BEST NEWS! While there were no boils evident, I saw (unlike a week earlier) siphons at both Snake and Green, proof that the level IS dropping. I'm betting that nearly a whole generation of Cavers is around now who have never had the pleasure of diving the downstream part of this magnificent and historic System.

Norm

Sounds good. What are the Lafayette Blue dive rules? You know....# of teams per day, where can you put in, etc. I remember something listed in the last few months but I thought those were not finalized.

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Originally Posted by Angie Reim

Sounds good. What are the Lafayette Blue dive rules? You know....# of teams per day, where can you put in, etc. I remember something listed in the last few months but I thought those were not finalized.

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Angie,

(BTW, SO good to met you FtF, AAFAIAC, you are STILL Prime for the "Ladies of the Springs Calendar... :P )

I haven't heard of ANY proposed rules at yet; in Truth, I missed the first two formative CSO meetings...I think Kelley was there, and if he sees this, hopefully he can provide fill.

My days diving there were in the "open land" phase of LB's history.

Norm

I've dived that system a few times during the past few years(via Kitty Sink and Trap Sink) and the visibility was rarely good because there's usually a lot of particulate in the water.

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Originally Posted by CaptainSpeleo

I've dived that system a few times during the past few years(via Kitty Sink and Trap Sink) and the visibility was rarely good because there's usually a lot of particulate in the water.

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Ditto, I don't think this system ever really has "great" vis. Best I have ever had was around 30ish feet "maybe", but for us that don't mind the lower vis it's a fun system.

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Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

Ditto, I don't think this system ever really has "great" vis. Best I have ever had was around 30ish feet "maybe", but for us that don't mind the lower vis it's a fun system.

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I have done a fair number of dives at Skiles Sink, well upstream of Kitty and Trapp, but have never been in at Kitty or Trapp. It's a pretty interesting cave, and I have done some very interesting dives there...and found some areas that are not on any map I've seen, but are lined. The lines are quite old, so who knows who put them in there.

Mike

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Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

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Originally Posted by CaptainSpeleo

I've dived that system a few times during the past few years(via Kitty Sink and Trap Sink) and the visibility was rarely good because there's usually a lot of particulate in the water.

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Ditto, I don't think this system ever really has "great" vis. Best I have ever had was around 30ish feet "maybe", but for us that don't mind the lower vis it's a fun system.

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You should have seen it in the early '80's...50-70' in the lower portions was nominal...

Norm

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Originally Posted by MikeH

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Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

Ditto, I don't think this system ever really has "great" vis. Best I have ever had was around 30ish feet "maybe", but for us that don't mind the lower vis it's a fun system.

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I have done a fair number of dives at Skiles Sink, well upstream of Kitty and Trapp, but have never been in at Kitty or Trapp. It's a pretty interesting cave, and I have done some very interesting dives there...and found some areas that are not on any map I've seen, but are lined. The lines are quite old, so who knows who put them in there.

Mike

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<g>

I think that if you look at some of the names of the Sinks, you will get the idea of who and when...

Norm

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Originally Posted by normblitch

I think that if you look at some of the names of the Sinks, you will get the idea of who and when...

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I know the story behind the name of the sink, and I know that there were many of the big names diving the place at the time....but some of the areas are sidemount only, and have newer looking line than the main trunk.

Mike

Well, Norm has been touting it up so much that he got me hooked. I went ahead and ordered (it may even get here before hurricane season is over but I am not holding my breath...) a copy of the map from CDS.

Can't wait to go take a peek :-D

Mike, good to hear you're back on the board, missed you for your birthday (do a quick search we all said Happy Birthday...)

Dive safe,

Celia