Spring tour on the Suwanee

If you are looking for something different in the Luraville area I found out that the River Rendezvous is now running a shuttle service and tenting canoes and kayaks. For $45 you can get a canoe and they will drop you off at the boat ramp just downstream from the Hwy 51 bridge (blue bridge just South of Luraville ). My girlfriend and I did this today and it was one of the best canoe / kayak trips I have ever done. It is all downstream and could probably be done in about 4 hours if you didn't stop and dive like I did. I stoped at Alligator Rescue (name on Cave Atlas but Bill called it by another name) this was my first time there. This is a big cave. It could be done backmount. We then paddled downstream and stopped and swam at Running Spring. It is a pretty swimming hole. We then went on downstream and stopped at Bathtub. I had never been in this cave before. It is a gorgeous little cave but definitely sidemount. So if someone is looking for something different you could stop and cave dive at Alligator Rescue, Telford and Bathtub. You get out at River Rendezvous so you could hit Convict if you wanted. We really enjoyed the day and I thought others might as well.

Moderator's note: Please see the warning by Kelly Jessop in post #3. Some of the caves named are on private land and access may or may not be legal under the navigable waterways act from the Suwannee river. Please make sure to do your research before attempting to dive these caves. We should all seek to respect the land owners rights and adhere to their rules of access.

Sounds like fun! Thanks


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It is worthy to note that not all landowners along the mentioned corridor are like the ones at Telford,which they don't mind cave divers,as long as you stick to the spring run. There are several springs that the owners don't want you there, and have threatened to call enforcement on some past visitors. Running spring has a nice owner,but they haven't opened it to public access. Bathtub's owner used to be cave diver friendly,but the new owner has been known to confront trespassers. Do your homework before entering someone's property because the argument of ,"you can't do anything because I stayed in the spring run", doesn't really work on a pissed off landowner,it is one of those things a judge will have to settle.

For anyone considering doing this Alligator Rescue and Telford don't have any access issues as long as you don't go wandering up the bank. Alligator Rescue is on the bank of the river and doesn't have a spring run at all. It is a fun trip and I highly recommend it. My girlfriend doesn't cave dive but likes the springs so it worked great for us as I try to keep my dives around 30 - 45 minutes if she is waiting in the boat. I skipped Telford as I have already done it several times.

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Originally Posted by bamafan

For anyone considering doing this Alligator Rescue and Telford don't have any access issues as long as you don't go wandering up the bank. Alligator Rescue is on the bank of the river and doesn't have a spring run at all. It is a fun trip and I highly recommend it. My girlfriend doesn't cave dive but likes the springs so it worked great for us as I try to keep my dives around 30 - 45 minutes if she is waiting in the boat. I skipped Telford as I have already done it several times.

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Shoot, that does looks inviting, especially since you said this one is not too nasty or small and presumably has no land owner/access issues.
So what kind of boat is needed to get here and where would one tie it to when in the cave? Or do I need to find a GF first to guard the boat? :)

Lol. I just tied up to the bank. A canoe or kayak will work. If you had your own you could put in up by the Blue Bridge and takeout just past Telford. Alligator Rescue is about 1/2 way between the blue bridge and Telford.

I am sure we can find you a girlfriend Oliver. You might need a bigger boat though. :)

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Originally Posted by bamafan

I am sure we can find you a girlfriend Oliver. You might need a bigger boat though. :)

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Please don't try to set me up with one that plays the banjo... :)

As to your spring hunting adventures, next time please please bring your Gopro and take a little video, I'd be so curious to see these caves.

In my opinion Alligator Rescue could be diveable one day and not the next. It is low flow and with very little river rise the dark Suwannee water would easily push into the system.
The family that has set up camp at Telford is still there. They have been there for several weeks and live out of a small houseboat, two smaller boats and a car that is on the boat ramp. There are at least 5-6 people of various ages. While they are not threatening they are also not overly friendly. Hard to imagine the sanitation that is going on.