Cavern diving IS ALLOWED in Jug Hole

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

I'll probably get criticized by long-time sidemounters, but I'm trying to re-invent the wheel. I'm going for an absolute minimalist approach - no inflation hoses, as close to total neutral buoyancy as possible (3mm suit and 2# of weight on my body, AL80s, a snorkeling vest for buoyancy changes...). It's not as bad as one would think. Now, whether I can scooter with it is another thing.

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Awesome! This in an unbelievably comfortable way to dive. Although I would probably go with the MSR bag over a snorkel vest, just because of the location of the lift.

That video is AWESOME please please please take me.

I have sat at the end of the cavern zone just staring at the first restriction on many occasion and the cave calls, please take me.

Ok I need to get a little more training including sidemount then maybe I can go!

Thanks for the video, made me anxious just watching it.

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Originally Posted by jj1987

Here's a video that might show you a bit of what to expect.
http://vimeo.com/15491558

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The video really shows how negative of an impact the drought has had on the system. Swimming through the bedding plane is normally an impossibility,with clawing through there being the norm. The Diamond Sands restriction would also present a challange with the flow blowing you around.

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The video really shows how negative of an impact the drought has had on the system

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When I was there on a checkout dive in 1979, our instructor bet us a case of beer no one could free dive to the bottom of the main vent. No one collected.

I was there this summer and could easily do it with only a mask, no fins.:(

Ok, its March 13th.... I wanna go to Jug Hole, cavern of course.... State park web page still says ONLY CAVE DIVERS....

Can I go?

Anything I need to know first?

Thanks,
Tim

Funny to see this come up right now - 15 minutes ago Tracy and I were watching a video FW shot in Jug with a helmet mounted GoPro, on a dive with us last month. Great video - it was fun to watch ourselves wriggling through the Diamond Sands restriction.

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Originally Posted by twaldo

Ok, its March 13th.... I wanna go to Jug Hole, cavern of course.... State park web page still says ONLY CAVE DIVERS....

Can I go?

Anything I need to know first?

Thanks,
Tim

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Read the first post.

Yep, Tim, you can dive it at Cavern level (thanks Kelly!). Be sure to clean off any vegetation from your gear (duck weed, etc), and get there this month. It's not open after March.

Have fun! Great cavern dive!

From the park website:

Scuba Diving

SCUBA diving is allowed at Blue Hole Spring from October through March.

Divers must be cave certified.

SCUBA diving is not permitted in the river or other springs.

There is a half-mile trail to Blue Hole Spring; many divers bring a cart or wheelbarrow to transport gear.

Dives cannot extend past 5:00 p.m.

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Originally Posted by sskasser

Dives cannot extend past 5:00 p.m.

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Greatly appreciated by the staff if this is watched closely. They don't get paid overtime to sit there and wait for someone to get out of the water and leave the park. Hope cavern divers have fun,because the cavern is one of the best parts of the dive.

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

Solo isn't allowed in State Parks.



I'll probably get criticized by long-time sidemounters, but I'm trying to re-invent the wheel. I'm going for an absolute minimalist approach - no inflation hoses, as close to total neutral buoyancy as possible (3mm suit and 2# of weight on my body, AL80s, a snorkeling vest for buoyancy changes...). It's not as bad as one would think. Now, whether I can scooter with it is another thing.

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How are you going to keep from freezing to death?