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I just read a post on Walter's site, stating that you can dive guideless at Little Hart if you have Abe Davis/Gold Wakulla and DAN Master ins........true?
Also saw viz. reported to be in the 30 ft. range, w/ripping current for the first 300' or so....true?
Thanks, just need to know the situation before coming up for the CDS workshop.
I've been in through the Lagoon three times, btw...if that matters.
Any current map available, btw?
I have always heard Hart to be Guide only with all of those requirements.Quote:
Originally Posted by phreaticus
Come on down! There will be free diving at Hart during the NSS-CDS workshop. I have heard some rumors of guideless diving at Hart, but I never saw anything in writing.Quote:
Originally Posted by phreaticus
'Free diving' (as in 'no charge') or 'guide free diving' (as in 'without having my hand held')? I'm just trying to be clear here because, if it's truly 'guide free' that would be a major change (for the better in my opinion) in policy.Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
Brian
I have heard they are looking into revising the rules on Little Hart dives, I thought I saw something in writing but cannot find it. I'll bet they want all the dives Sunday to be guided though.
Not interested in a guided dive free or not.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What's so different about diving with a guide vs. diving with any other buddy? :smt102
System I've never dove, a guide I might not even know, possibly different views on decompression (Bühlmann vs VPM vs Ratio Deco or combos), gear configuration (hopefully no mixed teams?), different hand signals, unknown medical history, differing views on a buddy's responsibilities, etc. Also getting some of these guides to come out and dive (unpaid at that) isn't an easy task, so at times it can almost feel as if the system is practically closed to diving. Not wanting to debate the safety aspect, I just plain have more fun diving with a crew I'm used to diving with, because we have a system that "clicks" for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
I'll still dive it guided, it certainly beats a closed system, but I would be careful to choose a guide that either I know, or a trusted buddy recommends.
It's a cave. You go diving, you get out. It's not like it's 300' deep with six hours of deco. Average depth is something like sixty feet.
If you're DIR and not allowed to dive with regular folk, I can see a problem, but just go diving. It's a beautiful cave.
I plan to go. You asked what's different, and those are issues I've heard of with a guide system. None of them are deal breakers, although the scheduling certainly does limit the flexibility of scheduling for a trip. Very excited about diving it...all of our family reunions were held there, as well as several camping trips when I was younger. Still remember sneaking off on the boardwalk to make out so parents wouldn't catch us :smt081Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
Anyways, I'm excited to get to see what's beyond the snorkel zone!
BTW...
My question was not of concern for the cost (pittance, in the grand scale of things) or having to be "guided" (my regular buddy is a guide there, as are many more friends I can enlist, any time...)...it was just a question regarding rule changes...and cave conditions.
I can see the rational for a guide, at least the first time or two, at the BL entrance (although a guide is not of much help in the poor-to-zero viz descent into the cave there, having been a guide at DiePolder back in the late 70's-and 80's, I did that many times in #2, back when the fracture there was a total siltout from 80 to 180 ft, almost always), after that, as Russel said...it's a pretty benign system, as cave diving goes.
The questions still stand.......anyone informed enough to answer...accurately, would be appreciated.
SRS
If a cave dive has an Abe Davis Award, s/he can dive Little Hart without a guide, park entry fees still apply.
In order to get in at Black Lagoon you must go with one of the several designated guides.
Diving fees are waived at Hart the day after the CDS workshop.
Thanks Jim.....
Any news on viz?
...AND...
Do we need to provide a copy of AD award...and to whom (especially on an "unguided" dive?
Enough people know me that I doubt any paperwork would be required (AD since 1981), but others may want to know.
...AND...
Since I haven't been there in a while...if you are doing an unguided dive, on any other day than Sunday (23rd), when it's free for the CDS ws.....do you still drop the fee at the entry gate?
For future reference.
Thats all I know about it. Vis was around 30 feet last week.
Usually Little Hart is closed during the busy season at the park,which means sometime in the fall when it has been available for diving.
Last I heard conditions weren't available for diving,but that will possibly change soon
Looking at the cavern area into the cave when it is clear,there is a potential for what happened at Thunderhole a few years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by phreaticus
Any more recent condition reports...what's the river doing after all the recent rain up north?
I heard 40 ft. viz. in Little Hart, flow down because of river pressure...?
Jerry said he was going to check, and report to the guides. When he does, I will post somthing (unless Jerry beats me to it).Quote:
Originally Posted by phreaticus
i don't just go cave diving with anyone. 60 feet or no. not in a new system anywayQuote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
Jerry and I just got back from doing some line work and repair at Hart. It's flowing pretty good, there was a serious boil at Little Hart, but it's very manageable and I'm happy to say vis is excellent. We were also able to see the cavern in the Black Lagoon and verify that there was no gator..... :)
Have fun this weekend and be safe!
Safe diving,
Rich
P.S. The river crested on Tuesday and the water level is currently heading back down.....
As Rich has already stated conditions are OK. Vis, 30 to 40 ft; next to no flow; water temp 68 deg. There is a fair bit of silt on the walls but the cave is OK for diving. You will probably never see Little Hart so easy, the river stage is really suppressing the flow. It can really howl in there at times.
Jerry
So for little hart i understand its a $20 dollar per day fee and an annual pass is available for $150. What about solo diving?
Bill, AFAIK there's no solo diving allowed anywhere in Hart Springs.....Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman
Safe diving,
Rich
Diving at Hart is free this Sunday (May 23) for attendees of the NSS-CDS Workshop (maybe everyone, but Workshop attendees for sure).Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman
Does that include Little Hart as well as guided dives?Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
Kathleen and I went last week. The low vis was significant until we got side by side to light the place up better (10W HID). And it wasn't quite as cold as we were told (69 instead of 68 ).
Its not a bad dive. Nice change from the usual. $20 for cold and low vis is unusually pricy. I definitely like not having to arrange a guide and to hike all the way to the sink in the back.
Little Hart still requires Abe Davis.
On an unrelated note, Happy Birthday, Gary....... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary
Now back to your regular scheduling.......
Safe diving,
Rich