Waterhole 3 today, UGH!

Thought we'd try something different today. Boy was it. After sinking down to our knees in mud we sprung fourth across the familiar duckweed cover to hyrrilla out the yingyang. Forward motion was almost impossible as we tried to submerge. Vis was inches and never did find the opening. After surfacing the mud stunk so bad and we had hyrrilla hanging off us. We got whooped on that one. Maybe winter will kill off the choking plants and water levels higher coulnt hurt. P1 is 3 ft below the lower platform. Lowest anyone has seen it.

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Originally Posted by stairman

Thought we'd try something different today. Boy was it. After sinking down to our knees in mud we sprung fourth across the familiar duckweed cover to hyrrilla out the yingyang. Forward motion was almost impossible as we tried to submerge. Vis was inches and never did find the opening. After surfacing the mud stunk so bad and we had hyrrilla hanging off us. We got whooped on that one. Maybe winter will kill off the choking plants and water levels higher coulnt hurt. P1 is 3 ft below the lower platform. Lowest anyone has seen it.

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Please remember to check your gear for hydrilla,and clean it off real good. A sprig of hydrilla can be carried to the next site you dive and then the same thing will happen there.

Ok, I know what duck weed is, but what is hydrilla and which areas am I likely to find it?

I know, I know, google it.


Nevermind, I figured out how to use google. :-)

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Originally Posted by Kelly Jessop

Please remember to check your gear for hydrilla,and clean it off real good. A sprig of hydrilla can be carried to the next site you dive and then the same thing will happen there.

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Yep! Just look at the Mill Pond! :(

I thought the duckweed cover would block the sunlight needed for its growth but it hasent. We did pull it all off that could be seen. I thought of jumping in the middle so the muck wouldnt stir up on the edge but was affraid of submerged logs, ouch! No doubt, Waterhole 3 is best seen coming out and not going in.

So Randy, I gotta ask why in hell would you want to get in there in the first place? I've seen it from underneath too many times to even think about trying that! We were in P3 the other day and it was pretty bad there also, but you have a lot more room to play with..... :)

Safe diving,

Rich

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Originally Posted by Dsix36

Ok, I know what duck weed is, but what is hydrilla and which areas am I likely to find it?

I know, I know, google it.


Nevermind, I figured out how to use google. :-)

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Hydrilla was brought here in the 60s from Africa for fish aquariums,and it has over stayed its welcome,and become very invasive,like kudzu vine.

Real important divers check their gear for hydrilla,duckweed etc before going to the next dive site. We are a source of contamination,and our vigilence can keep the basin of the other sites more pristine.

What I am hearing is water levels and growth are at peak right now.
A little rain might not be a bad thing.
It has just began to rain a bit up hear and the temps are steadily falling which always help to stunt growth.
I am hoping to find better conditions in Oct. / Nov.
It seems that overall FL water level has been down this past season.

JCG

If you ignore the lack of rain, and the fact that we need it so badly, cave conditions are spectacular right now, at least vis wise! Peacock's crackling as is P3, the Castle's clear as a bell. LR vis is back to pre 2003 levels, but without the butt kicking flow. The river caves are still clear as is Indian, in fact it was the best I've ever seen it! Hopefully we'll get some prolonged rain here soon, but vis will probably drop when we do. The basin at Peacock is really low right now, as Randy mentioned, but it's not the stagnant cesspool it was three weeks ago, where exiting the cave was like swimming into a really funky hot tub! Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.....

Safe diving,

Rich

P.S. Exiting P3 the other day was interesting, there was so much hydrilla and duckweed on the surface and our bubble free expedition did nothing to disturb it and it was actually very cool to look at it from underneath.... :)

Rich, I havent swam the waterhole tunnel yet, have of course passed the jump many times so thought Idtry to get in from its openwater but bad idea. There was beaver tracks around its edge as is in P3 so Im sure hydrilla contamination is probably caused more by them than by divers. A rope and grapling hook should be employed to help rid the sinks of this evasive plant.

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Originally Posted by stairman

. A rope and grapling hook should be employed to help rid the sinks of this evasive plant.

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LOL, I spent a long time getting that crap off my Meg the other day! You gotta do Waterhole, it's one of my fave tunnels in Peacock, holler at me if you need a buddy.... :)

Safe diving,

Rich

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Originally Posted by stairman

Rich, I havent swam the waterhole tunnel yet, have of course passed the jump many times so thought Idtry to get in from its openwater but bad idea.

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For what it is worth, my advice is that if you swim to Waterhole III from PI that you don't bother to surface. Get to the big rock at the bottom of the cavern, look up, and turn the dive. Above only lies a tangle of logs and poor visibility. The tunnel to get there is beautiful, the basin is ugly. Kind of like Cisteen, but not as scenic.

I have only been there once, a month ago. I wish I had known then what I know now.

I guess the visibility can improve in the future, but the tangle of logs is not likely to change much.

You have to feel for the cold water with your hands. Walking up to Waterhole three, it will be to the far right.

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Originally Posted by stairman

Thought we'd try something different today. Boy was it. After sinking down to our knees in mud we sprung fourth across the familiar duckweed cover to hyrrilla out the yingyang. Forward motion was almost impossible as we tried to submerge. Vis was inches and never did find the opening. After surfacing the mud stunk so bad and we had hyrrilla hanging off us. We got whooped on that one. Maybe winter will kill off the choking plants and water levels higher coulnt hurt. P1 is 3 ft below the lower platform. Lowest anyone has seen it.

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Randy, it's a kickass dive once you get in there. You have to be on your game with bouyancy control. If I remember right (last time 2006) it took around 45 minutes to get to the end where you jump to the P1 line. Very beautiful dive.

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Originally Posted by stairman

Rich, I havent swam the waterhole tunnel yet, have of course passed the jump many times so thought Idtry to get in from its openwater but bad idea. There was beaver tracks around its edge as is in P3 so Im sure hydrilla contamination is probably caused more by them than by divers. A rope and grapling hook should be employed to help rid the sinks of this evasive plant.

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Can I dive this tunnel in backmount or is it a sidemount tunnel?

It's more than sufficiently open for BM.

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Originally Posted by Dsix36

Can I dive this tunnel in backmount or is it a sidemount tunnel?

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Definitely backmount. Only just a little close in a few places, and even those places are not tight.

The dive from P1 to Waterhole III is a out 45-50 minutes and it takes about the same time to return.

The jump is the first marked jump to the left in the peanut tunnel and IIRC is about p. 900'. There is a slight restriction about 200' or so down the Waterhole tunnel at the top of a small rise, but it's easily negotiated in backmount with no contact if you roll slightly to the left.

There is a slight duckunder at about 550'-600' from the jump immediately past the line to the sidemount tunnel (I suspect most people don't notice that line) that leads back to the peanut line at about p. 800. That is the location that seems to collect the most handprints in the bottom so while it is not all that tight, some divers seem to have skills issues and bottom out there.

Prior to that point the tunnel is fairly wide and low, while past that point it has a much more vertical relief and you may find some low pockets of tannic water along the bottom of the tunnel in a couple spots. The entire tunnel is quite pretty.

A fairly large rock fell on the line just short of Waterhole III about a year and a half ago and as Mark states that is not a bad place to turn the dive. If you go up, it's not all that bad - somewhat Cisteen like in terms of logs, and duckweed. Be sure to run a line but in general the viz is not bad under the duckweed and it stays ok if you stand on a log during the SI and do not stir it up. Getting in however pretty much guarentees blown vis in the sink and I've never seen an upside to doing that.

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Originally Posted by DA Aquamaster

The dive from P1 to Waterhole III is a out 45-50 minutes and it takes about the same time to return.

The jump is the first marked jump to the left in the peanut tunnel and IIRC is about p. 900'. There is a slight restriction about 200' or so down the Waterhole tunnel at the top of a small rise, but it's easily negotiated in backmount with no contact if you roll slightly to the left.

There is a slight duckunder at about 550'-600' from the jump immediately past the line to the sidemount tunnel (I suspect most people don't notice that line) that leads back to the peanut line at about p. 800. That is the location that seems to collect the most handprints in the bottom so while it is not all that tight, some divers seem to have skills issues and bottom out there.

Prior to that point the tunnel is fairly wide and low, while past that point it has a much more vertical relief and you may find some low pockets of tannic water along the bottom of the tunnel in a couple spots. The entire tunnel is quite pretty.

A fairly large rock fell on the line just short of Waterhole III about a year and a half ago and as Mark states that is not a bad place to turn the dive. If you go up, it's not all that bad - somewhat Cisteen like in terms of logs, and duckweed. Be sure to run a line but in general the viz is not bad under the duckweed and it stays ok if you stand on a log during the SI and do not stir it up. Getting in however pretty much guarentees blown vis in the sink and I've never seen an upside to doing that.

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Thanks, I have always been curious about that tunnel. Now I must go check it out myself.

Word on the street says there will likely be an article on hydrilla in one of the upcoming CDS magazines for anyone looking for more info. I hear the photos are absolutely superb.

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Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn

Word on the street says there will likely be an article on hydrilla in one of the upcoming CDS magazines for anyone looking for more info. I hear the photos are absolutely superb.

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I wonder who the photographer was? :roll:

I dunno, but he's apparently superb, and sexy too.

And modest as well!

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Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn

I dunno, but he's apparently superb, and sexy too.

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Does he give autographs? Make guest appearances? SWOOOOOOOOOONNNNN!!!! >>>>breathlessly awaiting my copy<<<<

Matt... I did not write the article or take the pictures. Sorry, but you are incorrect. It must be someone else.

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Originally Posted by ianr33

And modest as well!

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I think thats his middle name.

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Originally Posted by Tegg

Matt... I did not write the article or take the pictures. Sorry, but you are incorrect. It must be someone else.

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Joe Modest Tegg, you don't say?

Hrm.

This is interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_carp

Additional data on implementation:
http://msucares.com/wildfish/fisheri...rasscarp4.html

Anyone have any idea on if the state (or anyone else that matters) would OK stocking certified triploid Grass Carp?

Grass Carp come with their own problems, they end up eating about everything... including all the native fish's food.

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Originally Posted by Greenwood_60

...Anyone have any idea on if the state (or anyone else that matters) would OK stocking certified triploid Grass Carp?

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Hmmm, first the British imported rabbits into Australia for food, then ferrets, and wolves to deal with the rabbits....
It all got out of hand there, will we ever learn?

The major difference is these would be unable to reproduce. From the stock rates, it seems a fish or two could keep the smaller basins pretty clear. I wonder if they eat duckweed... that would be a problem.

We just need a manatee winter program. A couple of manatees at the Mill Pond every winter would fix the problem here! :)

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Originally Posted by Greenwood_60

The major difference is these would be unable to reproduce. From the stock rates, it seems a fish or two could keep the smaller basins pretty clear. I wonder if they eat duckweed... that would be a problem.

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The problem with that difference is... they ended up reproducing anyway.

Which duckweed are we talking about here? Some are native.

(I'm not an expert on duckweed, but I have unintentionally eaten it for breakfast!):)

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Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn

The problem with that difference is... they ended up reproducing anyway.

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That would be bad.

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Originally Posted by Leslie Sapp

Which duckweed are we talking about here? Some are native.

(I'm not an expert on duckweed, but I have unintentionally eaten it for breakfast!):)

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The duckweed that blocks sunlight and help to control algae. :)

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Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn

The problem with that difference is... they ended up reproducing anyway.

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just put boy fish in there and no girl fish.....

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Originally Posted by JerseyJersey

just put boy fish in there and no girl fish.....

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And just how do you ... oh, never mind ...

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just put boy fish in there and no girl fish.....

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I think I've seen this movie..... but it involved dinosaurs.:roll:

yep and just like the movie, many fish will change sex as the situation requires. It's only us mammal types that get up hung up on the same sex for life....well, maybe not!

skip

No, I am hung up on that... I ain't changin...