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Owens and Mearson spring located not far from each other on the right bank of Suwannee. Does somebody know if there is a cave worth to see? Owens owned by SRWMD so potentially in a future may it become another state park like Lafayette Blue? Mearson surroundings are private, i wonder if there is a cave and how friendly to divers owners might be.
Hi ARY,
I don't know but I'd put my $$ on Lonestar Lee knowing what you're talking about.
ARY, I see you are living out of your Toyota Echo, eh? How long are you here? We should get together for another dive sometime.
Hey Jordan, come down here, we're gonna have our butts dislocated this Saturday to see 20years old line in a spring near Astor.Quote:
Originally Posted by carrive1
Of course both caves are not divable right now due to flooding. Owens is small and silty, the line is very old. Mearson is a little larger and nicer but is very short. The land is posted. I have never ran into anyone out there but I am a bad, bad girl at times! Cindy :D
Lonestarfl and I took a walk out in the woods a few years ago to check out Owens Spring. About the time we arrived at the headspring, the landowner(some old coot) confronted us with a long-barreled revolver and threatened to shoot us if we didn't leave. Needless to say, we left.
Last year, while the Suwannee was flooded, I met an owner of land adjacent to Mearson. He was putting tile down at my mom's place in Live Oaks. He gave me directions to the trail to his property and permission to dive it from his property... I of course lost his phone number, name and the directions... I'll see if mom remembers his name or company. Will let you know if I can look him up. Maybe Robert (who lives in Lives Oak), can follow up? I promised we (cave divers) would do a cleanup of his property (I was assuming one could be done) in return for his permission...Quote:
Originally Posted by ARY
Oh, he did a great job with the floor too.
tj
Owens, owens- I had to dig into the old books for that one. But now I remember. FANTASTIC small-sidemount dive. The largish blue spring doesnt actually have any passage leading off of it- but the siphon side of that same spring (which eventually leads to the river) is just beautiful. Average depth of 15-25 feet, average height of 1-2 feet. Mulitple openings to the surface that let the sunlight in. I liked the dive, but if I remember correctly, Brett didnt like it and called the dive. Little too small perhaps. But then, you know me.
Dont bring anything bigger than 72s! :)
I never did find the entrance from the river, but it must be there somewhere.
wouldnt make much of a cave diving park I suppose.
J
Rchrds:
I remember well all the limestone openings and flowing water under our feet as Lonestarfl and I headed for the main spring. The depth and ceiling-to-floor height reminds me of the sidemount dive we made at Bathtub Spring.
By we, do you mean you and I? I'm not sure who you are from the picture, so dont take it personally :D I think Bathtub might be a little bigger- no maybe they are the same- right until you start past the end of the line at Bathtub- then it sucks good !! :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainSpeleo
Ive never seen Owens...but from the description,it sounds like Suwannee Blue.Is this the same one?
You may want to buy yourself a map. Or get the springs book from the DEP. Cindy :roll:
AFAIR, NO...Quote:
Originally Posted by Trailridgefire
Norm
Rchrds:
I was referring to me and Lonestarfl. We've been cave diving since 91 - 92.
Guys, and Cindy thanks a lot for the info! Too bad that both they are affected by floods but it sounds like it is worth of a try on some day.
Low and silty is something i never tried yet. What do you think would be a good place to practice such things in relatively safe environment before going to real mission? I have some experience in low/small and clear places but only did few dives in small and silty. When you go in such passages do you prefer to go in a team? Is there a benefit of a teamwork in such places? We went once in a deep tunnel in Paul's sink, i was first and i saw a cave while we were going in, the second person said he was only OK-ing the line all the way in-out and had no visibility at all. So isn't it a justification for diving solo in low/silty?