Staying in Dunellen Fl and was wondering if there are any caves on the Rainbow River?
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Staying in Dunellen Fl and was wondering if there are any caves on the Rainbow River?
I've only done the drift down once, and didn't find anything. Although my main purpose wasn't to find caves on the drift, I didn't even have dive gear(just snorkel stuff).
I've heard there are atleast some caverns.
I haven't heard that anything goes really.
Just cause I haven't heard of anything that goes, doesn't mean that some of that stuff doesn't go.
I hand-carried a stage bottle one time into a pretty tight-fitting small cave somewhere in that run but I couldn't begin to tell you where it is as much of the river looks so much alike.
I did see a line in there, but the flow was strong, and it looked to be no-mount to me.
The first time I went to Rainbow river was in the late 1970's. You could scuba in the head spring then. We would then drift dive back almost to the boat ramp. I never saw anything that resembled a cave that could even be entered using no-mount. The boiling sands were cool. The last time I was there was in the early 90's and you could not scuba in the head spring, but it was still a nice little o/w drift dive. I have no idea what is downstream of the boat ramp closest to the head spring.
The headspring is closed to diving. Kelly park will be full by 10am. Ive snorkeled it and have never seen any ledge with much of an opening. IMO scuba isnt nessesary unless your a beginning diver looking for easy clear water and you have a boat. Blue Run is nice and would be the only beach dive if you have a dive flag. Kayaking the river is excellent. The Blue Run park is at the bridge on 475 I think.
IIRC, there was a decent sized vent just upstream of the campground/K.P. Hole.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sly-vester
Where I'm talking about is somewhere between the boat ramp and the sign that says no more motorized boats, which is I guess where the state park starts. And the small hole is about 12 feet down or so, with a ledge and white sand, and it's close to the left side as you are heading up river.
I last saw it a half year ago or so.
Gene,
I think I snorkeled over that spot yesterday. I was getting funny looks snorkeling while passing boats on my Magnus(DPV).
What did you use for a tow strap?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sly-vester
The day I was there, what was getting funny looks was one of those amphibious "boat" cars that run on land and water. Two older couples were motoring up and down the river in what looked like a 1960's style car (and getting a lot of looks and waves).
That vent goes about 15 feet to a 18 inch diameter restriction... Everything in there is pretty unstable
Yes, I rigged my free-dive weight belt with a carabiner, no weights and wore it low like a harness. I have some GoPro footage.Quote:
Originally Posted by gasdiver
What about the head spring? Huge flow there has to be something.
Its roped off if there is. No swimming in the headspring around the vents.
We shot part of a movie there in 2005 (The Hawk is Dying) and I spent some time swimming around the head spring area on scuba waiting to do a night shoot underwater and all I could find were a number of sand boils.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sly-vester