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I know the river level is at just over 20ft, but that still is not close to "Flood Level" according to NOAA's website. I have heard LR is closed, just wondering is it syphoning.
Last post last week the vis cleared up past the stake in the cavern. Wondering if it is closed why?
Thanks, coming down next Thursday.
It peaked last week. That part of the river is slowly, very slowly, going down. That's the current and near future trend. Just inches a day. Not sure about it being dive-able at this moment though. I'm contemplating checking it out next Friday morning by boat, unless someone else checks sooner.
Great, thanks for the update. Shouldn't rain until Tues/Wed. of course that could offset all the water subsiding. Oh well. Thanks for keeping me updated. Was it syphoning yet?
Please note "flood level" doesn't equate to springs reversing. Each spring means of reversal is unique based on things like high flow versus low flow, long spring runs, river vents etc,but typically they will reverse before even action stage is reached. Little River isn't like it was 20 years ago and would have a clear basin even with a higher river levels, it seems to reverse easily. Also, when the river drops, it will probably spew tannic water for sometime.Quote:
Originally Posted by knabuecave
Yup, I'm with ya. Just being hopeful. Anyway, a day in Cave Country is better by far than being at work in downtown Charlotte, NC with the CIAA tournament going on next week. If Ginnie is all we have, then that ain't that bad! :)
has anyone been in Little River lately? Conditions please?
Primary tie off at the stairs! Rock!
It was so windy it was hard to see a boil but we thought we saw one. We didn't have the gear to dive, just popped in for a look see.Quote:
Originally Posted by oya
I see th river level is down below 16ft, anyone care to post some pics of the spring head topside?
I was there last week (I think 3/8) for full cave class. The basin was a little dark, but the cave was nice (30-45' I think). I can't speak to conditions relative to normal, but I thought viz was very comfortable.
The basin is clear and water is over the rock retaining wall by about 6 inches. There is moderate flow, if the river falls the flow will increase substantially. The cave was fairly clear maybe 50ft.
My buddies and I dove LR twice last week: 24 and 26 March. Conditions are great! Flow lower than I usually experience there. Viz 50 - 80 ft. A short run up the Harper Tunnel . . . fantastic.
The basin is clear and beautiful. Water level above 2nd step from the bottom, just over a foot above the perimeter walkway.
The park is re-opened to the public, so they are enjoying the park too. Be prepared for all the usual adoration, wonderment -- and questions -- from folks swimming there. Also for kids breath-holding down and making faces at you during your deco :yawinkle:
- Sid
I dove it yesterday. The vis was probably in the 30-maybe40ish feet but with a lot of dusty particulate. The flow was moderate to strong but not a firehose like I have seen it.
The basin is clear and nice conditions for swimming/snorkeling.
There were a LOT of divers going in and out.
The three of us arrived at LR this morning and were the only divers why we were there. Below is a picture of the site when I arrived. The tannic water was outside tips of the deco log but no further in to the cave. There was virtually no flow to speak of and the vis was great. An awesome day of diving today.
Eric
Attachment 14569
Had the best dive of my career today at Little River with Stacy Bolte Dreher and Eric Parks. The river was up to the mid platform on the staircase with 0 vis. From the top of the staircase at the observation platform with my binoculars I saw the leaves on the surface of the spring remain perfectly still with the water without a boil or siphon cone. We tied off to the stair case and I felt the temperature of the Spring water before I could see the cave. It took a bit to find the entrance in the 0 vis. I may have created a satanic pentagram by accident while tying off my reel while trying fine the opening. If any portals to hell opened up while we were in the cave, - my bad. The cave opened up to no flow at all with unlimited visibility. By the time we saw the warning sign I knew this would be a special dive. Swimming was effortless and the vis allowed me to see the system in it's totality. We swam to the first "T" and turned right going the long way around the circuit to the second "T" again turned right heading to the Florida room. Swimming slowly and away from the line seeing the as if it was new. We turned just before the well casing at 200 psi before thirds. We agree to turn early so we'd have extra gas should the system turn to a siphon while we were still in it. The exit was a great pleasure while leisurely coasting out I saw beautiful multible colored clay banks and cave adapted crayfish, isopods and anthropods. We had about 40 minutes deco and still had 200 psi about final thirds in both my LP 80's and Al 80 stage. If you can dive Little River do it now before it goes under.
40 minutes deco ? D.H.
Sounds Great MA. Wish I had been with you three.
Quote:
Originally Posted by double humper
I thought the same thing. Only thing I'lm thinking is maybe max and depth and average depth are much deeper than I think it is with the water at that level.
I think it is more likely that they were swimming, and that is a long dive.Quote:
Originally Posted by rddvet
it doesnt take much to hit 40mins deco. At Ginnie (shallower), a 165mins dive has 40ish mins of deco
Left of Sherwood Split branches in SM
0-5 Gear setup on surface
5-15 DPV to Double lines jump
15-47 Double lines to jump left (hill)
47-76 Both branches left of the split back to jump
79-96 swam back to start of double lines
96-106 DPV back to cavern
106-end Deco
(based on repetitive dive)
O.K. don't see the similarity, takes 35-45 min. to swim to the casing. D.H.
Man I hope it holds out for 3 more weeks! Coming back down last week in April!
Not likely, the river is still rising, fast.Quote:
Originally Posted by knabuecave
Yeah, I just pulled up the NOAA river level there in Branford and it looks like in the next 5 days it's gonna get above the action stage and on up to 25ft! - Bummer
Ok to answer the big mystery deco question. It was a little less then 40 so I rounded up. I was on 25% (I topped off with air at Ginnie the night before ) I have been diving several days in a row so computer had repetitive dives. It took about 40 minutes or so to swim to in with no Flow 35 mins or so out. Max depth was 115 ft. My ave depth was over 70 ft and I take my time coming up. I prefer to ascend no faster then 10 ft per minute starting at 70 ft. I added a minute to my 50, 40 ft, 30 ft and 20 ft stops. Why? I am 54 years old and have had several broken bones and assorted other injurys including a spinal issue. In other words, I got the body of a 25 year old but unfortunately the cops made me let her out of the trunk of my car. I live my life in constant pain except when I am in the water so I am in no rush to get out it. Slow, slower , even slower makes a lot of sense in my case. So to sum it up, it was a freaken awesome dive and I took my time.
Again, wish I could have joined you on that dive MA. Maybe we can get one in before it goes under...?
(Kim and I cracked up at your body in the trunk mention too. Classic MA!)
Attachment 14618My how this place changes!
Is that today?
Not likely, with the river still up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Adler
Goodness no, it was taken i think 4 or 5 years ago. I was just coomenting on how drastic it changes for year to year & season to season. Still I love it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by knabuecave
Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
That's what I thought, but I don't pay that close of attention lately. I am just upriver from the 27 bridge, and the river does not seem to have risen much at all from here. I kind of wish it would, there still a couple spots where you have to be careful in a kayak.
Anybody got a current Pic of the LR? Looks like the Suwannee is still at 22ft ! This has been quite the Fl. Recharge!
Probably would have been better if it was recharged by local rain, and not tannic river water :)Quote:
Originally Posted by knabuecave
for LR to become diveable, ull have to wait till its less than 17' @ branford gauge....about 1.5-2 weeks if all goes well in rain world
Yup that's what I was guessing...Quote:
Originally Posted by patpicos
Would also like to see some pics... cheers!
Earl , the county officer, called me last week to inform me that LR is closed to all divers. We were given permission to dive it during construction but due to the conditions of the water Earl has closed it.
I know we all have the combination number to get in but please do not dive it until he calls for the park to be open for diving.
They were very gracious to allow us to dive it while construction was taking place. I want us to keep a good relationship with them so in the future we will be offered the privilege to dive .
Thank you all for your cooperation.
ON the 17th the park will be closed from sunrise to noon. They have some cleaning up to do and do not want anyone in the park at that time. Earl said that LR is open for diving until the morning of the 17th of May.
So other than on the 17th from sunrise to noon... It is now open to diving? ...Sorry, I thought I had heard it was back open a couple weeks ago before the flooding.
Any word yet on when the construction will be completed and the site freely open to all?Quote:
Originally Posted by shellmoundal
The construction is complete. Earl told me that they have to clean up the park on the morning of the 17th. Other than that it is open and according to Earl the construction is completed.
Basin was clear and there was decent flow yesterday.
I dove Little River today with my buddy Al. I arrived around 10am and observed an open water dive team in the spring head, a cave class gearing up, and a few locals along the spring run. There was a greenish-brown tinge to the water and the water level was ankle deep above the concrete sidewalk. I suited up and entered the water just after 11am, conducting getting comfortable and performing my drills. I proceeded in and observed the large tree at the entrance has shifted somewhat, but is not a hindrance to divers— most divers anyway ;) . I tied off my primary to the usual rebar and began running down towards the main line, dropping my O2 bottle slightly deeper than I normally would due to the threat of theft by local yocals.
I tied off to the main line and proceeded on in. The flow is reminiscent of the Little River of yesteryear, but completely manageable using proper technique. The visibility was 20-25 feet for the entire dive. Proceeding down the chimney I took the shortcut down to the bottom, relaxing and flushing my semidry with cold water. I proceeded up to the Mud Tunnel, laying my jump spool from the main line. Proceeding up the Mud Tunnel, the flow had not abated and so I resorted to pull-and-glide with some moderate swimming. I then jumped back to the main line, proceeding upstream.
At the Serpentine/ Main Line split, I proceeded toward the Main Line and then laid my jump spool to the Merry-go-round tunnel. The flow was more manageable here though the tunnel is smaller. At the end of the tunnel I jumped back onto the Main Line and proceeded upstream once more. At the next Serpentine/ Main Line split, I checked my gas supply and was good to continue on. With the extra exertion, I was feeling warm and so I paused and flushed my suit again with cold water. The flow in the Florida Room was manageable enough to swim to the end. At the end of the Florida Room, I checked my gas once more. I proceeded on until I reached the jump to the deep tunnel. I still had 200psi until 1/3's, but decided to turn the dive and drift out, staying on the Main Line and pulling my jump spools as I came on them.
Total dive time was 84 minutes including 10 minutes of deco on O2.
As I popped up to the surface, the swimming hole had become overrun and was a total madhouse. Rather than leaving Al and my O2 bottle at the bottom of the stairs, I decided to huff them up the stairs with me.
Thanks for posting this. I wish more people would post dive reports :clapper
Knabuecave, ready to go?
Any updates?
I was there on 6/8 and 6/9. Viz was 35 ft or so. Topside gets pretty crowded in the afternoon, so I'd show up early in the morning if you can. I had the park to myself the morning of 6/8.
any updates over past month. the low river conditions must make it better....
Yes, tease us with some top side pics of the hole!Quote:
Originally Posted by patpicos
Dove Little River this morning. Pulled in a few minutes after 8:00; locals already showing up to swim and party, more than I expected for a weekday morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by patpicos
Water is really low in the spring run. Not the lowest we've seen, but you're walking across uneven limestone to reach the water. Backmounters beware! Depth maybe 6 ft at the log.
Flow is moderately strong, glad for pull points. Used 1100 psi going in to hit my turn pressure, just under 500 psi riding the flow out including plenty stops to sightsee and my safety stop.
Viz wasn't bad, but not awesome; maybe 50 ft. I was the first and only diver in the cave, but some fine particulate flowed downstream toward me. Who knows the source.
From the top of the chimney to the exit, I saw more than a few broken off pieces of cave, most softball size or smaller, but several larger than basketball size. Hate to see that. Only upside of that kind of damage is that it exposes some fresh fossils. Still . . . :roll:
Good dive
- Sid
thanks for the update. with the water level so low...i would expect lower flow and better viz.
topside pictures from recent looked great. the water is LOW! cool to see. hope it improves by nov/dec
Any update on Little River and or pictures ?
Yes please. Inquiring minds want to know.Quote:
Originally Posted by knabuecave
I dove it this weekend, probably 40ish maybe 50ish vis and medium flow. The water is very low in the spring run.
This may change with the rains that are falling now.
Lafayette blue was 30ish feet, it's usually 6-10 so now is an awesome time to dive it. That will also probably change fast. I think there's about 15 sinks that feed into lafayette, so any little rain throws a lot of mud into the system.