volusia blue

Went there on may-25 after 2yrs since i 've been there last time. Viz 30-40ft worsening at Cork Rock restriction. Depth at restriction 125ft, temp 75F. Debris is filling up the restriction and gravel/sand slope is sliding in to be picked up and thrown back. Currents pattern changed and I would expect restriction layouts will have more changes in a near future. Green stuff is all over the rock down there, catfish and placos are gone. Only few fish in a spring run. Water in the run is hasy not to mention it is very shallow now. This spring used to be crystal clear and full of fish, not anymore. Volusia is lawfully in a name of housing development businesses is killing first magnitude spring and amazing unexplored yet challenging cave within it. The CR restriction is a still high flow because now it is twice smaller in size so don't expect it will ever let easy to see the cave below.

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Originally Posted by ARY

Went there on may-25 after 2yrs since i 've been there last time. Viz 30-40ft worsening at Cork Rock restriction. Depth at restriction 125ft, temp 75F. Debris is filling up the restriction and gravel/sand slope is sliding in to be picked up and thrown back. Currents pattern changed and I would expect restriction layouts will have more changes in a near future. Green stuff is all over the rock down there, catfish and placos are gone. Only few fish in a spring run. Water in the run is hasy not to mention it is very shallow now. This spring used to be crystal clear and full of fish, not anymore. Volusia is lawfully in a name of housing development businesses is killing first magnitude spring and amazing unexplored yet challenging cave within it. The CR restriction is a still high flow because now it is twice smaller in size so don't expect it will ever let easy to see the cave below.

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Is there actually anything below that restriction? I was under the impression that once through it was a nonpassable passage, but since the flow was so high, I never bothered to look, (not that I could get past that flow if I wanted to)

Thanks

We're talking about Blue Spring near Lake Mary, right? I love that place. Never been much past the sign, but I can't wait to head back soon. I've heard stories of the fire hose that is that restriction. I was under the impression there was not much beyond it.

That system has a lot of bad information out there about it. I've heard people say the whole thing is only a cavern.....I've dove it several times at various times of the day and NEVER been able to get to the end before turning the dive because I ran out of light. I'm starting to think divers are saying they went all the way when they really didn't.

Where is the restriction? Looking at the cavern map, I've almost been to the end of what's mapped (max depth 95ft hovering off the bottom). I cant imagine the flow in that thing coming out of a restriction, it's really strong already in the cavern opening.

I'm told the 'restriction' is at the bottom, and is a hole covered across by another rock the splits the flow in two. I'm assuming that's what he is talking about.

I am sure the condition of the spring has nothing to do with Volusia county adding more wells and recently turning them on for service.

The day they were turned on Blue Spring changed. It has never been the same since. The St. John's Water Management District has destroyed yet another spring, this one being the largest as a first magnitude spring. They should be proud.

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Originally Posted by Scubastud16

I'm told the 'restriction' is at the bottom, and is a hole covered across by another rock the splits the flow in two. I'm assuming that's what he is talking about.

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Yes,

I was referring to the "fire hose nozzle" that is on the bottom.

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Originally Posted by jj1987

Where is the restriction?...

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I'm talking about Blue in Orange City. I know the person who have been below and returned alive :-)

Joe, after my dive i went to check 3 depressions in woods nearby but they didn't have limestone exposure just a swampy ground w/little water in it. Tons of ticks and fleas. So upstream alternate entry is unknown if exist.

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Originally Posted by ARY

I'm talking about Blue in Orange City. I know the person who have been below and returned alive :-)

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Yeah, that's the one I was talking about as well. All I saw near the end was sand boils and a little silt.

The water is green, there's crap in it, and fish are near non existent. I would have loved to see this place in it's hay day, because the rock formations are some of the neatest I've ever seen.

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Originally Posted by jj1987

Yeah, that's the one I was talking about as well. All I saw near the end was sand boils and a little silt.

The water is green, there's crap in it, and fish are near non existent. I would have loved to see this place in it's hay day, because the rock formations are some of the neatest I've ever seen.

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I shot some footage there in 2005 or 2006. I'll see if I can upload some of it. It's really a neet cavern, with the stepped ledges.

Safe Diving

BLUE Spring Working Group !

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEETING INVITATION
BLUE Spring Working Group

Wednesday June 18, 2008 10:30-3:30 with lunch break

At Volusia County's Kelly Administration Center

In Downtown DeLand

Join businesses, organizations, governments, and citizens who are interested in Blue Spring to learn about the contributing springshed and the declining health of the spring, and to work together on solutions that better protect Blue Spring.


*** Special guest speaker on exploration and new discoveries in the caves of Blue Spring. ***

An agenda and directions will be sent one week prior to the meeting.

For more information please contact Working Group Coordinator Carol
Lippincott at (352) 377-8693 or <mailto:Carol_Lippincott@cox.net>
Carol_Lippincott@cox.net.
__________________
Tom Johnson / tj
Dayo Scuba
Orlando, Florida

Here is a chance to voice your concerns about the quality of management of this Spring.

Here is a photo I took in 2004 that won a State Park photo contest. I have not been back in a few years but would like to. You'll know when you hit the bottom of the spring as the water pressure will push you up into the ceiling if you are not careful.

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Originally Posted by WEPIV

Here is a photo I took in 2004 that won a State Park photo contest. I have not been back in a few years but would like to. You'll know when you hit the bottom of the spring as the water pressure will push you up into the ceiling if you are not careful.

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I live within 30 minutes of that system. If you ever want to dive it, PM me. I work tues/thur.....heck if you want to dive it this wend or fri, my canister light is charged and I have 2 LP108's already filled with 32%!

JJ If hes that good a picture taker maybe he can make you a new avatar.

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Originally Posted by Mike Edmonston

I shot some footage there in 2005 or 2006. I'll see if I can upload some of it. It's really a neet cavern, with the stepped ledges.

Safe Diving

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it used to be really beautiful
I can't imagine squeezing through that fire hoze at the bottom though

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Originally Posted by jj1987

I live within 30 minutes of that system. If you ever want to dive it, PM me. I work tues/thur.....heck if you want to dive it this wend or fri, my canister light is charged and I have 2 LP108's already filled with 32%!

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I'm still up in the northeast where I had to go for a job but I'm coming back to Florida this weekend by way of NC for a dive on U-352. I would like to go back to Blue Springs--Orange City and might do it later in June. I'll let you know, and as for the new avatar comment, we could work on that....

We're diving this system this weekend. PM me if you'd like to tag along.

Dove that system today. Even at 90ft (30ft off the floor) I was nearly pinned to the ceiling from the flow. That's with 2 LP112's pumped up (3000 at that point) and NO AIR in my wing at all.... it's like devils ear or manatee on steroids.

I think someone experienced could make it in that restriction if they cut the log away personally, if not required, it would make things a LOT easier.

I thought I saw doubles in someones truck!! I dove with a single 80 and my Nomad and the walk was a bit hot. It was nice to see the water quality much much better than the last time.

Curt

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Originally Posted by curtschu

I thought I saw doubles in someones truck!! I dove with a single 80 and my Nomad and the walk was a bit hot. It was nice to see the water quality much much better than the last time.

Curt

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were you the other one in the drysuit? Scubafool and I were the two suffering with doubles for that walk! Come by and say hi next time...I don't bite!

Dove Wet today. I have the Black Honda Element with the Cave Diving Stickers on the back window.

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Originally Posted by curtschu

I thought I saw doubles in someones truck!! I dove with a single 80 and my Nomad and the walk was a bit hot. It was nice to see the water quality much much better than the last time.

Curt

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Meaning?

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Originally Posted by Tegg

Meaning?

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Viz is up, and noticeably less crap in the water since the winter time. Flow has been higher, but it's kickin...first time I've ever done the entire system, before it would become a cave before the end, today you could see light the whole way.

Basically what JJ said. since I don't dive there often so I really noticed the last time the water was very murky. This time it was nice and clear with a green tint. There is still the orange growth on the walls and when that it disturbed it goes flying. I also noticed the run was very clear in the morning. The thing that I hate is when the swimmers bounce along the bottom floating down from the stairs and stir up all the Manitee Poop. I usaully get sick after diving there is the afternoon so I try to be in line at 8:00 am