Jackson Blue without a scooter!

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12-21-2008 06:31 PM
Phil

Jackson Blue without a scooter!

Hi everyone,
I was looking at the dive report. There was a quote on december 12 saying ''Flow is up, a 50 fpm difference between scootering upstream and downstream''. What that means in term of diving this site without a scooter.

Last march the flow was down, everything else was flooded. We went there and made 1600' on doubles + 80cuf stage...

So can someone compare for me the current conditiond with the condition we had last march?

We want to know if a trip in that region is good for us in about 5 days.

Phil
12-21-2008 06:53 PM
Sludge

I was there yesterday, and didn't bring a scooter. The flow is definitely up from a month ago, but not blistering.

I would say go for it. FWIW, I got to 800' on just under a third of a stage 80. (It was my buddy's first dive in over five years and he turned the dive at twenty minutes.)
12-21-2008 07:09 PM
RN

Have you checked out the side passages in JB? Lots of stuff there out of the flow. There's also Twin with low flow and good conditions. Are you backmount or sidemount?
12-21-2008 07:14 PM
deepdiverbob

is a boat needed for JB?
12-21-2008 07:15 PM
FW

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

Hi everyone,
I was looking at the dive report. There was a quote on december 12 saying ''Flow is up, a 50 fpm difference between scootering upstream and downstream''. What that means in term of diving this site without a scooter.

Scooters run about 4X faster than swimmers, so the difference would be 50/4, or about 12 fpm difference.
12-21-2008 07:36 PM
Phil

Quote:

Originally Posted by RN

Have you checked out the side passages in JB? Lots of stuff there out of the flow. There's also Twin with low flow and good conditions. Are you backmount or sidemount?

We are backmount, so no Gator hole or the other sidemount stuf in that region. We did Hole in the wall last march but never tried Twin.

Phil
12-21-2008 07:41 PM
Phil

Does someone know the hours and days of operation of Cave adventurers during the holydays?

Also, can we get on JB site by land during holliday time? (by checking in at the Sherif office)

Phil
12-21-2008 08:08 PM
Sludge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

Also, can we get on JB site by land during holiday time?

JB is now 24/7/365.
12-21-2008 08:19 PM
rotor60driver

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepdiverbob

is a boat needed for JB?

No a boat is not needed although some folks prefer to do it from a boat. It can be a little cheaper that way if you are just doing a day of diving and have 4 folks or so(on one of Edd's boats). A day pass is $25 I believe and then $10 for each day on top of that. This may have changed some though. Annual pass is $150, 24hr/365days a year.

Even if the flow is up some there is plenty of side tunnel to enjoy within the first 1000ft.

Good diving
12-22-2008 06:46 AM
deanme

viz?

I heard the viz was about 40 - 50 feet at Jackson Blue. Is this still the case, or has it cleared up?
12-22-2008 07:35 AM
deepdiverbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanme

I heard the viz was about 40 - 50 feet at Jackson Blue. Is this still the case, or has it cleared up?

someone is Florida spoiled...lol We get 40 foot vis in our caves, and its a party.
12-22-2008 07:47 AM
skip

own boat?

Is JB accessible by private boat, say from a public boat launch somewhere nearby (and where)? Is check-in still required?

-skip
12-22-2008 07:56 AM
FW

Quote:

Originally Posted by skip

Is JB accessible by private boat, say from a public boat launch somewhere nearby (and where)? Is check-in still required?

-skip

Yes, as long as you don't get on the land.
12-22-2008 08:04 AM
ggoodman

Take right turn just before Edd's road there is a tiny brown boat ramp sign follow the road around boat ramp will be on your left. from there it's maybe a mile run to JB.
12-22-2008 08:05 AM
RN

Cave Adventurers is open 8am to 6pm 365 days a year. JB is accessible all the time with sign in at sheriff's office. The gate is code controlled now rather than key controlled. There is a boat ramp off of Hunter Fish Camp Rd (off of Blue Spring Rd). It takes me about 17 minutes to get to JB in my jon boat with a 5hp motor. There is a closer boat ramp where you can see the Twin dock from, but you can't launch a trailered boat from there, canoe or inflatable only. Sign in not required with boat access. Check out Twin, and not just the mainline. There's a lot to be seen in there if you go off the mainline. Although 40-50' isn't great for JB, it's still not bad, especially for the first 1500'.
12-22-2008 08:15 AM
FW

I see a ramp nearer to JB, on Day Loop Rd. Trouble is, I don't know if it is public.
It might be the one RN mentioned.
12-22-2008 08:15 AM
deanme

creative ways to enter JB

I prefer to be dropped by a helicopter. Reduces the swim to the cave opening, and saves time registering at the sheriff’s office. The giant stride can be a challenge from 60 feet.
12-22-2008 08:58 AM
SuPrBuGmAn

Quote:

Originally Posted by FW

I see a ramp nearer to JB, on Day Loop Rd. Trouble is, I don't know if it is public.
It might be the one RN mentioned.

Thats the dirt ramp that RN spoke of, not a very good launch if you're using a trailered boat. Perfect if you can pick the john boat up and carry it into the water. Perfect for kayaks, canoes, and inflatable dive yachts too! :D
12-22-2008 12:18 PM
skip

Thanks!

Thanks everyone! Good quick answer to my boat question. I have a 9-foot Avon, one of the older ones with plywood inserts floor, 8hp outboard, 6gal tank. Just about right for two of us with doubles (but not with scooters). We've used it on the suwannee and santa fe rivers so I'm guessing it will get us to JB too, although it does seem considerably easier to stop by the Sheriff's office....

-skip
12-22-2008 01:05 PM
FW

Quote:

Originally Posted by skip

Thanks everyone! Good quick answer to my boat question. I have a 9-foot Avon, one of the older ones with plywood inserts floor, 8hp outboard, 6gal tank. Just about right for two of us with doubles (but not with scooters). We've used it on the suwannee and santa fe rivers so I'm guessing it will get us to JB too, although it does seem considerably easier to stop by the Sheriff's office....

-skip

Easier maybe, cheaper maybe not. The biggest advantage is access to Twin, and Hole in the Wall
12-22-2008 01:14 PM
SuPrBuGmAn

Dirt ramp on Day Loop will work fine for you, I drop my 10' Zodiac w/9.8hp in there somewhat regularly.

If you're sticking to JB, I'd go by land. If you want to dive elsewhere during the same trip, use the boat and launch from Day Loop. You can boat over to Edds, tie off to his pier, and get the 4-wheeler back down to the pier to load up your tanks to top-off ontop of the hill.
12-23-2008 01:13 AM
RN

Quote:

Originally Posted by FW

I see a ramp nearer to JB, on Day Loop Rd. Trouble is, I don't know if it is public.
It might be the one RN mentioned.

Day Loop is public, it's just not really a ramp, more just access to the water, muddy access.

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