Howard Park Sink

[SRQ]

I did a search for Howard Park Sink and basically came up with 4 year old information. The youtube video's I searched were about a year old but only seem to go down to the bottom of the sink and not into the cave itself.
Has anyone been there relatively recently and is the tunnel itself still open ? I had heard rumors it was filled in by the past hurricanes.

Thanks in advance

WB

[Walter Pickel]

I did a search for Howard Park Sink and basically came up with 4 year old information. The youtube video's I searched were about a year old but only seem to go down to the bottom of the sink and not into the cave itself.
Has anyone been there relatively recently and is the tunnel itself still open ? I had heard rumors it was filled in by the past hurricanes.

Thanks in advance

WB

Not what you are looking for but I do not know anyone that is diving it. I also thought that road was closed right now.

Here is the link to it on my site - Howard Park Sink. I have a map and a link to the YouTube video under the Resources tab.

[Tegg]

The best way to know about any sink is to go snorkel and check it out...

[Gibby]

The road is closed until 2010 leaving only boat access.
I was just in the sink 6 months ago. The remainder of the sink is a fissure the runs east to west and stays fairly murky being that its right in the middle muddy grass flat. On the walls their are a few sponges and coral life. Kinda neat but nothing that amazing.

The video you saw on youtube is a hole to the east side of the sink and leads to a very small room. There is no ongoing passage and has enough room for one diver to turn around and get back out.

This hole does flow and siphon with the tide and quite strongly at that. You will pull with your fingers to get in while its flowing and vis is shot on the siphon. The opening is just wide enough for one guy with a single 80 to squeeze in.

To the west is where the cave was supposed to be but sand has filled in and pinched off the entrance. You wont reach the old cave without a dredge.

Final note: Wear gloves and at least a rash guard. Bumps with rock in here leaves nasty scratches that fever and itch for days.

[SRQ]

Thanks Walt, Tegg and Gibby.
Walt, I always use your site first for research before going to a site I've never dove before. I find your resources invaluable. I hope to run into you at Berts someday and personally thank you for maintaning a website for everyone's use - that is one valuable research tool!
Tegg and Gibby - thanks for verifying what I didn't want to hear - LOL - Anyone out there willing to go halves with me on a dredge?

I just finished a 90 day diving sabatical following a PFO closure so I am itching to get back in the water ! The doctors cleared me yesterday and I have to say it has felt like enternity!

Thanks to all ! North Florida here I come !

WB

[Walter Pickel]

Walt, I always use your site first for research before going to a site I've never dove before. I find your resources invaluable. I hope to run into you at Berts someday and personally thank you for maintaning a website for everyone's use - that is one valuable research tool!

Thanks for the praise..It is a labor of love and I am happy people actually use it! If you ever think of anything you would like to see on the site (does anyone use the TOPOs?) just let me know....

[sskasser]

Thanks for the praise..It is a labor of love and I am happy people actually use it! If you ever think of anything you would like to see on the site (does anyone use the TOPOs?) just let me know....

Live web cams at all sites!

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Thanks for the praise..It is a labor of love and I am happy people actually use it! If you ever think of anything you would like to see on the site (does anyone use the TOPOs?) just let me know....

I've used the TOPOs on a few instances. Definately not something I use for the majority of the sites, but I have used the TOPOs before

[Shadowjack]

Thanks Walt, Tegg and Gibby.
Walt, I always use your site first for research before going to a site I've never dove before. I find your resources invaluable. I hope to run into you at Berts someday and personally thank you for maintaning a website for everyone's use - that is one valuable research tool!
Tegg and Gibby - thanks for verifying what I didn't want to hear - LOL - Anyone out there willing to go halves with me on a dredge?
WB

Work on getting the permit, I've got tools to open it up ( no, not explosives ).

Eric

[SRQ]

Permit ?? Heck all I have ever seen there were a couple of snook and a grouper. : )

Seriously, your best guess, how filled in or thick is it before you get to the cave ?

I was hoping a couple of OW divers tied together over the vent with poor finning techniques would blow it out in no time!

WB