Cave Conditions

[tflaris]

Who dove last weekend and where...

What were the conditions like. Thinking of diving this weekend.

Thanks

Tony Flaris

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Some of the Mill Pond stuff is fine to dive. JB is pumping, but has cleared up from the runoff seeping into the system already, according to some of my buddies diving there. I dove at Twin, it had a bit of intrusion and it was hazy in the cavern and subway tunnel, but the deep sections were clear. ShangriLa was milky. Didn't dive Hole, but I heard it was typical Hole in the Wall visibility. Gator Hole had 30' visibility.

[OneBrightGator]

Where were you thinking Tony?

At this point I think Manatee and Ginnie are gonna be the only options in cave country and those might not be fairing too well by the end of the week.

[DogDiver]

Call Ginnie before you leave. The Santa Fe is supposed to crest on Saturday

[WEPIV]

I called Manatee today Ben as I'm hoping to dive it this Friday and the ranger said that the head spring was already closed due to rising water. She thought that the pavilion and picnic table area near Catfish was going to be flooded soon.
She also said though to check back as the water will flood and then subside and they will open the head spring (and other areas) as they can.

[jeandiver]

This is kind of scary... (EEK)
(pulled off of the AHPS site...)

Flood Warning

WGUS42 KTAE 072044
FLWTAE
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
444 PM EDT TUE APR 07 2009

...DANGEROUS FLOOD FORECAST ON THE SUWANNEE...WITHLACOOCHEE AND ALAPAHA RIVERS
INCLUDING THE SANTA FE RIVER...

...THIS COMPARES WITH THE 1973 AND ALL TIME 1948 RECORD FLOODS...

...THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN FLORIDA...

ALAPAHA RIVER FROM NEAR JENNINGS TO THE SUWANNEE RIVER AFFECTING HAMILTON COUNTY
WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER AT PINETTA AFFECTING...MADISON AND HAMILTON COUNTIES
SUWANNEE RIVER AT ELLAVILLE AFFECTING HAMILTON...MADISON AND SUWANNEE COUNTIES
SUWANNEE RIVER NEAR DOWLING PARK AFFECTING LAFAYETTE...MADISON AND SUWANNEE
COUNTIES
SUWANNEE RIVER AT BRANFORD AFFECTING LAFAYETTE AND SUWANNEE COUNTIES
SANTA FE RIVER NEAR HOLLINGSWORTH BLUFF...THREE RIVERS ESTATES AND FORT WHITE.
SUWANNEE RIVER REACHES INCLUDING ROCK BLUFF...LURAVILLE AND OLD TOWN
SUWANNEE RIVER NEAR WILCOX AFFECTING DIXIE AND LEVY COUNTIES
SUWANNEE RIVER NEAR MANATEE SPRINGS AFFECTING DIXIE AND LEVY COUNTIES
SUWANNEE RIVER AT FOWLERS BLUFF AFFECTING DIXIE AND LEVY COUNTIES

...SEE LATEST FLOOD WARNINGS FROM THE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE IN JACKSONVILLE FOR
ALAPHA RIVER AND SANTA FE RIVER REACHES...AND THE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE IN
RUSKIN FOR LEVY COUNTY CREEKS AND STREAMS AFFECTED BY THE LOWER SUWANNEE.

...MASSIVE FLOOD MOVING DOWN RIVER FROM GEORGIA ON THE ALAPAHA AND WITHLACOOCHEE
RIVERS INTO THE SUWANNEE RIVER NEAR ELLAVILLE. RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL IN GEORGIA
HAS ALREADY GENERATED RECORD FLOODS AT PINETTA FLORIDA ON THE WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER
AND AT STATENVILLE GEORGIA ON THE ALAPAHA RIVER.

...THIS IS A HISTORIC FLOOD. ALL INTERESTS ON THESE RIVERS SHOULD BEGIN
TAKING ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. AT THESE LEVELS...THESE RIVERS
MAY UNEXPECTEDLY TAKE ROUTES OVERLAND CUTTING OFF ROADS AND COULD GENERATE LIFE
THREATENING FLOODING WITH LITTLE NOTICE.

...MAJOR INTERSTATE ROUTES SUCH AS I-10...US 90 AND MANY COUNTY AND STATE
ROADS COULD BE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE CLOSURE IN THE COMING WEEK DUE TO
RISING WATERS.

...MOTORISTS PLANNING TRAVEL THROUGH THE SUWANNEE VALLEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO DIAL 511
OR VISIT WWW.FL511.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION REGARDING ROAD CLOSURES AND DETOURS.

SAFETY MESSAGE...ALL PERSONS WITH INTEREST ALONG THE RIVER SHOULD MONITOR THE
LATEST FORECASTS...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY. DO NOT DRIVE CARS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. IF YOU SEE FLOOD
WATERS...REMEMBER TO TURN AROUND AND DO NOT DROWN.

[cwick]

[tflaris]

Where were you thinking Tony?

At this point I think Manatee and Ginnie are gonna be the only options in cave country and those might not be fairing too well by the end of the week.

I have heard the reports but not being familiar with the flood levels, rate of rise, etc I thought I would pose the question. Anything near Tallahasse diveable? It is closed than Jackson Blue.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Maybe Cherokee Sink? LOL

The Wakulla County Dive Club has access to a few sites, atleast one of them is supposedly fairly decent right now. You would need to sign up for the club to get access though.

[UCFKnightDiver]

Lol I think they closed Cherokee