Madison Blue 8-2-09

[tecterri]

Today finds Tim (netmage) and I at Madison Blue. This is another system that I have not dived before. The basin is incredibly blue, duh. While discussing the dive plan Tim informs me of the #1 hazard, having a 10 year old jump from the platform at 15 feet above the basin and possibly landing on me. I will have to be careful on ascent from our safety stop. Just then we see Rich Blackburn run like a giddy schoolgirl over in his full wetsuit pull off a spectacular belly flop. We enter the cave through the main entrance. There is another entrance that bypasses a lot of the distance of the cavern area along the main line called the Rabbit Hole. This is a flow system so the push through the Rabbit Hole is some work. We are saving that for next time. Tim is running the reel again as this is a new system for me, and we travel along the mainline. In almost no time, we make it to the Half Hitch restriction. Tim signals me to turn, not thumb, and just turn. I have a ton of gas left but I follow his signal. We get to the Banana Room jump and tie in a spool, we get into the tunnel maybe 10 feet and Tim signals turn again, he didn’t like what he was seeing. So we go back and pull up the spool and do a nice slow exit. We get back to our reel and Tim asks how much gas I have. A TON!! (2000psi) So I recalculate, and this time I lead in back into the system, back to the Half Hitch restriction. I turned the dive when my computer started inching down the NDL and we head back to the entrance. We stop at the Godzilla Room jump and tie in a spool, we follow that through the Banana Room as its gets nice and low and dusty. Again, Tim doesn’t like how it looks through the tight area leading to the Monkey Room. Tim takes a look at the tunnel and signals turn. The flow pushes us out, and we come back to the cavern area and I get to explore. This system has a very wide and interesting cavern zone. We tied a spool in and explored a bit over around the Rabbit Hole entrance. Very cool, can’t wait to do that next time. We exit and spend lots of time hanging out at the platform at 20 feet that divers use for open water training. We ascend to the ooohhhs and ahhhhs of lots of kids wondering where we came from and “did you go into that hole???” Another GREAT day of cave diving!! Vis 60+, Mix 33%, Temp 69 degrees, Max Depth 73 feet, Bottom Time 111 minutes.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Enjoyed the report, thanks

[Serota]

1) In general it is easier to go in the Rabbit Hole than the main entrance in terms of flow to deal with.

2) Are you sure you went to the Half Hitch twice and part way to the Godzilla Room all without violating gas management rules? If I recall correctly, the HH is 1800' from the main entrance against substantial flow, so you either have a really good Sac rate, didn't really get to the HH or some other explanation.

I'm just curious, not critical.

[Sludge]

1. Yes.

2. You're mistaken. It's been over five years since I've been there, but IIRC, Half Hitch is less than p900'.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Yeah... Half Hitch isn't all that far, and the cave isn't all that deep.

[Sludge]

I was looking at this page:

http://www.floridacaves.com/madison.htm

Is this info still accurate? $20 to dive? I was thinking the canoe place running it didn't work out.

[EEL]

I was looking at this page:

http://www.floridacaves.com/madison.htm

Is this info still accurate? $20 to dive? I was thinking the canoe place running it didn't work out.

Russel,

This link is has more recent info......http://www.floridastateparks.org/Madison/default.cfm

Mark

[netmage]

I was looking at this page:

http://www.floridacaves.com/madison.htm

Is this info still accurate? $20 to dive? I was thinking the canoe place running it didn't work out.

No the info on the florida caves site is incorrect,... state passes are honored....

"Park Fees
Admission Fee:
$5.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
$15.00 per person, diving fee (includes entrance fee). Cavern and cave diving only, no open water diving. All cavern divers must be accompanied by a certified cave diver or instructor. All divers must show proof of certification prior to diving. Solo diving is not permitted."

http://www.floridastateparks.org/madison/default.cfm

[FW]

No... state passes honored....

That is strange, they have always taken my park pass (well, they call it a permit).

[netmage]

That is strange, they have always taken my park pass (well, they call it a permit).

Edited my post to clarify grammar....