Royal spring

[stairman]

After a primary light failure at Peacock yesterday, my buddy mentioned Royal since he hadnt ever dove it so we went. The basin was crystal clear with only 2 lovebirds in the water. I still had my backups so off we went. There is a platform on the bottom now for OW classes and I swam into the cavern running the backwall to the cave entrance. Technique doesnt seem to matter here because the fine talc powderlike silt was getting thick and I was way off the bottom. Found the sign at the entrance to the cave and hung there a while peeking in and seeing the fine silt everywhere. Probably would be pretty going in but definetely blind coming out. I once heard theres only 2 reasons to enter this cave, to commit suicide or to retreve a body. I would probably do it[maybe Im crazy] but know its a siltstorm trip out. The cavern has alot of character with big boulders protruding from the ceiling. Chased some turtles and got on out. Having bad luck with lights lately.

[LiteHedded]

backmountable? does it go anywhere or just pinch off?

[JahJahwarrior]

I'm told it doesn't go far before it gets real tight, less than 300', I believe.

The platform has been in there for atleast 2 years, or a platform has been in there, and I don't see anyone putting a new one in, so I'm assuming it's the same platform.

Used to be a nice ropeswing on that real tall tree on the bank opposite the cave opening, and when it doesn't connect to the river, the top 10 feet of water would warm up to a nice swimming temp. But, then the basin had a decidedly green tint.

[jj1987]

backmountable? does it go anywhere or just pinch off?

*Warning* 2nd hand knowledge - I heard it goes about 600ft and splits a few times if you're in SM.

Now, as for what I saw 1st hand back mount...we dove there earlier this year, you're lucky to get beyond 300ft...you can fit, but without a truly redundant source of air, and not being able to see your buddy 6in away, the risk/reward ratio got too high for either of us and we thumbed it. There's 2 and sometimes 3 lines in the system, so be careful if you do go.

The cave looks a lot like LR, at least with how orange the walls are, and there's the fine black silt on the floor similar to what you'll see if you look off in the cracks at little river. The cave has several "scars", so it's not like no one ever dives there. I doubt I'll go back again.

[WEPIV]

The bottom line here I feel is that there are much better (and safer) caves to dive elsewhere. You can go in there for a quick look but if you go in for any distance at all (around the first bend) the passageway narrows and when you turn it is almost a given that you will have a complete silt-out and thus will have to do a zero vis/on-the-line exit until things clear up.
I went back in there once and after I came out I said that I would not go back in again.