What the big deal?

[chilldive]

I've been doing a little reading on Eagles Nest, as I would like to dive it on my next trip. I keep reading how this is the "Mount Everest of cave diving". Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world and although it's not the hardest mountain to climb, that's usually what people imply when they make a statement like that. Eagles Nest is a cave to be respected like any other cave, plus it's deep. But it's not THAT deep. It may be the deepest public cave in Florida (I don't really know). But it's surely not the deepest or hardest cave to dive in the world - maybe in Florida?

So what's the big deal with it. Plan your dive, be properly trained and had adequate experience before doing it. The dive your plan like you would any other cave.

Educate me please.

[FW]

It isn't a lot different than Canonball. One reason people say that, is because it is deeper than most other FL caves, and a lot of FL divers aren't Trimix trained.

If you are full cave, and Trimix, then you won't have a problem with Eagles nest, but having some that has dived it before, on the first dive would be very useful.

[chilldive]

It isn't a lot different than Canonball. One reason people say that, is because it is deeper than most other FL caves, and a lot of FL divers aren't Trimix trained.

If you are full cave, and Trimix, then you won't have a problem with Eagles nest, but having some that has dived it before, on the first dive would be very useful.

Did I see somewhere that you were up this way and planning to dive Roubidoux? If so, how was it for you?

[FW]

Did I see somewhere that you were up this way and planning to dive Roubidoux? If so, how was it for you?

Roubidoux was great! We only got a little over 1000', but a nice cave nevertheless. Y'all did a nice job with the line, and the habatat looks good too.

When are you getting to FL? Maybe I could go with you to the Nest.

[WEPIV]

Diving the Nest no deeper than 190ffw is fine and it means that you will just be staying in the ballroom area and not into the upstream or downstream sections of the cave. If you want to stay under 190 though watch your gauge closely as when you are following the line and approaching the cave passageways you will start to go to around 195 plus.
This is a nice, fun dive just by itself.

[chilldive]

Diving the Nest no deeper than 190ffw is fine and it means that you will just be staying in the ballroom area and not into the upstream or downstream sections of the cave. If you want to stay under 190 though watch your gauge closely as when you are following the line and approaching the cave passageways you will start to go to around 195 plus.
This is a nice, fun dive just by itself.

Thanks. That sounds like a good first dive to just get a little familiar with the system (you can always get more gas and come back for more). Heck just learning the way in and out of some of these is half the battle. I like the approach of gradual penetration and building a knowledge of the system. We only get down that way once or twice a year, so it takes a while to learn a new cave.

[chilldive]

Roubidoux was great! We only got a little over 1000', but a nice cave nevertheless. Y'all did a nice job with the line, and the habatat looks good too.

When are you getting to FL? Maybe I could go with you to the Nest.

We'll be headed down on Nov 11. Hope to hit the Oriskany on the 12th, then dive all over NFL for the following week. If we dive the O, we probably won't dive the Nest. The Nest is just a backup plan in case we don't dive the O and want to use up our trimix. Heck if we haul it down, we might as well use it.

I'll keep you posted as well as the couple of folks that have PM'd me. Maybe we can put something together.

Thanks to all for your offers.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Hype!

[Marc Bryan]

Makes a video or story sound more interesting/exciting/adventurous to some.

[curtschu]

Most of those statements are based on the bad lod days when you needed 4x4 to get to it and floks were diving air. Now that training and trimix is fairly available you are right plan your dive. pay respect have fun.