Buford Spring 08/29/2010

[ScubaRob]

I didn't actually dive it, but I did take a look around. This was a recon trip to see how feasible it would be to dive.

Took a motorcycle ride. Parked about 0.33 mile from the coordinates. All but the last 375 feet of hiking were easy. The last 375 feet were swamp and involved hiking in knee deep water and mud. I found a gold line running through the trees in the swamp. It seemed to make sense to follow it. This took me to within 100' of the spring. A tree has fallen across the line in case the line committe is interested.

I am pretty sure I found the spring. While standing on shore it was only 33' from the coordinates found on TampaDiving.com. There was some kind of feeder at the waters edge, and a rope tied to a tree near shore. This rope looks like it is used help when entering and exiting the water.

Although I brought shorts and a mask I did not enter the water. The pool was approximately 100' X 50' in size. There was not visible signs of a spring. The water was very dark, and there was no signs of a boil on the surface.

I am assuming the water is normally clear here, but with all the rain we've had lately this site is probably flooded.

Is the water near the spring normally clear? Does it sound like I found the site? Was anything in the report useful?

[loquat149]

Yes, you found it. I've been there a few times and have never noticed a boil, though the water can be very clear. It's not uncommon to find knee deep mud there, but knee deep water suggests you might wait until things dry up a bit (or a lot) before returning with gear.

Dave

[ScubaRob]

Yes, you found it. I've been there a few times and have never noticed a boil, though the water can be very clear. It's not uncommon to find knee deep mud there, but knee deep water suggests you might wait until things dry up a bit (or a lot) before returning with gear.

Dave

The swamp part was mostly water. You had to be careful where you you stepped. A couple of times I started sinking in the muddy bottom. Stepping near the roots is the ticket to getting though this section. Are you saying the swampy part is usually dry?

The water in the pool was very dark. Viz in the pool looked like it was only a couple of feet.

[loquat149]

Conditions vary with the wet/dry season and the amount of recent rain. During the dry season it's possible to hike from the end of the tram road to the spring without wading through water, though you still want to test the ground with a stick and/or keep to the roots as there's usually knee deep mud here and there. If you saw the bird house thing and rope I'm sure you were there.

Dave

[TommyB]

if it looked like this, then you found the Buford