Springs Website

[HoosierDaddy]

I am going to be putting a website together about springs in the state of Florida. If you have any information on particular springs youd want to add or any photos youd like to be on it I'd appreciate it.

It will be an informative website.

If you have any photos send them to me. Credit will be given.

[RN]

What kind of information? Have you done a search? There are dozens of websites about Florida springs already. Make sure you're not reinventing the wheel.

[HoosierDaddy]

I really want to be as detailed as possible with it. One thing I know I won't get praise for is detailed directions, that may cause a problem. I already have the domain bought and website made, I just want to add atleast 5springs before opening it. Most sites I've come across are very amateurish and all the information is conjumbled together. Each and every springs page would have a Diving risk notice on it as well as a conservative message. But so far I am thinking along the lines:

- Photos
- HD Video (provided by myself)
- Detailed Directions
- Wildlife Encounters
- Land Locked or Kayak/Canoe accessible: n/a
- Diving permitted: yes/no
- Snorkeling permitted: yes/no
- Swimming: yes/no
- Visibility Information
- History/Information

[jj1987]

I really want to be as detailed as possible with it. One thing I know I won't get praise for is detailed directions, that may cause a problem. I already have the domain bought and website made, I just want to add atleast 5springs before opening it. Most sites I've come across are very amateurish and all the information is conjumbled together. Each and every springs page would have a Diving risk notice on it as well as a conservative message. But so far I am thinking along the lines:

- Photos
- HD Video (provided by myself)
- Detailed Directions
- Wildlife Encounters
- Land Locked or Kayak/Canoe accessible: n/a
- Diving permitted: yes/no
- Snorkeling permitted: yes/no
- Swimming: yes/no
- Visibility Information
- History/Information

I was just noticing there were a few caves that weren't beat to piss and thinking, "Man I wish we could make it easier to find them!"...

[cavediver256]

I was just noticing there were a few caves that weren't beat to piss and thinking, "Man I wish we could make it easier to find them!"...

Good point James !!!!

[Half-Fast]

Have you tried http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/g...bulletin66.htm
or http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/g...cs/springs.htm ?

[cavediver256]

Or http://www.tampadiving.com/sections/...ve_systems.asp

[HoosierDaddy]

I myself even think giving detailed directions is a bad idea. I may just stick with giving detailed directions on springs that are state operated and not any that are more well-known to you divers.

Now the problem with the websites you showed me, is the information is like I said... all conjumbled together. One county I hovered over had only one spring with information available which is a state attraction. Also these websites are not easily found at all. If you go on Google and type in "Florida Springs" you don't get websites such as these. You get stuff like this:

http://www.floridasprings.org/

http://underwaterflorida.homestead.com/springs.html

http://www.floridasprings.info/

In my opinion, the above is not that helpful. The second one is pretty sizeable but it lacks information. People are going to search the term Florida Springs, not many will do things like "Florida Cave Diving" or things of that nature. I'm not trying to really persuade people to go to them, but more so try to give them information on them. The way I see it is maybe a kid is doing a school project on the aquifer and needs to get information on different springs? Usually in a school project they want to know what type of wildlife are around it, where the spring connects, etc. I'm not trying to attract tourism to these spots. Like I said, we have state-operated springs for the northerners.. I mean tourists. lol

[RN]

I really want to be as detailed as possible with it. One thing I know I won't get praise for is detailed directions, that may cause a problem. I already have the domain bought and website made, I just want to add atleast 5springs before opening it. Most sites I've come across are very amateurish and all the information is conjumbled together. Each and every springs page would have a Diving risk notice on it as well as a conservative message. But so far I am thinking along the lines:

- Photos
- HD Video (provided by myself)
- Detailed Directions
- Wildlife Encounters
- Land Locked or Kayak/Canoe accessible: n/a
- Diving permitted: yes/no
- Snorkeling permitted: yes/no
- Swimming: yes/no
- Visibility Information
- History/Information

How often do you plan on updating it and how do you plan on keeping up with changes? Diving permitted through Visibility information on your list are not constants for many springs. Land ownership changes. Rainfall affects visibility. Etc.

I'm not trying to really persuade people to go to them, but more so try to give them information on them. The way I see it is maybe a kid is doing a school project on the aquifer and needs to get information on different springs? Usually in a school project they want to know what type of wildlife are around it, where the spring connects, etc. I'm not trying to attract tourism to these spots.

So what does diving, snorkeling, swimming, visibility, etc., have to do with this?


Finally, you state you want at least 5 springs before opening the website. If you don't have information on even 5 springs, then how are you going to build and maintain a website that is supposed to be an informative site for others? I've only lived in Florida a little over 3 years and I can think of at least 2 dozen springs that I have all the information you listed and more.

[HoosierDaddy]

^The website hasn't even be released yet, thats why I gave the list of what I was thinking to put on it. Nothing was set in stone on what to be on the website and I was hoping to get some feedback instead of questions on it. If you dislike something then tell me it so I can try and find an alternative idea. Also why not list Diving/Snorkeling/Swimming? Who says I would put the same info up for each and every spring. If I have a state operated spring on there I think it would be smart to list those three as well as the fee to do so.

I figured some may want to contribute photos if they have DSLR cameras or videos of diving into the cave which I will not be getting. If not thats fine, the website will be going up either way and I will slowly get photos and other information as I can go to the springs.