It's official!!!

[Line Squirrel]

I got the word from our park manager today, Madison Blue Spring State Park will open this Thursday (May 26th) at 10:00am.

Dive teams (NO O/W diving) will be limited to 4 teams in the system at any given time and you MUST check in at the ranger station (like Manatee) so bring your C-cards, you need to leave them at the ranger station. If for some reason there is no ranger at the station, put them on your dash like Peacock but we are supposed to have at least one ranger in or near the shack at all times.

For hours, phone numbers and furthur info: http://www.floridastateparks.org/madison/default.cfm

[Cindy]

Yahoo! Thanks to you, the DEP and Ed Higgins the new manager! He is very pro cave diving. I hope we can keep you both that way. This is a good day for Madison Springs and cave diving. Thanks Mike, Cindy Butler

Thanks for the update! Do you need help getting the park ready?

[Line Squirrel]

Thanks for the update! Do you need help getting the park ready?

We're good Chip, me and another guy along with the guys and gals at Suwannee River have been working our tails off for over two weeks getting Madison ready to open, couple more days and it's show time

Ask me after next flood season

[jpdiver]

Will there be a fee for diving?

also- any knowledge on the dive conditions yet?

[divers4life]

Awesome news! Can't wait to come visit the park!

From the website:
"All State Park Passes will be honored. "
Really?

Great job to all involved, we can't wait to get in the water!

[Line Squirrel]

Will there be a fee for diving?

I have been told by or Park Manager that the annual pass will be honored but an additional $5 will be needed for diving.
I questioned him about this and he will be looking into it, for now plan on your pass + $5, like I say, this may change.

[oms121]

Does anyone know if there is a "valid" reason the state is limiting cave diving to 4 teams at a time in systems like Madison and Manatee? Neither are particularly small or delicate and divers have been managing to stay out of each others way or coordinate with each other without government involvement.

Mark

[Line Squirrel]

Awesome news! Can't wait to come visit the park!

From the website:
"All State Park Passes will be honored. "
Really?

Great job to all involved, we can't wait to get in the water!

Thank You

I discussed the park pass thing with our park manager at length, here is how I (and my ranger partner) were directed:

If you have a "recreational" (individual or family) annual pass the diving is included at no extra charge.

If you have a regular "Individual" or "Family" pass, you will not pay to get into the park of course but you will have an additional $5 fee to dive.

BTW, I am told the recreational passes are no longer being sold so if you have one, enjoy the benifits until it expires.

We have a team that will be doing fauna counts and water sampling first thing tomorrow so diving will not be allowed untill noon tomorrow ONLY. This is a one time deal, the next sampling will be done on Tuesdays or Wednesdays when the park is closed to all visitors.

I would highly reccomend however you bring a lunch, check in at 10:00am and chill out until noon. I hear a lot of divers want in and we are limiting the teams in the water/cave to a maximum of four, with a max team size of four.

[Kelly Jessop]

Does anyone know if there is a "valid" reason the state is limiting cave diving to 4 teams at a time in systems like Madison and Manatee? Neither are particularly small or delicate and divers have been managing to stay out of each others way or coordinate with each other without government involvement.

Mark

This may be in the management plan for the carrying capacity.
Kelly