Cavern Suggestions

[stairman]

Theres also King Spring in Crystal River but its 100 yards or so off the bank. Nice cavern though. Getting Blue Grotto and Devils Den crossed off the list isnt a bad idea but they are pricey, as is Paradise.

[rddvet]

Never heard of King spring. I'll check it out. Done blue grotto and devil's den.
It sounds like the original plan of Morrison and Jackson Blue is holding up. I'd like to hit Vortex while up that way just to cross it off the list.

[rddvet]

My favorites so far in the Panhandle:

Morrison
Cypress (requires a 30 min canoe trip, but it's worth it)
Jackson Blue

Closer to you:

Paradise
Devil's Ear
*censored*
Shallow entrance to Orange Grove


I wouldn't skip Morrison. It's a beautiful cavern, and if you like big rooms, it's a can't miss.

Uh oh. What got censored.

[scuba_shark_fart]

Theres also King Spring in Crystal River but its 100 yards or so off the bank. Nice cavern though. Getting Blue Grotto and Devils Den crossed off the list isnt a bad idea but they are pricey, as is Paradise.

I've been to King Spring before, but it was a few years ago. I had no idea there was a cavern there.

[gschaut]

I've been to King Spring before, but it was a few years ago. I had no idea there was a cavern there.

I haven't been to Kings Spring in Crystal River in about 20 years, but I remember it as having just a tiny closet-sized cavern. Are we talking about the same place? About 80 yds off the Paradise Inn, over near the South-west quadrant of the Crystal River basin, right next to one of the manatee sanctuary areas?

[stairman]

Thats the one. I dove it once about 12 years ago. Its hard to remember since we did so many that weekend but Iwas certain there was a cavern there. I think the panhandle trip would be a good choice though.

[T. Bix]

I've been there a couple times in the last couple of years and the viz was absolute crap both times... I remember back in the eighties when it really was "crystal" river the viz was always fantastic... unless I heard a report otherwise I wouldn't waste my time. We heard stories from the LDS there as to why the viz is crap but I'll hold on those for now but I am wondering what everybody else is hearing? Does anybody know why it went away?

[cavedivingwoman]

Did no one mention Peacock cavern? It's lovely.
Barbara

[stairman]

They mentioned they have dove Peacock several times.

[DA Aquamaster]

Must be full cave unless with an instructor.
.

Per the NSS-CDS website, upstream cow is restricted to full cave only. And the only training allowed in the upstream section with an instructor is side mount.

However the cavern is open to all levels and the downstream section is open to intro level divers.

The main requirement is NSS-CDS membership.

Personally, I think the cavern in Cow is very pretty and the more vertical nature of the breakdown through the bedding plane makes it more interesting than most.