Jug Hole 10/18/11
I hadn't been to this wonderful cave in over 10 years, so I was especially curious to see what the conditions were now like.
After stopping at Amigo's to get some fills, we headed to the park and found it completely empty (just the way I like it). Adam was using some steel 95s and I had steel 72s for this dive. The last time here I had used the steel 45s I had bought specifically for Suwannee Blue and the volume left a little more to be desired. The steel 72s, however, were ideal.
I also hadn't sidemounted in a while so I knew I would have some bugs to work out. Adam was using my older Transpac with DR Recwings as he hasn't made a decision as to which sidemount configuration he wants to buy. That left me using the backplate with harness while using my drysuit for bouyancy. Too bad the backplate is an AUL aluminum one and not a nice heavy stainless steel kind...
After hauling our gear down Purgatory Trail to the spring, we unloaded the cart and began getting gear in place. And then the rain came. Damn, I was hoping to keep dry during this dive! The rain let up slightly right when we got in the water (thanks for nothing, Mother Nature). The boil in the center was barely even noticeable. After getting everything donned and checking each other, we submerged and headed over to the ledge on the far side of the vent. The water depth right on the ledge was 9' this time. We gave each other the OK signal and descended.
I was worried that I would have difficulty getting down due to the fact that I forgot to bring my 10 pound drop weight I normally use here. But the flow was so slow that I didn't even have to pull to get down. I have never seen the flow this weak before. We entered the cavern area and did a little sightseeing before entering the cave. The clouds above parted some and we saw a small sliver of daylight peer its way into the cavern. It was just enough to throw the tell-tale ray of light down the neck of the jug to the cave entrance. We then entered the cave on the right side, staying out of the flow until we were about 30' from the Grim Reaper sign. Staying to the right of the split at the sign we met the start of the gold line and the memories started coming back.
I always loved the bedding plane that begins this section of the cave- but having spent so long a time away, I had forgotten that the line doesn't follow the nice arcing slug trail on the left. So I absentmindedly led the way straight down the line until the passage opened up into the Gray Room. The water so far was quite clear and we could still feel the flow even while hovering 10' above the floor. We made our way around the left bend and in short order the shimmering sand caught my eye. It was very gratifying to be back here once again in one of the most pristine and unique caves in the area.
I made my way down to the Diamond Sands Restriction and noticed that the jutting rock formation on the left that makes up the major obstacle was a lot smoother and smaller than I had ever remembered. I turned on to my right side and slid my left arm under my left tank and slowly glided through the restriction. And then I noticed that I had left my drysuit vent open and lost all buoyancy! Not to mention that the tank got heavier as well with no air pocket in my arm! Next thing I know, my right tank is halfway in the sand and I can really feel the friction from the sand while trying to fin through. I had to give up finning and just started slowly using my elbows to "crab walk" my way past the restriction. Once I made it past the flat rock immediately after the restriction, I closed the drysuit valve and pumped up to where I was horizontal again, hovering over the main line where Art Vandelay had placed a cookie. He certainly gets around a lot as I have seen his name as far away as Valhalla in TAG!
Adam was right behind me and he then took the lead for the rest of the way. I have always enjoyed this next part of the cave the most, especially when I can mask my light and just use the lead diver's light for navigation. It's a great way to see the cave from a different perspective, as if you were watching the dive on video. Occasionally I would unmask my light and sweep across Adam's vision so that he knew I was still back there. Big roomy vertical area followed by line going down and then up again until Adam entered the flat tunnel right before the Loft. The water was quite clear until we reached this area. Adam hovered directly above the line and I made my way around the left side of the room, scaring a few very large catfish who darted through the fluffy silt and made quite a mess in the water column.
Adam continued on, staying above the line while I slowly arced my way around the debris pile to eventually meet back up with him again. Not too long after that we were at the end of the line. It came rather suddenly as I was expecting to see the line duck down and continue up the tiny crevice toward the actual end of the cave. I remember there being about 5 or 6 line arrows there at the very end the last time I was here. But now that portion of the line was gone and the existing line unceremoniously ended on the wall to the right. We slowly peered around until I motioned that we should turn around and exit.
I made a very very slow exit so that I could enjoy the view I didn't have on the way in. This cave is very unique and there are a lot of different areas which lend themselves to being recognizable like other caves. Some visions of upstream Cow Spring, Little River, and even Telford Spring entered my mind as I took in the vista afforded by a slow exit. Back in the Gray Room, I let Adam slide around in front so that he could exit the Diamond Sands before me. He had a little more work grunting the steel 95s around the jutting rock than I did. The steel 72s were now at about the perfect buoyancy having used about 1200 psi out of them. Adam was hovering overhead downstream when I made it through and he then turned and started heading out. Once he made it to the bedding plane, my memory came back to me and I managed to sneak my way to the right of him while he suffered following the main line. I found the easy trail and basically let the flow push me out while Adam had to take his time to keep from either hitting his head on the ceiling or dragging his tanks across the floor. This part of the cave is so awesome when exiting! We reached the end of the main line and Adam went out first while I reeled up.
After getting about 15 or 20 feet past the sign, I motioned with my light for Adam to stop and mask his light. I did likewise and the glow from the sunlight in the cavern was just visible at first as a small blue spot on the horizon. After my eyes dilated, my night vision came to me and I began a purposely slow exit to halfway between the sign and the cavern entrance. Adam did the same and it was really cool to see him silhouetted against the blue cavern and the sunbeam. I then stopped and almost as if on cue, Adam unmasked his light head and swam to the right making a sweep of the Blue Room. I was astounded at how alien the whole scene looked. I was thinking this would be some ideal video to film! Not wanting Adam to miss witnessing this ethereal event, I motioned him over to where I was kneeling and handed him the real while I turned my light back on and returned the favor for him.
My light arced on and slowly glowed while I made my way to the far end of the Blue Room where the light slowly began its rise in intensity. I made a series of slow sweeps of the light so that he could appreciate the clarity and beauty of that area of the cave. Conveniently, I then made my exit leaving the poor bastard with the task of reeling out! BWAA HAAA HAAA!!!
After retrieving my reel, we then took one final grand tour of the cavern and began a slow ascent. Never have I been able to enjoy an ascent as effortless as this time. The flow was so weak, you could hover mid-column without needing to touch the walls to keep from getting shot out the spout! We made a safety stop and afterward swam back to the dock. What a great dive!!!
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Originally Posted by diveconjeff
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