Snakes & Caves in Florida

[Jont]

This is a serious post:

During my last CCR CAVE training dive, I came across a water moccasin in about 6' of water, needless to say I was terrified, keep in mind that I was bit by a copperhead at the age of 6 and have had a fear of snakes ever since.

What caves am I least likely to encounter these things and what advise can you give me about future encounters?

I;m going to head back down to Florida for the months of April (in a few weeks).

Thanks,

Jon

[tj]

Photo opportunity. Try to get it to bite at the camera. But seriously, leave it be. I wonder what it thinks of you... They are everywhere.

[cavewoman]

Coming from a reptile lover. Water moccasins tend to be shorter, squat snakes with a very evident traingular head. While they are native to florida you are more likely to see common forms of water snakes. Pick up a copy of Roger Conants field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of the Eastern United States for accurate photo ID of various species of reptile and amphibian fauna. Not saying you didn't see a moccasin, just most people tend to think every snake they see in the water is one.

[Keith]

Welcome to Florida.

As with all wild life, leave them alone and they will leave you alone. You are more likely to see them on the bank, so don't step on them as that will cause them to strike. Have your buddy jump in first to scare them all away and you should be good to go. Same advice for the gators too. Buddy system is very useful here also.

Safe diving.

[floridakid]

If you are in Florida, and there is some kind of water nearby, there is some kind of water sanke nearby.

As far as cotton mouths go, not to scare you or anything, but they are highly aggressive and they might even chase you. i have littlerally seen them cross the river headed strait for me

[L.A.]

As far as cotton mouths go, not to scare you or anything, but they are highly aggressive and they might even chase you. i have littlerally seen them cross the river headed strait for me

Not being a FL native, I had heard that also. This website is pretty informative and dispels that myth that they are "aggressive" snakes. An excerpt:

"If the water is close, then they will often dive for it, even if the threat is between them and escape. I have had them rush around me and over my feet to get to the water. This may be a source of some of the Water Moccasin's rumored (but non-existent) aggressiveness. Most other aquatic snakes will usually flee away from the threat even if it drives them away from the water."

http://www.coastalplainsreptiles.com...yMoccasin.html

[Jont]

It was definitely a Moccasin, I've been studying snakes for 25 years, what systems are less likely to house them, I think Little river with all of the manmade block and contrete work would qualify, any ideas on locations?

[Jont]

The sacrificial buddy, I like that, then I can dive alone while he deals with the snake traps on his rig.

[Jont]

I wish you were correct, the ID was confirmed by me, the instructor and the Rager, basically they all said the same things.....with snakes I'm unlucky.

[cavedivingwoman]

There is an awesome photo of Brett Hemphill cradling a rattlesnake on the ADM web site. I asked him if he were a snake charmer; he said he'd been handling snakes for 30 years. Maybe he can advise you. Do they really swim after people? Also, has anyone ever seen those long brown tree hanging snakes in FL? I think they were in the "Deliverance" movie....

We have rattlesnakes out here but the water is too cold for any reptiles.