Devil's Eye 7/18/12

[jason]

One thing to remember is that the scale of any reversal on the Santa Fe River is going to much smaller than a reversal on the Suwannee River. Large floods on the Santa Fe only increase river stage 1-2 meters at Ginnie Springs, whereas large floods on the Suwannee can increase river stage by >10 m. Larger increases in river stage result in greater hydraulic pressure to push river water back into the aquifers. As a result, a reversal in the Devil's System would not deposit the same kinds of debris as a reversal at Madison Blue.

I wish I had been in the area to install a few sensors prior to the flooding...

[Jim Wyatt]

The flow did not reverse IMO. I have made 6 dives in there since the flood and have seen no evidence of a reversal of flow.

[Jim Wyatt]

I'd say that's still accurate.

Probably headed back there today, but will be swimming this time. Will be interesting to see if my perception changes off the trigger.

daylight is clearly visible from the Grim Reaper sign at the Eye. Daylight is visible from the bottom of the chimney in the ear as of 2 PM today ( July 20 )

[wingman]

daylight is clearly visible from the Grim Reaper sign at the Eye. Daylight is visible from the bottom of the chimney in the ear as of 2 PM today ( July 20 )

I dove it thursday and that is what i found as well, no evidence of a reversal from the gallery back. I scootered back to the henkle and then came out through the hill 400 line and the vis was the same throughout 30 feet or less. Back in the area of the mainland jump to the henkle bypass and the henkle iitself there was an improvement to 40 feet or so. Still, as has been said an enjoyable dive and i to wish i had had some sondes in the water as well. Bill

[jdsffa]

IMO the cave did reverse, if you get off the main line in the front 400 feet, the side rooms that don't have as much flow are full of silt and some debris. I found leaves and small plants in the catacombs as well as some small leaves by the keyhole bypass exit, in the small swim through just past it. I am curious has any one heard of tanic water in the back of the cave before, I don't recall hearing vis dropping past the river intrusion tunnel in the past but I might be mistaken.

John