Intro Dives...

[Jay]

Cow downstream only.

[Moonfuzzy]

Peacock is a GREAT place to do intro dives. You can dive the Olsen line, the Peanut line or the Orange Grove line. The whole system is pretty shallow (45-60 ft mostly) and is usually pretty clear (when not flooded). I did a large chunk of my first dives there. Also you can get in at Waterhole (unless they changed the rules - I think there was a tree blocking the entrance for a while) and that is another intro dive to do. I found that it was great to get comfortable with all of the lines leading to OW and note the side passages.. when I went to apprentice and full cave connecting the dots was easy and lots of fun. (Did I mention it is cheap too??)

Ginnie + Little River: nice dives but deeper and with more flow, and only one main entrance.

Madison Blue: bad access rules, and ear infections lately?

Cow: downstream only. This is a short dive, and gets low pretty fast. Depends on how comfortable you are. This is a great dive to do as deco AFTER returning from the upstream.

[curtschu]

That was Blue Spring Orange City that everyone got the ear problems from. Has anyone gone to Madison Blue? what is the working plan? Are they sticking to the One team in the system rule?

[Cindy]

Pink bunnies for cavern and open water.

does this refer to Slippers, Booties, or logos?

Norm
just curious...

Slippers of course! All the high class cavers wear pink. Cindy

[Caver95]

What caves (or parts of caves) in NFL area would be considered "Intro" level dives for Intro level certified divers?

And now for a helpful answer:

Ginnie
Jackson Blue
Twin Cave
Hole in the Wall
Little River
Peacock
Madison Blue
Cow

Nearly any of the caves that aren't sidemount, always silted, siphons, or super deep. Ginnie, JB, and Peacock i think are the best intro level caves.

dont forget caves like Sally ward, Wakulla, chips hole, big dismal, just show your state park pass at the ranger station and give them a cert card copy. Sally ward has nice parking in front of it. it needs a little hydrilla removed, so call JViEHE and he will help you out.

[CaptainSpeleo]

Peacock Springs is by far the best place to make cave dives at the INTRO CAVE level.

You have 2 separate tunnels in the Peacock I spring basin which run basically north and averages 60' - 70' in depth.

You have a tunnel in Orange Grove Sink whichs runs basically northwest and averages 40' - 50' in depth.

The tunnels are fairly large, flow is usually minimal, and visibility is usually very good.

It's a good cave system for enhancing and improving your skills, especially if you intend to move on to FULL CAVE level.

[JoeB]

Thanks everyone, that's great information...

[CaptainSpeleo]

If an 18-year cave diving veteran can make a suggestion to you, don't get in a big hurry to do the "big dives" and over-extend yourself. There's a lot of cave to see and enjoy in the first 800' - 1000' penetration.

[Dave Lizdas]

"There's a lot of cave to see and enjoy in the first 800' - 1000' penetration"

No kidding. I've been doing some less complex dives with some newbie buddies and it's quite amazing what I've been blowing past the last couple of months. Nothing wrong with going a fraction as far as you could, stopping, and chillin'. You'll find all kinds of stuff.

dont forget caves like Sally ward, Wakulla, chips hole, big dismal, just show your state park pass at the ranger station and give them a cert card copy. Sally ward has nice parking in front of it. it needs a little hydrilla removed, so call JViEHE and he will help you out.

Who let you out of your cage?