Devil's...

[Rich]

To all my friends on here.....if you get a chance dive Devil's right now, the run is low, the flow is way up, the vis is obscene, best I've seen in 2 yrs of diving it...... 150+ easy

Safe diving,

Rich

[Bob]

You're killing me

[Starryskies]

the vis is obscene, best I've seen in 2 yrs of diving it...... 150+ easy

Hey Rich! How about the big room? I have never been in that area without seeing a lot of milkiness in the water. It would be so cool to see it without all the milkiness. Of course, I would be in Luraville this weekend. (Not that I am complaining in the least...just finished packing - woohooo!!!)



Does anyone have an explanation for what does cause that milky effect in water in the Big Room and the coat hanger/weight area?

Have a great weekend Rich! Any chance I can talk you into a nite dive next Saturday! Linda and I are hoping to be there next weekend.



Pat

[Kelly Jessop]

the vis is obscene, best I've seen in 2 yrs of diving it...... 150+ easy

Does anyone have an explanation for what does cause that milky effect in water in the Big Room

More likely due to river intrusion

[Starryskies]

More likely due to river intrusion

Hey Kelly - that is what I keep hearing but I don't understand the mechanics behind how river intrusion would cause a milky white appearance (I'm blonde so bear with me). River water has that lovely dark tannic look - how does that result in milky white water.

I have also heard that there is some type of bacterial issue involved but haven't heard any definitive reason for the appearance.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Kelly Jessop]

More likely due to river intrusion

Hey Kelly - that is what I keep hearing but I don't understand the mechanics behind how river intrusion would cause a milky white appearance (I'm blonde so bear with me). River water has that lovely dark tannic look - how does that result in milky white water.

I have also heard that there is some type of bacterial issue involved but haven't heard any definitive reason for the appearance.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

This is an area where you'd typically see river intrusion,and anything out of the ordinary would get that as a reason. If hydrostatic pressure is up and viz is very good then river intrusion may not be an issue. I've seen bacteria suspended in water to appear in the form you are describing,but not in this area,especially a high flow system. About 5 years ago approx 700' up the Orange Grove line there was 20-30' area of milky water. At the time the best explanation I got was this was percolation of "bad" water. A sample of this tested at a lab would be optimal.

[Cindy]

Rain and lower water levels will also cause that particulate in the water. Ginnie has a lot of area that can have ground water coming in. Once the normal flow return the caves 'blows' it out. It's more notable in caves that have a lot of sinks to the surface but even caves like Ginnie can have some of that hazy effect. Even the Cathedral system is clearing. It should be a great winter for diving! Cindy

[Ken Roop]

Visibility can be affected by particulates, or particles in suspension. Every cave diver knows this. It can also be affected by solution. Solution is dissolved materials such as calcium carbonate in the solvent (in this case water).

When the rate of flow is affected by changes in rate of rainfall, changes occur in solution rate. This is most often seen in "backpassages" where rates are reduced, but in times of high intake, the aquifer must reach a "new equalibium." This "milkyness" is a result of higher dissolved materials, mostly limestone, that creates the lowered "vis."

Hope this helps,

Ken Roop

[Starryskies]

This "milkyness" is a result of higher dissolved materials, mostly limestone, that creates the lowered "vis."
Ken Roop

So I can expect this condition usually just after a long rain/flooding period? Never really paid attention to when it was and wasn't there - it seems I have always seen it in these two areas over the past year or so.

Haven't been cave diving long enough to make it through several weather/climate cycles yet (except for an endless cycle of hurricanes it seems...)

Guess that is a fair trade off. A little milkiness for lower flow. I can deal with that.



Thanks for the explanations y'all!

[Starryskies]

It should be a great winter for diving! Cindy

Woohooo!!