How many would dive in Wakulla County?

[speleodiver]

If quality sites were opened to divers which fell within the level of your training, how often would you dive those sites? How much would you spend to dive them per trip or by annual pass?

Example: Emerald/Clear Cut. Both these sites have beautiful cave with depths at 110' or less. Both could be suitable as intro to cave diving sites with very little change to the existing line. For example, Emerald to Cheryl is 80 feet average depth. There would need to be one "T" cut back to make a very nice run from Emerald to Cheryl which goes through Split Sink. In Clear Cut, the Downstream reaches around 107 max depth and requires no changes to the existing line.

I live in Wakulla County and have become very active in the community. The biggest disbelief people have here is cave diving means money for the economy. To date, there are only a few of the 467 sinks and springs open to public diving. There are some very good cave systems open but there are requirements to dive there that many do not have even though the sites could be dove by divers with lesser qualifications. What has to happen is diving needs to come to this area. I was just told by the president of the FOW any proposal to help open sites and/or lift some restrictions will be supported by their organization. There has been an unchallenged distribution of facts here in Wakulla County that have these folks scared of cave divers. The sad fact is, it is certain cave diving group(s) who spread the misleading information and keep the sites closed or under heavy restriction. (mostly for financial gain or their own personal agendas or fears). The biggest fact is the parks are going broke and lack funding to operate at the level they should. It takes many volunteers to help the parks survive. The simple truth is the parks will listen to those who step up and pitch in to help them. These volunteers are us divers. Who as a diver would not step up to help protect and aid in conservation of natural resources. It is time for us to unite and start putting our energy into assisting the parks proving we are a society of people who care as much as any other organization out there. I personally encourage all divers to come dive what is available to you in Wakulla County and while you are here, ask what you can do to help the parks meet their goals. When folks here start seeing an influx of diver traffic then they will believe. It is up to each and every one of us who loves our sport and way of life to step up.

[FW]

I would, actually, I do now, but would be there more often, if there were more sites open.

[Kelly Jessop]

Good comments. When I first started cave diving many of the sites in Wakulla Co weren't restricted,and they were visited on a frequent basis. The one thing that has hurt diving in the past in Wakulla Co was when Leon sinks blows out,it takes out a majority of these sites,and diving in the area is ceased. Unfortunately the people that were anti-diving Wakulla never recognized that there was a long stretch that we couldn't dive Emerald due to poor conditions,when they made the argument that we have access to Emerald,and we aren't using it,so why open Wakulla. You are correct to note that there was a huge negative PR campaign against recreational cave diving,with comments like buy body bags if you let these people in,this doesn't endear a community to you. I spent a lot of time several years ago with local officials who had some interest,and later with the hearing for Wakulla,there does exist a core interest in returning diving to Wakulla region-plus we have a history of diving sites over the last few years that the community were told we couldn't, without mass fatalities. You are right too that the parks are bleeding red,even the crown jewel Wakulla has had difficulty with keeping the lodge solvent. The parks are having to look outside the box for revenue,and one thing that they have looked at is camping at some parks,because parks that have camping are in the black. Camping for Wakulla was nixed by a local group who wanted Wakulla to stay unchanged,which includes no diving,but the bad thing is that the status quo won't work anymore for survivability.(ironically the RV park wants to locate across from Indian Springs,with the potential for building directly over downstream tunnels-ow that is scary) I can really appreciate their efforts to support the park and keeping it unchanged,but the bottom line is Wakulla Co is not a tourist destination,and is off the I75 Disney corridor. Diving,and cave diving specifically would bring tourist dollars to a community that is striving to keep its head above the poverty level. Who would think that Suwannee County,Gilchrist County,Jackson County etc are international and national sites that receive an economic boost from ecoturism by cave divers. I applaud your efforts,and barriers will be broken down,but it will take time and perserverence.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Hell, I moved to Tallahassee for the caves in Wakulla.

[Kelly Jessop]

Hell, I moved to Tallahassee for the caves in Wakulla.

I heard it was so you could be south of I10-LOL

[Bobby]

Dr. X and I spend over 10K per year on our diving that goes directly into the community area we dive in. This number only includes vehicle fuel, lodging, diving gas, etc.. The money that is spent locally. It is interesting to see how the trend of where we spend our money has changed as access and service options have improved. An example is that we spent nearly 100% of our money between High Springs & Mayo even though we would occasionally dive places like Manatee Springs, Eagles Nest, Jackson Blue, etc.. This is because we would get tank and vehicle gas fills where we were staying drive to where we were diving then drive back. We might buy lunch where we were diving but that was pretty much the extent of our spending.

Today we spend 75% of our money in the High Springs to Mayo area and 25% in Marianna. This is a direct result of Cave Adventurers offering services and the local Gov. opening access. Marianna has become so diver friendly that we will now go over there spur of the moment when in the past we would only plan specific trips there.

As for Wakulla County I dive there regularly, however I currently spend virtually zero dollars. Even though there are shops there that now offer services and are close to the cave sites the access to those sites is still very restricted. This means that diving for Dr. X in that area does not fit her taste so I only make specific planned dive trips in that area. That means that dive & vehicle gas fills, lodging, meals, etc. dollars are spent in another area. If diving access in the Wakulla County area was opened to the recreational cave diver then we would move 25-35% of our money spent on diving to that area. There is more in the Wakulla area that suits both mine and Dr. X's interest compared to both Marianna and the HS/Mayo areas.

Even though we live within driving distance to the caves (1.5 hrs one way) we tend to spend money on lodging regularly. We have found that we prefer the convenience of a more relaxed schedule with local (to the caves) lodging rather than having to get on the road to meet park and service hours of operation times.

Bottom line is that the Wakulla County area has a lot to offer when it comes to cave diving opportunities. Now that there is solid service available for cave diving specific needs the only thing missing is the local government support. Until the gov. gets on board with opening access the money will not go into Wakulla County. All they need to do is speak with the government folks in Marianna to know how much they are missing out on. I believe that the money that is now flowing into Marianna is only a fraction of what would flow into Wakulla simply because there is a much wider range of cave diving opportunity in Wakulla. Even though I dive there now we don't spend money there and won't until we can get a hotel, go to breakfast, get fills and plan our diving weekends and holidays all in that area. That requires access to sites for the recreational cave diver, which Wakulla County has but does not offer access.

[JamesK]

Exactly what Bobby said. 100% of my money is currently going to the area between High Springs and Luraville. 90% of that directly to High Springs. Now granted most of my trips are simply driving through, or a 1 night stay, due to the fact that I drive past HS on every trip from home to work and I stop in for a dive. However if I had more access to areas in Wakulla I would take the extra day on my trips and make over night trips to that area as well. It simply does not make financial sense for me to do that now.

[MORGAN]

...Wakulla Co is not a tourist destination,and is off the I75 Disney corridor.

Another good reason to spend time there!

Tracy and I spend six weeks a year cave diving, all in Florida so far (since 2004). Mostly in the Luraville - High Springs area, with the occasional two or three day trip to Marianna. We would definitely spend some time in Wakulla County if there were more sites open.

[Greenwood_60]

I don't know if I would or not. I have only the slightest idea of what there actually is to dive there. I assume that's because it's so heavily restricted.

Interestingly, it's only 3 minutes further for me than driving to Madison Blue. Based on Clearwater to Wakulla Springs (don't know any other site) vs Clearwater to Cave Excursions to Madison Blue. So if there's a dive shop in a decent location, and decent camping in the area I'd say we'd make a few trips up there a year.

Marianna is just too far. The logistics don't work for me for weekend trips.

[jxh2297]

I would go every trip, leaving Friday to head there.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2