Experience-based suggestions requested for Tampa area caves

[aw]

I've got opportunity to be in the Tampa/St. Pete area now, and want a recommendation or two from those who have dove the area what caves they recommend.

I've looked at Mike Emanuel's website, but want to make sure I've got the most up-to-date info.

I'm looking for backmount caves. Deep diving is not a problem. Site access info would be appreciated also. If you need to PM me, please do so. Or if someone from the area is lonely for a dive buddy and wants to go with me, I'm cool with that too. Curious - How far a drive is it from Tampa to Eagles Nest?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Limestone Cowboy]

Eagles Nest is abt 60 minutes depending on when and from where in Tampa. Other places you can dive without being sneaky are Waynes World, Lost Forty, Howard Park, Hospital Hole, Crystal Beach, and Diepolders (with a guide). The others require various degrees of stealth or permission.

You can PM me and maybe we could work something out for an evening this week?

Drew

PS Forgot Hudson Grotto on the list....

[CaptainSpeleo]

AW:

If you're not Full Cave/Trimix-certified and have experience in 200'+ deep caves, you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who will take you to Eagles Nest or Diepolders.

Wayne's World is an advanced cave dive and is likely still blown out.

Howard Park Sink(if you know how to find it) is a very small saltwater cave system about 200 yards north of the Howard Park causeway in Tarpon Springs.

Hospital Hole is a 140' deep sock-shaped sinkhole on the Weeki Wachee River and is usually filled with tannic water and hydrogen sulfide below 70'.

Crystal Beach is an offshore cave and requires sidemounts, unless you don't mind pushing backmounted tanks ahead of you through the restriction before it gets roomy enough to put them on.

[aw]

Hey guys. Thanks for the info. Yeah, I'm full cave and full trimix. I've dove Diepolder III & II in my advanced trimix classes. Been wanting to get into Eagles Nest for a while now. Sounds like it's gonna be within driving distance of Tampa.

[Tegg]

Yea, hit Eagles, and if you're willing to go that far, you had better schedule a dive at Diepolder.

WW is still blown, will be until we get a sold 2 weeks of no rain...

[cavdiver2]

Don't forget about Little Salt

[CaptainSpeleo]

I haven't dived Little Salt Spring in about 15 years, but I can still remember that mask-ripping outflow at the 100' restriction that I couldn't get through.

[Walter Pickel]

You can go here - http://www.tampadiving.com/sections/...ve_systems.asp

Click on the County column and look for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernado. If you click on a system you can click on view larger map, then zoom out and look at all the systems I have (120) and where they are in relation to everything.

We dive up in Hernando almost weekly. You will find that most of the cave diving in this area is deep (EN = 300, Buford = 170, Little Salt = 260, Twin D's = 260+, etc...)

Let me know if you have any questions. I hope my site helps you.

[Walter Pickel]

I haven't dived Little Salt Spring in about 15 years, but I can still remember that mask-ripping outflow at the 100' restriction that I couldn't get through.

It's still that way Frank We might be finishing up the line from 190 to 260 there Friday night. Also, we have installed ski ropes in the Gauntlet and the Shroom Room. That will help immensly with navigating that area.

[Walter Pickel]

One more thing...Tampa to the Nest is anywhere from 55 - 80 miles. Just depends what part of town you are in.