Charles Spring and Jug Hole

[John L.]

I spent 11 days in cave country, diving my ass off in Peacock, Cow, Little River, Falmouth, Ginnie, Telford, etc., and had a absolute blast. On one of the days, I dove Charles for the first time with my friend Dave Meehan, who was familier with the system. It's a pretty area with two natural bridges to swim under before the cave starts. There was a nice boil at the surface indicating a strong flow. When you first enter, it's a white sandy/silt sidemount restriction for about 50 feet. The main line starts immediately when you enter the cave, and some of the line is buried under sand mounds, and theres duplicate lines running along side. Once you get thru the restriction, the cave opens up to decent size rooms, with around 30' of vis with some particulates. Theres several "T'.s, and splits in the line, so bring plenty of clothespins. The max depth I reached was 24 feet. A very nice dive spot for sidemount. The second dive of the day was at Jug Hole at the north entrance of the Itchnetucke (spell check) springs park. After you check in with the ranger, and leave your c-cards, you go to the parking area. You need a hand truck to tote your gear because it's a good quarter mile hike thru a trail to get to the dock and steps. The water is crystal clear, and there's a hole just like Devil's Eye, but the flow is twice as strong as the Ear. I had to crawl in upside down like a spider to get to the bottom of one of the most beautiful caverns I have ever seen. When you first go in, theres a rocky low restriction that lasts 20 to 50 feet. Once inside, the passages are huge and spectacular. By far the most breathtaking cave I have ever been in. At one point, the line heads up towards the ceiling at a 90 degree angle, and you float up in awe, taking in all the colors, and the incredible size, and formations you encounter. Towards the end of the cave, you have to negotiate the diamond sands restriction, which the sand is literally flowing thru with the high flow. You have to go thru sideways in sidemount to get thru. The sand is brown with larger granules that reflect your light like dark diamonds. The cave ends in a large fussure, and you turn and enjoy the sights and the flow back. Again, it was the most beautiful cave I have ever seen by far. The maximum depth I attained was 89 feet. I highly recommend this dive!

[nwade]

Thanks, John. Good post; great verbal imagery.

[jpdiver]

Thanks- I am thinking about diving Charles next week but haven't found much info or any maps. How far did you penetrate? Do you know the maximum penetration?

[John L.]

Thanks- I am thinking about diving Charles next week but haven't found much info or any maps. How far did you penetrate? Do you know the maximum penetration?

I don't know in feet how many feet I penetrated, but I was solo, and went in 45 minutes, and it was still going. I ran out of personal markers at another of many "T"'s and "V's in the line. It's a nice place to dive though, and there are so many places to go, that it would be a hobbie to check them all out. Since I was solo, I kinda stayed to the larger passages at every split. Theres a nice flow there, so if you make a mess it would be gone quickly. Do you know how to get there? I can give you directions.
John

[Gary]

How was the vis at Charles?

[John L.]

How was the vis at Charles?

30 feet and chunky.

[Angie Reim]

Yeah. I went to Charles once. Took forever to figure out how to work through the first (seems like 100') of restriction - twice as in left and right so I was not freaked out should my buddy get stuck in front of me - then while carrying only 3 clothes pins I found a spider's web of lines over a clay floor with two T's in sight and said 'Hmmmm.... I think I can leave this for another day".



Only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that someone 'thicker' than me had done it before. After a year of SM diving it probably won't seem so tight now.

That dome was cool. Hope no one ever parks a big truck on it.

Jug Hole is sounding good right now. Charles for a challenge. Bummer that I had to cancel this weekend - I hurt my shoulder hanging a chandelier by myself like an idiot. Ya know....it's best to have someone there to catch/prop up the chandelier when you slip. Word to the wise.....



Angie

[Tegg]

The vis is now better at charles if it is 30ft...

John, you should have seen the first 100ft just after the flood... I spent about 25mins cleaning up the lines and taking some out to make it safer before going in further.

The vis was about 10ft at that time.

I will definately go back now that the vis is up.

As far as passage there, it goes and goes... I may even stage the next time...

[Webmaster]

Only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that someone 'thicker' than me had done it before. After a year of SM diving it probably won't seem so tight now.

Hey if I made it through with no problem... no excuses.

[John L.]

The vis is now better at charles if it is 30ft...

John, you should have seen the first 100ft just after the flood... I spent about 25mins cleaning up the lines and taking some out to make it safer before going in further.

The vis was about 10ft at that time.

I will definately go back now that the vis is up.

As far as passage there, it goes and goes... I may even stage the next time...

Hey Joe, I saw your handy work, and your lines are still there. In fact, the flow uncovered the previously covered over lines. You need to dive jug hole with me sometime. I'm starting to really like my sidemount.
John