Emerald Sink step project volunteers
The planned weekend for building the steps for Emerald sink is August 26 and 27th. This represents one of the final steps for completing the opening of this system. Volunteers for this project would be greatfully appreciated.
Kelly Jessop,Emerald Sink Advisory Panel
Leadership Director NSS-CDS
Id like to help out,but I cant find any info on the sink and dont even know if Id be able to dive it.Im not trimix.
Right now we are working on getting the steps constructed that money was donated for. The sooner we can over come this hurdle,the sooner we'll have access for diving. The weekend of the work project won't involve any diving,but we are in need of volunteers to help with any part of the construction.Originally Posted by stairman
Emerald Project
Kelly:
Thank you for posting this information.
This project began in February, 2004 and it is great to see it nearing completion. The idea behind the project was that cave divers from different agencies and diverse backgrounds could work together to achieve a common goal. We have been successful in that effort.
A good turnout by the general cave diving community will give a clear indication to Wakulla Park Management that we wish to be involved and that our participation in this and future projects is worthwhile. This will be invaluable in the ongoing effort to obtain future access to other now-closed cave sites in the Tallahassee area.
I encourage all available to participate in one of the two work weekends required to complete the steps and platform at Emerald Sink.
Much of the credit goes to Vince Ferris and Linda Jones who have spent long hours in engineering and designing the Emerald steps and platform.
Thank you,
Johnny Richards
It used to be a popular OW site. There is a decent sized pond at the top, typical sinkhole hour glass formation with a 60' drop to the top of the debris cone. OW divers can aproach aprox 100' without entering the overhead but past there it can get dark quickly. The main cave entrance is at 130' and there is at least one other cave passage at 60' I think.
Re: Emerald Project
Thank you Vince and Linda! (and Johnny)
For those who don't know about the Emerald system and need motivation in helping with the steps project, here goes: (Since this sink is part of a MASSIVE overall system, I declare that the following pertains to only the first 2,000ft or less in and around the sink)
Emerald Sink has what I will term 3 distinct depth regions.
a) The upstream side of Emerald which connects with Cheryl Sink & Split Sinks is well less than 100ft (max of about 85 as I reacall w/o log book handy). Requires about a 20-30 minute swim depending upon route taken.
b) Downstream Emerald immediately descends to 167ffw at the bottom with passage depths in the 150s average. Multiple sinks, w/o land access permission, connect to this downstream side but I consider the connections to be well beyond normal swimming distances at that depth.
c) Upstream from Cheryl (once you get there from Emerald) is in the 100ffw range until you reach The Black Abyss (a large room without exit to the surface that can be circumnavigated after making several gaps). Upstream, beyond the floor of the Black Abyss, quickly exceeds 200ffw and is considered an advanced trimix dive due to depths and restrictions. Time to the beginning of the Black Abyss from Emerald is approx. 40-50 minutes .
Here is what to expect for conditions from my memory and not an official survey:
a) Passages are large. 30 feet wide and vary in height from about 8ft min.(upstream) to 30ft(downstream).
b) Heavy silt in all passages.
c) Flow can vary from almost undetectable to moderate.
d) Walls are very dark, soft and spongy. This place is not for pull and glide or poor trim/buoyancy control. If you grab or kick the wall or ceiling it is coming off with you. Hard limestone lies undereath this encrusted layer.
e) The bottom starts in the Emerald basin at 70ffw atop the debris cone.
f) One of the most beautiful sights my eyes have ever seen is looking up from the bottom of the downstream side at 165ffw and seeing the surface and realizing just how huge this sink is.
g) Viz can vary from tannic w/5ft to "cracklin" from time to time. Viz within the system appears to be constant for any given time.
Kelly,
PM sent.
I wonder if the starwars character is still in there
The time is finally here. The Wakulla Park Management has officially given
the go ahead to construct the stairs and platform for Emerald Sink. For all
those that plan to participate in at this work weekend , please let me know
which day(s) within the week so I have a count of who will be attending.
Also, please let me know what your areas of expertise are so we can plan
jobs accordingly and whether you need to stay in a cabin at Camp Indian
Springs. For those wishing to stay over, Cabins will be available at Camp
Indian Springs for $8.00 per person, per night. Please check in with Al at
Office on Friday night (if traveling on Friday) or Saturday around 5 p.m.
Please Note: No Digging or Construction Can Start Until Park and Historical
Preservation Officials are Onsite! Supply Materials will be delivered on
Friday, August 25th and will be secured behind the locked gate at Emerald
prior to Saturday Morning.
The Itinerary is as follows:
August 26th
9:30 a.m. Arrive at Emerald Sink and sign in
10:00 a.m. Start Construction
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. Continue Construction
4:30 p.m. End of Work Day 1
August 27th
9:30 a.m. Arrive at Emerald Sink and sign in
10:00 a.m. Start Construction
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. Continue Construction
4:00 p.m. End of Work Day 2
Directions to Emerald Sink
Traveling from the East:
Take US 27 toward Perry
In Perry Take US 98 toward St. Marks
Turn right at the intersection of US 98 and Hwy 319 (Crawfordville Hwy)
Head Toward Tallahassee
Go through the town of Crawfordville
After passing the Leon Sinks Geological Site, look for New Light Church Road
on your left
Make left onto New Light Church Road
Just after turning left, the Entrance to Emerald will be on the left side of
the road. The Gate will be Open drive to parking area.
Traveling from the West:
Take I-10 West toward Tallahassee
Take First Quincy Exit for SR 267 (Bloxham Cutoff Road)
Turn right after exiting onto SR 267. Keep heading toward Wakulla Springs
State Park
Turn left onto Hwy 319 (Crawfordville Hwy)
Head Toward Tallahassee
Go through the town of Crawfordville
After passing the Leon Sinks Geological Site, look for New Light Church Road
on your left
Make left onto New Light Church Road
Just after turning left the Entrance to Emerald will be on the left side of
the road. The Gate will be Open drive to parking area.
Traveling from the North:
Take I-75 South
Take I-10 West toward Tallahassee
Take the Second Tallahassee Exit Hwy 319 (Capital Circle)
Make right after exiting and drive toward the Airport
At the second intersection past Tallahassee Regional Airport, turn right at
the intersection of Capital Circle and Hwy 319 (Crawfordville Hwy)
Head Toward Crawfordville
After passing the Wakulla Springs Road and Crawfordville Hwy intersection,
look for New Light Church Road on your right
Make right onto New Light Church Road
Just after turning right, the Entrance to Emerald will be on the left side
of the road. The Gate will be Open drive to parking area.
Traveling from the South:
Take US 19/ Alt 27 toward Perry
In Perry Take US 98 toward St. Marks
Turn right at the intersection of US 98 and Hwy 319 (Crawfordville Hwy)
Head Toward Tallahassee
Go through the town of Crawfordville
After passing the Leon Sinks Geological Site, look for New Light Church Road
on your left
Make left onto New Light Church Road
Just after turning left the Entrance to Emerald will be on the left side of
the road. The Gate will be Open drive to parking area.
For those staying over at Camp Indian Springs, Directions from Emerald are
as follows:
Take Crawfordville Hwy South
Make left onto SR 267 (Bloxham Cutoff Road)
Head toward Wakulla Springs State Park
Just after passing Spring Creek Road on your right side, look out for Camp
Indian Springs on your right side. Use main gate to enter (second entrance).
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