1st Annual Fall Dive-In, November 24-26, 2006

[FW]

1st Annual Fall Dive-In, November 24-26, 2006

Cave divers from all over the United States are invited to North Florida for a new event sponsored by the NSS-CDS!

The first annual event mimics some of the family-oriented caving events like TAG, that the NSS has sponsored for many years. The CDS has booked the property at Hart Springs for the Thanksgiving Weekend event. Activities will include: socials with live entertainment, guided dives, hands-on workshops for side-mounting, rebreathers, rope-work, mapping, scooters and underwater photography. Cave diving pros will auction their guide services to benefit the NSS-CDS. Winning bidders can go on special private dives; have their photo taken in a cave by a pro or go exploring for caves on the Suwannee River.

Activities are family-oriented. Opportunities for guided paddling, hiking, cave diving, and cycling to springs will enhance fun events like “The Cave Diving Olympics.” Winners will be crowned in events like underwater obstacle courses and the “World’s Fastest Cave Diver.”

Primitive camping alongside the spring will offer many chances for cave divers to interact with pros and make new friends in the community.

Hart Springs is a county-operated park in Gilchrist County, Florida. It is nestled in upland pines and cypress hammock and is home to a stunning and pristine cave system with an entrance known as Black Lagoon. Since diving in Hart is restricted to experienced cave divers led by a guide, the system has remained in excellent condition. Fossilized remains litter the floor of the cave and sinuous flowing passages have an untouched feel.

A scenic boardwalk at the park leads you down the spring run to the Suwannee River where other local caves dot the banks. Bird watchers and naturalists enjoy the park for sightings of barred owls, manatees and brilliant fall leaf cover.

Space is limited and early registrants will get a free shirt, so signing up early is a great idea!


Print and mail Registration Form to address at bottom of form.
Link to Registration Form http://www.nsscds.org/Registration_form.pdf

[FW]

Bump

I am SO looking forward to this.

There's a great view of the park from Google. Go to http://www.hartsprings.com/
click on "map", then click on "satellite." You can zoom in on the park with your mouse's scroll wheel and really see it well.

[Kelly Jessop]

I am SO looking forward to this.

Me too!

[Starryskies]

Can anyone give me an idea of how far away Hart Springs is from the Dive Outpost and the easiest way to get there?

Having a blonde moment...

Forty-six miles.

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/m...cUS&2qc=Spring

[allen]

Unfortunately, the county rules restrict the diving to Full Cave divers only. Intro and Apprentice cave divers will have to find something else to that weekend.

[Kelly Jessop]

Unfortunately, the county rules restrict the diving to Full Cave divers only. Intro and Apprentice cave divers will have to find something else to that weekend.

I am sorry this system doesn't allow intro/apprentice cave divers,but the Fall Cave In includes diving at Hart springs for whoever wants to that meets system requirements,but there are a lot of other planned events worth doing. You ought to take a second look.

[Kelly Jessop]

Unfortunately, the county rules restrict the diving to Full Cave divers only. Intro and Apprentice cave divers will have to find something else to that weekend.

The first annual event mimics some of the family-oriented caving events like TAG, that the NSS has sponsored for many years. The CDS has booked the property at Hart Springs for the Thanksgiving Weekend event. Activities will include: socials with live entertainment, guided dives, hands-on workshops for side-mounting, rebreathers, rope-work, mapping, scooters and underwater photography. Cave diving pros will auction their guide services to benefit the NSS-CDS. Winning bidders can go on special private dives; have their photo taken in a cave by a pro or go exploring for caves on the Suwannee River.Activities are family-oriented. Opportunities for guided paddling, hiking, cave diving, and cycling to springs will enhance fun events like “The Cave Diving Olympics.” Winners will be crowned in events like underwater obstacle courses and the “World’s Fastest Cave Diver.”

Primitive camping alongside the spring will offer many chances for cave divers to interact with pros and make new friends in the community.

Hart Springs is a county-operated park in Gilchrist County, Florida. It is nestled in upland pines and cypress hammock and is home to a stunning and pristine cave system with an entrance known as Black Lagoon. Since diving in Hart is restricted to experienced cave divers led by a guide, the system has remained in excellent condition. Fossilized remains litter the floor of the cave and sinuous flowing passages have an untouched feel.

A scenic boardwalk at the park leads you down the spring run to the Suwannee River where other local caves dot the banks. Bird watchers and naturalists enjoy the park for sightings of barred owls, manatees and brilliant fall leaf cover.

Space is limited and early registrants will get a free shirt, so signing up early is a great idea!

[Jerry]

Unfortunately, the county rules restrict the diving to Full Cave divers only. Intro and Apprentice cave divers will have to find something else to that weekend.

This event is modeled after the TAG Fall Cave In that the dry cavers hold every year. And you know what; there isn't a single cave on the campground where it is held.

Hart Springs Park is the central location for socializing, attending sponsored events already mentioned, meeting mentors (?!?!?) etc. Diving Hart is just a bonus. The park isn't very far from Ginnie or Little River and for anybody out for adventure there is alot of river cave. Both the Santa Fe and the Suwannee are running very clear these days.

Jerry