Chipola River Caves

[Nondem]

I did a trip down the chipola a few years back and passed several springs and caves. One was called Dyke spring as I remember and it looked at the time to be too small to get into....I was looking through OW eyes at the time though.
Also, the most interesting one I noticed was right where the railroad crossed the river. On the western side of the river - a little ways from the riverbank there is a dry cave that you can walk a few yards into before coming to a big pool of water. I did'nt have a good light at the time but it looked like it might have an UW cave.

Does anyone have any info on these systems?

[Tegg]

I'd also like to know.

Personally, I will be exploring some stuff up there soon... 8)

[Scott Hunsucker]

The cave near the railroad tracks is known as Bat Colon Cave given the huge amont of bat dung, dead bats, etc. It is the site that Dan Nieves and I rescued the OW diver about two years ago. The site is closed and patroled, but you aren't missing anything as it is only about 300 feet in total. Not worthy of the effort. Most others on the Chipola are no-mount, small, short, etc.
Scott Hunsucker

[rchrds]

Not worthy of the effort. Most others on the Chipola are no-mount, small, short, etc.
Scott Hunsucker

BWAHAHAHAHA. Bat Colon Cave. It has another name, though that is appropriate. If you can get past the fact that the whole cave is warmer than the river due to the sewage plant discharging into it. Awesome. Very pleasant cave.

Jason

[EEL]

BWAHAHAHAHA. Bat Colon Cave. It has another name, though that is appropriate. If you can get past the fact that the whole cave is warmer than the river due to the sewage plant discharging into it. Awesome. Very pleasant cave.

Jason

Jason,

This is no longer the case. While the Marianna wastewater plant used to discharge into the run of Newts Well for many years; the city's new plant now has an irrigation reuse site for hay production about 15 miles south of town. All wastewater discharge to the Newts Well run was discontinued in April 2007.

Dive Safe,

Mark

[rchrds]

Mark, glad to hear it- It was around 05 the last time I was there.

Thanks!

Jason

Jason,

This is no longer the case. While the Marianna wastewater plant used to discharge into the run of Newts Well for many years; the city's new plant now has an irrigation reuse site for hay production about 15 miles south of town. All wastewater discharge to the Newts Well run was discontinued in April 2007.

Dive Safe,

Mark

[Nondem]

The cave near the railroad tracks is known as Bat Colon Cave given the huge amont of bat dung, dead bats, etc. It is the site that Dan Nieves and I rescued the OW diver about two years ago. The site is closed and patroled, but you aren't missing anything as it is only about 300 feet in total. Not worthy of the effort. Most others on the Chipola are no-mount, small, short, etc.
Scott Hunsucker

Is there a narrative of what happened on that rescue somewhere? I assume there is a sump involved since the guy was still alive....

[Moonfuzzy]

Here is a story from the AP:

http://www.polkonline.com/stories/06...verbeats.shtml

[Dwain]

Wow... Talk about luck.

[DeWayne]

Some of the river caves have some small caverns that can make for a good departure from the crowds upstream. Nice way to waste a day, floating down and looking in the holes along the way. Nothing spectacular but worth a look for some perhaps.