Lower Orange

[JDR]

Has anyone been in Lower Orange since the floods? It's one of my favorite dives and I wouldn't mind knowing about conditions. IF nobody's been down there, I'll post a report after I get back from ski country.

[HomoErectus]

Are you going to "dive" white orgnc caves in sky country ???

[JDR]

Hopefully we will get a winter storm that dumps 6" of powder a day for the week. Sheri had me out today looking for goodies so she can maximize the time there.
Can't wait to dive again when we return. Still looking at the 16-19 for diving? LR should be nice.

Cheers and enjoy your full cave class!

j. Rumph

[HomoErectus]

[Still looking at the 16-19 for diving?] I made all the proper arrangements, so I am free those days. They will be my first official/legal Full Cave Dives.

Hope you have fun up there and don't freeze. [/quote]

[Widiver_Paul]

Has anyone been in Lower Orange since the floods? It's one of my favorite dives and I wouldn't mind knowing about conditions. IF nobody's been down there, I'll post a report after I get back from ski country.

Just got back from Fla, what a trip!!

The basin at Orange is about the same, Cisteen is funky green (almost like an ice dive, I think we were the first in there in a while, the line was pretty silty), the vis is a good 30-40'; great for us hardcore wisconsin cavers, but probably scary for you spoiled Florida divers Seriously, the Grand Traverse was a good dive for us, it's just a little damn dark in there these days. It seemed like high traffic areas like the Peanut tunnel were improving over the week we were there- you can see white coming back on edges, etc. It'll be a while til things are pristine again, but look for improvement over the next 2 years. Over all, it's still a very good place to dive, just not the same place that I saw in June. At least you don't have to worry about overcrowding! BTW water is like at the 4th stair at Orange and on the 6th stair at Peacock I.

[crawford]

It'll be a while til things are pristine again, but look for improvement over the next 2 years.

Two years? Did you mean to say that?

[HomoErectus]

It'll be a while til things are pristine again, but look for improvement over the next 2 years.

Two years? Did you mean to say that?

He probably meant to say, 2 weeks.

[Widiver_Paul]

It'll be a while til things are pristine again, but look for improvement over the next 2 years.

Two years? Did you mean to say that?

He probably meant to say, 2 weeks.

I'm being optimistic: some are speculating { gasp } changes are permanent.... which I don't beleive, but unless you guys get in there with your featherdusters...

[resolute]

I'm being optimistic: some are speculating { gasp } changes are permanent.... which I don't beleive, but unless you guys get in there with your featherdusters...

The FL State Parks could always go hire the people at Vortex to bring their giant underwater dredges and "blasting" setup.... They could tunnel through the ceiling periodically to access and "Vacuum" things out....

On second thought... nah... maybe that's not a good idea...

JB

[Moonfuzzy]

I remember that after the last flood the walls were stained from the tannin for a while, and lots of dust was brought into the cave. Once the spring starts pumping again that goes away.. but I think it takes less then a year.. although the longer there is between floods the whiter it could get I suppose.