Who was Abe Davis?

It surprises me that with all the discussion lately about the Abe Davis Award, nobody has asked who Abe Davis was. Maybe instructors have been telling all of their students about his exploits when they take them to Little River (that's where I learned who he was), or maybe people are just too embarassed to ask questions about "the first cave diver."

Neither Google nor Yahoo searches turn up anything. He's not on Wikipedia. So I'm asking anyone who knows more about him than I do to respond and tell us about him.

Abe Davis was a slave who lived in north Florida around the time of the War Between the States. After the war he was freed, and became the "world's first cave diver." Back then, in addition to the current entrance to Little River, there was another entrance about forty feet to the right. A person could enter one hole, swim about a hundred feet, and exit the other. Mr. Davis would perform this feat for money.

When I was told this story, I wondered how spooky it would be to make this traverse. If the second entrance were still there, it would probably be something I could do, with a mask, fins, and light. Abe Davis had none of these. That's what impresses me the most, that he guessed the traverse existed, and then swam IN THE DARK to find it.

[FW]

Sheck Exley found the reference to Abe Davis in the Live Oak newspaper archives. From what I remember, the "other entrance" was a lot closer than 40'. It was more like the natural bridge entrance to Telford, or Lafayette Blue, with natural light all the way through.

[Jay]

So Forrest, you remember the opening??



Sorry, I couldn't resist!!!!!

[Gary]

A person could enter one hole, swim about a hundred feet, and exit the other.

mask, fins, and light. Abe Davis had none of these. ... he guessed the traverse existed, and then swam IN THE DARK to find it.

You forgot "tanks and air" he didn't have those either.

So based on all that someone decided to create a "cave diving safety award" in his honor.

How appropriate.

[Cave Ranger]

A person could enter one hole, swim about a hundred feet, and exit the other.

mask, fins, and light. Abe Davis had none of these. ... he guessed the traverse existed, and then swam IN THE DARK to find it.

You forgot "tanks and air" he didn't have those either.

So based on all that someone decided to create a "cave diving safety award" in his honor.

How appropriate.

Thanks for saying what I was thinking, Gary but didn't figure I should rag on a hallowed award or the person it was named after since I am still a newbie and now officially 100 dives away from ever attaining one.
In fairness though shouldn't Mr. Davis be regarded as cave freediver? Cave snorkeler maybe? And what he did while admirable from a Darwin Awards perspective it sure ain't safe cave diving.

It was more like the natural bridge entrance to Telford, or Lafayette Blue, with natural light all the way through.

If this were the case, would people have paid to see him do it? Or would he have developed enough of a reputation to be called the first cave diver?

[aainslie]

A person could enter one hole, swim about a hundred feet, and exit the other.

mask, fins, and light. Abe Davis had none of these. ... he guessed the traverse existed, and then swam IN THE DARK to find it.

You forgot "tanks and air" he didn't have those either.

So based on all that someone decided to create a "cave diving safety award" in his honor.

How appropriate.

Well, he survived it didn't he?

Well, he survived it didn't he?

Apparently not. All I know is he's dead now.

[Dan Thoms]

[OFG-1]

Well, he survived it didn't he?

Apparently not. All I know is he's dead now.

Well Sludge,

"As the poets have mournfully sung,
Death takes the innocent young,
The rolling-in-money,
The screamingly-funny,
And those who are very well hung."

-- W. H. Auden