Paradise Springs

[BgDadddy]

I disagree. It is a semi-fun dive to do once or maybe twice... After that, there's nothing else to see.

I can't imagine the place taking in anywhere close to enough money to justify that price.

Rick

[Gary]

I was at Paradise last weekend the owner told me the cave goes to 200'+ after a small restriction, he had dove it that deep but indicated he talked first hand to the person that did.

I spoke to him about that also. He had some doubts that it really went that deep. Those passages are horriably soft sandstone. I don't think it goes to 200'. I only saw 150'-160' and it didn't look like it was going anywhere from there. There is shallower sidemount passage there that seems much more promising.

[caverkevin]

Where is the "Ginnie springs" water from Publix pumped from? I see the botteling plant whenever I go to Ginnie, but do they have a well? or are they taking it from the river?

Just curious...

Next time you pull past the big new Ginnie guard shack. As you are turning in you are pointed right at the well house. Right of the shop entrance, between the parking lot and the tube storage. Then on you way out to loop back into the park. The pipeline run out at ~11o'clock when looking south at the gate before the right turn. Filled in better now, back in '99 there was a two-track over the pipe. What I was told there is a nice junction room below the pump house. With the water splitting between Ginnie and Dogwood. IIRC the well casing is 8". Not big enough to sneak down and dive.

Cheers!!

Kevin

[Ken Hill]

I spoke to him about that also. He had some doubts that it really went that deep. Those passages are horriably soft sandstone. I don't think it goes to 200'. I only saw 150'-160' and it didn't look like it was going anywhere from there. There is shallower sidemount passage there that seems much more promising.

Gary,

After many attempts in various areas of the deep section I was only able to hit 163'. In all cases I ran out of vis because of silt usually about ten feet shallower from the deep points. It is almost all breakdown and no way to to see anything beyond that.

The side mount passage you refer to has been pushed and it's ceiling is very soft Hawthorne limestone. That like the cave at Coleman is vey fragile and very unsafe to dive.

Now for the good news. Paradise will stay open to diving and training. The water bottlers and others have not tendered an offer to purchase it.

/Ken