Ben,
That's a great link, some really good pictures. Very interesting looking cave.
Do you know how far from the nearest boat ramp the entrance is?
Looks like I need to tow my little river boat over there and do some diving with you
It's bad luck to be superstitious.
Its about a 5 mile boat ride from the nearest dock. It was well worth the trip just to see the cave it extremely unique.
Benjamin Kuster
That's a looong way for a 16ft Jon boatOriginally Posted by kuster500
Does anybody run charters out to it? Looks like they do.
It's bad luck to be superstitious.
Hell, up here on Lake Champlain t'ain't nothin to see a 16 foot jonboat 5 miles from shore on 4 foot swells with four big guys & 2 coolers of beer in it and an inch or two of freeboard!That's a looong way for a 16ft Jon boat
Up here we call 'em woodchucks instead of rednecks or bubbas, but the principle's the same.
Mike
Woodchucks- that's funny.
Information from the Goodenough Springs Exploration Project
It has been brought to my attention that the subject of diving at Goodenough Springs has become a topic of discussion on one or more of the diving forums. As the Director of the Goodenough Springs Exploration Project I would like to outline our position with regards to public diving at the site.
First of all the GSEP supports the right of qualified divers to visit and dive at Goodenough Springs, but we assume no responsibility for the actions of such divers. The information we provide on our website (www.goodenoughsprings.org) or through private communication is provided only as a public service and is not to be construed as any sort of “guidance”. You assume all risk for your activities there.
The dive site lies within the boundaries of a federally owned recreation area and falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the United States Government. The US Park Service is known for using a “heavy hand” in situations where they feel the public is at elevated risk. In fact, they have already enacted and currently enforce a legal prohibition on diving at the Rough Canyon Dam site (on lake Amistad) due to a singular diving accident there.
The Goodenough Springs Exploration Project is a voluntary and non-profit research and exploration effort that is entering its 9th year of continual operation. Since the installation of the first permanent mooring system in 2000 we have collectively spent in excess of $70,000.00 in our efforts to protect, explore, and study this distinctive resource. This is an active and ongoing project, and any effort to usurp our work will be met with strong opposition. The current mooring exists and the site is only accessible due to the hard work and expenditures noted above. While anyone is welcome to dive at Goodenough Springs we respectfully request that they do not disturb anything in the cave nor make attempts at extending any previously explored passage.
Potential divers should note that this cave system requires special techniques and qualifications beyond being Full-Cave certified by a recognized training agency. Due to the extreme normal depths of the system, divers entering into the cave without the use of Trimix breathing mixtures are in violation of their certification parameters. Additionally, we do not believe that Full-Cave and Trimix certifications alone qualify divers to dive in the extreme environment they may encounter. It is not the responsibility of the GSEP to monitor nor police divers at the site, but we fully support safe diving practices as outlined by the NSS-CDS and the NACD.
It is not within the scope of the GSEP to publish any advice or guidance regarding diving at Goodenough Springs but feel free to contact us at gsep@goodenoughsprings.org with any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Chuck Noe
Thank you Chuck,
What other training, in your opinion, in addition to Full Cave and Trimix do you feel is necessary to safely dive Goodenough Springs cave system?
It's bad luck to be superstitious.
I cannot categorically state that there is ANY specific certification that prepares one for diving in extreme environments. But it should be obvious that diving in a cave where the entrance is at 160 ffw+ would be foolhardy without full-cave and mix training, certification, and experience as a bare minimum.
There are additional hazards including but not limited to extremely high flow (often in excess of 250 fpm in the Fire Hydrant Tunnel) and unstable gravel restrictions. I have personally witnessed passable openings which have closed in the course of a dive.
While the initial portions of the system aren't so arduous, our project employs a slow and deliberate progression of each participating diver that requires being accompanied by a more experienced diver at each level of progressive penetration. Much like the "guide sysyem" used in Florida (at such locations as Indian and Alachua), we believe that divers should progress with guidance and great caution in dangerous caves such as Goodenough Springs.
That sounds like pretty good advice mixed in with some hands on experience.
Thanks again Chuck.
It's bad luck to be superstitious.
I also heard that the site was sidemount. Is the whole thing sidemount or is there just a sidemount restriction at around 300' depth?
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