volusia blue

[ARY]

Went there on may-25 after 2yrs since i 've been there last time. Viz 30-40ft worsening at Cork Rock restriction. Depth at restriction 125ft, temp 75F. Debris is filling up the restriction and gravel/sand slope is sliding in to be picked up and thrown back. Currents pattern changed and I would expect restriction layouts will have more changes in a near future. Green stuff is all over the rock down there, catfish and placos are gone. Only few fish in a spring run. Water in the run is hasy not to mention it is very shallow now. This spring used to be crystal clear and full of fish, not anymore. Volusia is lawfully in a name of housing development businesses is killing first magnitude spring and amazing unexplored yet challenging cave within it. The CR restriction is a still high flow because now it is twice smaller in size so don't expect it will ever let easy to see the cave below.

[Mike Edmonston]

Went there on may-25 after 2yrs since i 've been there last time. Viz 30-40ft worsening at Cork Rock restriction. Depth at restriction 125ft, temp 75F. Debris is filling up the restriction and gravel/sand slope is sliding in to be picked up and thrown back. Currents pattern changed and I would expect restriction layouts will have more changes in a near future. Green stuff is all over the rock down there, catfish and placos are gone. Only few fish in a spring run. Water in the run is hasy not to mention it is very shallow now. This spring used to be crystal clear and full of fish, not anymore. Volusia is lawfully in a name of housing development businesses is killing first magnitude spring and amazing unexplored yet challenging cave within it. The CR restriction is a still high flow because now it is twice smaller in size so don't expect it will ever let easy to see the cave below.

Is there actually anything below that restriction? I was under the impression that once through it was a nonpassable passage, but since the flow was so high, I never bothered to look, (not that I could get past that flow if I wanted to)

Thanks

[Scubastud16]

We're talking about Blue Spring near Lake Mary, right? I love that place. Never been much past the sign, but I can't wait to head back soon. I've heard stories of the fire hose that is that restriction. I was under the impression there was not much beyond it.

[jj1987]

That system has a lot of bad information out there about it. I've heard people say the whole thing is only a cavern.....I've dove it several times at various times of the day and NEVER been able to get to the end before turning the dive because I ran out of light. I'm starting to think divers are saying they went all the way when they really didn't.

Where is the restriction? Looking at the cavern map, I've almost been to the end of what's mapped (max depth 95ft hovering off the bottom). I cant imagine the flow in that thing coming out of a restriction, it's really strong already in the cavern opening.

[Scubastud16]

I'm told the 'restriction' is at the bottom, and is a hole covered across by another rock the splits the flow in two. I'm assuming that's what he is talking about.

[Tegg]

I am sure the condition of the spring has nothing to do with Volusia county adding more wells and recently turning them on for service.

The day they were turned on Blue Spring changed. It has never been the same since. The St. John's Water Management District has destroyed yet another spring, this one being the largest as a first magnitude spring. They should be proud.

[Mike Edmonston]

I'm told the 'restriction' is at the bottom, and is a hole covered across by another rock the splits the flow in two. I'm assuming that's what he is talking about.

Yes,

I was referring to the "fire hose nozzle" that is on the bottom.

[ARY]

Where is the restriction?...

I'm talking about Blue in Orange City. I know the person who have been below and returned alive

Joe, after my dive i went to check 3 depressions in woods nearby but they didn't have limestone exposure just a swampy ground w/little water in it. Tons of ticks and fleas. So upstream alternate entry is unknown if exist.

[jj1987]

I'm talking about Blue in Orange City. I know the person who have been below and returned alive

Yeah, that's the one I was talking about as well. All I saw near the end was sand boils and a little silt.

The water is green, there's crap in it, and fish are near non existent. I would have loved to see this place in it's hay day, because the rock formations are some of the neatest I've ever seen.

[Mike Edmonston]

Yeah, that's the one I was talking about as well. All I saw near the end was sand boils and a little silt.

The water is green, there's crap in it, and fish are near non existent. I would have loved to see this place in it's hay day, because the rock formations are some of the neatest I've ever seen.

I shot some footage there in 2005 or 2006. I'll see if I can upload some of it. It's really a neet cavern, with the stepped ledges.

Safe Diving