Great News at Hart Spring

[Jerry]

I presented to the Gilchrist County Commission last night; the vote was unanimous to allow diving access through the Little Hart entrance. Now we have two entrances; visiting the downstream part of the cave is no longer a downstream dive from Black Lagoon AND you don't have to worry about gators lurking in the shadows.

This part of the cave is larger and vastly different from the upstream. To minimize negative swimmer and diver interaction the entrance will seasonal; open from Oct 1 to March 31.

Jerry

[Kelly Jessop]

Great news Jerry!

[Diverlee]

Great!
Do we still need a guide and can you do the whole dive from this entrance, if you wanted to?

[WEPIV]

Wonderful news Jerry! I go there often with the wife and children just to swim and this will be an improvement.
Now, what about Gilchrist County and Otter Springs...?

[Jerry]

Great!
Do we still need a guide and can you do the whole dive from this entrance, if you wanted to?

Yes it still a guided dive; Gilchrist Co. has been advised by lawyers and insurance carrier to keep it this way.

If I recall correctly it is around 1,600 ft to Black Lagoon from Little Hart; yes you can see the entire system from this opening.

Jerry

[sskasser]

Awesome news! Great work, folks!

[Sludge]

Where can I find an online map of the system? I've only been in the system once and can't quite picture what's what and where's where.

[Jerry]

There are no maps; Wes is working on one though.

Jerry

[Sludge]

Okay, I re-read the description and I think I have it. Little Hart is one of the entrances from the spring run, right? So you can enter there, swim 1,600 feet to Black Lagoon, and then there's about 2,000 feet beyond that. Am I close?

[cavediver256]

Great news Jerry !!!! BTW, thanks for all the work you have done there.