New spots to dive

[allen]

I don't know what the rules are. I do remember that Madison Blue has a nice, big cavern zone. Peacock 3 has a very silty entrance and small cavern zone that is silted out by the time one gets into it. I would definitely not recommend Peacock 3 as a cavern dive.

[RN]

So back to the original question, anybody willing to share a little beta about some new sites near Mayo???

Please Please Please????

Thanks again for the info so far.

David

You won't get it here, not anything other than the sites you've already mentioned. Like Mat said, there's a ton more out there, but it's nothing you'll ever (hopefully) see anyone talking about by name on the 'net. These are the protected areas that we want to stay that way. If you want to learn about them, you need to dive with us and gain our trust. When you head to Marianna, let me know. I'll dive with you. Then maybe I'll share some beta.


BTW, Blue Spring (Orange City) is closed until March due to manatees.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Wouldn't recommend. Not much of cavern,and if you take a peak a little bit,it is easy to get stuck.

I enjoyed it when I was a cavern diver. We didn't attempt the cave portion. Its a small cavern, but I always thought it was picturesque, along with the OW around the entrance. Probably still one of the most attractive settings I've seen.

Even now, as a cave diver, diving in sidemount, I haven't gone into that cave system Just looks really really low. The thought never crossed my mind as a cavern diver to go in.

[Blackchains]

We now have Buford on the list as a definite, any help getting us there including directions to the gate will be well appreciated.

Thanks,

David

[wetagain]

Blue springs in Orange City, is a good cavern dive a couple of times.

[Scubastud16]

Keep in mind Blue is closed till March 1st, but I'm always down for Blue Springs.

[JE]

TJ's backyard-! >.<




ps: need's a cleanup dive 1st though.

[solocavediver]

Coo, I'm getting nostalgic for Florida just reading this thread. To get to Buford find the main entrance to Chassahowitzka wildlife management area off US19 (on the R. (West) half way from Chassahowitzka to Weeki Watchee). Inside is an iron ranger where you pay a small fee. If you turn left before the iron ranger, that way goes to the Eagles nest after 10 miles or more of third world cart track. Instead, go past the iron ranger and fork gently left where the road splits. Follow this other cart track for rather less than 10 miles - maybe 5 or 6 - and you come to a stretch where the trees close in and the ground on either side is very wet and logs are laid down in places but you still wonder if you're going to slide into the water. When that ends, there's a small track to the right that they don't want you taking a car down (chained off). Go down it on foot until it ends (ca. half mile). Continue in the same direction or a little left through swamp for about 150 yards. It really matters if the mosquitos are biting. There are reflective markers on the trees to guide you into the wettest, most mosquito-infested part of the swamp (?). You come to a beautiful pool in the middle of nowhere. Enjoy. Be aware it is likely a deco dive (140 feet if I recall).

God Bless,

Charles.

We now have Buford on the list as a definite, any help getting us there including directions to the gate will be well appreciated.

Thanks,

David

[john]

Other then the dive itself.

I liked that it was hard to find and people didnt post the directions on the net...

Thanks for fixing that problem....

[w ripley]

David:

I know you don't want to hear this, but with all of the diving you're doing in and around caves you owe it to yourself (as does your buddy) to get your full-cave card.

There is so much back there you could be seeing and diving. I'm sure you are a careful and safe diver, but there are so many important survival skills that you can learn in full-cave training.

I took up cave diving just to learn how to run a reel so that I could safely penetrate the Andrea Doria. Who would have thought that the bug would have bitten me like it has. Several trips to Mexico and hundreds of hours in Florida and it never gets old. The more you dive, the farther you go and the more you see.

Hope 2009 sees a "Full Cave" card in your wallet. Hope to see you in the caves.

Regards,

Bill