Ltl River

[a64pilot]

Dove Little River both Sat and Sun. Sat the flow was strong, vis pretty good, but a little smoky, 50 ft. at least.
But, Sun morning the flow was ripping, there were places where it took speed three on the Magnus to make headway, and about 2,000 ft. back it got real smoky, almost milky, 20 to 30 ft. vis, she's a blowing

[DA Aquamaster]

Sounds like fun - wish we were there. Last time we were there (week before Labor Day) the flow was up and we scootered in and then just drifted back out on one of the dives. Very pleasant.

[Greenwood_60]

Did you get a chance to check out the ceiling of the Florida Room? I find that room to be absolutely incredible.

[DA Aquamaster]

Yes, that's one of the reasons we often drift out. going high in the FL room and taking in the view of the ceiling is a highlight.

[a64pilot]

Did you get a chance to check out the ceiling of the Florida Room? I find that room to be absolutely incredible.

I don't know, don't have a map. I got back to where the depth comes up rather quickly, seemed to be a little bit of a squeeze, seemed to be a sandy bottom, about 2,000 ft back, maybe? About as far as I thought it prudent to go solo and unfamiliar with the cave, I turned at 1/6ths, was in there only 30 min.

[Greenwood_60]

The Florida Room starts just after the second T (the gold line splits at the first T, and comes back together at the second T). After the T the passage opens up a bit, then you bend to the left and the Room opens up further. I believe you are somewhere around p.900' when you enter the Florida Room. I'm sure you passed through it.

The first segment (entrance is at the lower right of the map) of yellow highlight is the path we went on out Saturday dive. The second section I've highlighted is the Florida room. I can't comment on anything more than about 100' past the end of the Florida Room.

[MORGAN]

I don't know, don't have a map. I got back to where the depth comes up rather quickly, seemed to be a little bit of a squeeze, seemed to be a sandy bottom, about 2,000 ft back, maybe? About as far as I thought it prudent to go solo and unfamiliar with the cave, I turned at 1/6ths, was in there only 30 min.

That sounds like the Dome Room.

[Kelly Jessop]

About as far as I thought it prudent to go solo and unfamiliar with the cave, I turned at 1/6ths, was in there only 30 min.

FWIW,Little River deserves your prudence. Not knowing certain landmarks ie dropping scooters at the Dome Room and not scootering beyond this point has had fatal consequences in the past.

[a64pilot]

I didn't get off the gold line, but there are a few twists and turns, enough so that I didn't think it good to go any further until I knew the cave. A scooter of course can get you in way over your head much faster than you think as it can cover so much ground in so little time. I think a mitigating factor in little river was the flow, the flow was so strong that if I lost the scooter, I would get blown out almost as fast as I went in.
Kelly, are you saying I went too far, or just saying be careful as people have died in the past there?

[Kelly Jessop]

Kelly, are you saying I went too far, or just saying be careful as people have died in the past there?

General rule of thumb to Little River is drop scooters at the Dome room,and swim,but unfortunately there isn't a sign saying where the Dome room is. The floor to ceiling height in this area is smaller,and the floor has a lot of clay when going to the well casing. A few years ago there were two divers that scootered past the Dome room and blew out the system,which resulted in a fatality. I think they were intro divers,but certification isn't immune to the effects,because I remember Little River being zero viz at the cavern,and thought there was a collapse,until I saw the clay caked scooters in the parking lot. Little River sounds almost like the old days,just with out the air clear water.