Tightest Sidemount Cave System ?

[Gregthecaver]

The thread about Royal got me thinking about this. I have heard that Convict and Branford Springs are 2 of the most restrictive passage caves.Is this true? What are some springs that any of you know about that are almost suicidal tight ? AND LET ME STATE FOR THE RECORD, NO,I AM NOT ENCOURAGING ANYONE TO GO TO THESE SPRINGS AND HAVE NO DESIRE TO GO TO THEM MYSELF.JUST MAKING THAT CLEAR. So what do you think are the most advanced sidemount caves or areas?

Greg

The thread about Royal got me thinking about this. I have heard that Convict and Branford Springs are 2 of the most restrictive passage caves.Is this true? What are some springs that any of you know about that are almost suicidal tight ? AND LET ME STATE FOR THE RECORD, NO,I AM NOT ENCOURAGING ANYONE TO GO TO THESE SPRINGS AND HAVE NO DESIRE TO GO TO THEM MYSELF.JUST MAKING THAT CLEAR. So what do you think are the most advanced sidemount caves or areas?
Greg

Most cave systems have 'restrictive' or 'tight' passages that don't happen to be at the entrance and the terms 'restrictive' and 'tight' are very subjective.

I know of four (4) classifications of 'tight' (there are probably more):
1) Backmount Tight (squeeze through with backmount)
2) Sidemount Tight (squeeze through with sidemount rig)
3) No-mount Tight (squeeze through pushing tanks)
4) Woody Jasper Tight (not humanly possible, but there is a line in there)

[Tegg]

The thread about Royal got me thinking about this. I have heard that Convict and Branford Springs are 2 of the most restrictive passage caves.Is this true? What are some springs that any of you know about that are almost suicidal tight ? AND LET ME STATE FOR THE RECORD, NO,I AM NOT ENCOURAGING ANYONE TO GO TO THESE SPRINGS AND HAVE NO DESIRE TO GO TO THEM MYSELF.JUST MAKING THAT CLEAR. So what do you think are the most advanced sidemount caves or areas?

Greg

Honestly, you may never hear of the "tightest" or "most advanced" sidemount caves...

TJ, I like #4.... hahaha... seen a few of those...

[SLIM]

4) Woody Jasper Tight (not humanly possible, but there is a line in there)


You know TJ, that gives a whole new meaning to he word got a woody in the cave diving comunity. Or did you see the woody in there.

SLIM

[rchrds]

Convict is no where close. Branford is nasty- but not sidemount. No mount only due to the tube shape just prior to the big room- but gets nice after that. (har har har.). Another horrific one that most dont think about is Bathtub- long after the end of the line (I pulled the one I put in) goes no-mount with a single 40, and then the turns are almost too tight for the tank length. Washtub is another cool Woody line- sweet nurd gate in the beginning with extremely sharp lstone that pokes and cuts everything- drops semi-deep to a mud trough- I figured out why Woody quit really fast. Just ran into another of his on the withlacoochie this weekend- two consecutive one bottle off thin restrictions with silt everywhere and black water- lots of fun- the line is in tatters- old layed-style line too. good stuff.

I would have to say Branford takes the cake easily- Only because the restriction is almost 100 feet long and so low- this has been backed up by the fact that in all the years having a shop over top, and since, only one person has ever passed the restriction. And hasn't gone back.

Oh- forgot another basket of suck- Edwards- both bottles off against high flow at 160' almost 3000 feet back in low viz. Has all the makings of a sweet dive.

Ask Hemphill as well. He has tried mine, and he's seen a bunch I havent down south.

As with the above- this is no recommendation of places to dive. I've already tried to die once, it does not come recommended. (A little pricey to boot.) Stick to the nice places and work your way smaller if you want.

j

[curtschu]

I'm not sure how to form this question... But the references to Woody Jasper seem to infer the he is not around anymore. What has come of him? One of my last dives before taking a break from cave diving was at Apopka Blue with him. Any information would be great.

[Cindy]

I ran into Woody at the FSS Cave Cavort. He is alive and busy. He was telling some great stories of the filming of "The Cave" as he was in charge of underwater special effects. You just have to watch those cavers when they get some boom. Someone needs to record that man's story telling.

[curtschu]

Didn't Gene Broome get in there at least once? I seem to remember him telling me he has no mounted it a couple of times. Speaking of old cavers Is Broome still in the business? last I heard he was selling for Cochrane.

[rchrds]

Didn't Gene Broome get in there at least once? I seem to remember him telling me he has no mounted it a couple of times. Speaking of old cavers Is Broome still in the business? last I heard he was selling for Cochrane.

Nope- Gene only got to the beginning of the major restriction. I recovered his shovel for him.

J

[Gregthecaver]

The thread about Royal got me thinking about this. I have heard that Convict and Branford Springs are 2 of the most restrictive passage caves.Is this true? What are some springs that any of you know about that are almost suicidal tight ? AND LET ME STATE FOR THE RECORD, NO,I AM NOT ENCOURAGING ANYONE TO GO TO THESE SPRINGS AND HAVE NO DESIRE TO GO TO THEM MYSELF.JUST MAKING THAT CLEAR. So what do you think are the most advanced sidemount caves or areas?

Greg

Honestly, you may never hear of the "tightest" or "most advanced" sidemount caves...

TJ, I like #4.... hahaha... seen a few of those...

Hehe...yeah I figured the best dive holes would be some of the private ones that on a few souls know about