Forty Fathoms Grotto

[sskasser]

Has anyone been there since they reopened?

[Walter Pickel]

I haven't but my buddy has a couple of times. Apparently not much of anything has changed either.

A couple of recent condition reports can be found on the 40 Fathom System Page

[Cave Ranger]

This was posted on the link:
"The best viz at Hal's I have ever seen. They put in a new motorcycle"

And now the rant:
What is it about dropping all that salvage yard junk into what amounts to a Florida Cenote? I mean no personal offense to anyone but shouldn't we be trying to get all of that junk out of there?
Every other karst window/spring/cave that the yokels have used to throw their old junk into over the years and still use as a trash bin has garnered criticism and calls for a cleanup. Though privately owned, why is this site still being used to sink junk into?
I know that it was done originally to attract business but this is the year 2007 and it's not opened to the public.
I used to do things that I'm not proud of because I didn't know any better but there can't still be anyone in the dive/cave diving community that thinks that sinking old wrecked junk into a freshwater sink is a good idea. I mean it's not like it's going to create an artificial reef like it does in the ocean. What gives? Help me to understand.

[sskasser]

Are there any EPA regulations regarding what is put in there? Similar to the procedures for sinking "artificial reefs" like the Mighty O?

[Cave Ranger]

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Okay then. Well if anyone needs me I'll be trying to jam an old rusted out VW Beetle into Little River. Can somebody lend me a Helicopter?

[OFG-1]

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Okay then. Well if anyone needs me I'll be trying to jam an old rusted out VW Beetle into Little River. Can somebody lend me a Helicopter?

Can you make sure the seats are at 20', and try to get the steering wheel out of the way. I could use a good deco habitat at LR.

p.s. It wouldn't hurt to have the trunk lid off, so we could jam our O2 bottles in there, and just take a 7' hose around through the window.

Thanks

[Walter Pickel]

Are there any EPA regulations regarding what is put in there? Similar to the procedures for sinking "artificial reefs" like the Mighty O?

That's exactly what we need...More regulation...good plan dude.

Maybe we should pull the air dome out of Blue Grotto, all the platforms that touch the water at all caves systems, Leroy, Ninja Turtles, Tricycles (1500' in in Suwannee Blue), all deco habitats, all lines (is kremantle EPA approved?), all arrows (what material you using?), PVC stakes (and other types of line securing devices -- e.g. cinder blocks), the line placements in Peacock (cement flower pots), Grim Reaper signs, and maybe one more...is it legal to urinate in a state-owned watershed?

Hell, these are great ideas, please take more of my tax money to fund your EPA regulation discovery OR calm down and go diving. Enjoy, the fossils that have been left for us and future generations will enjoy ours. We recently discovered a 1920's Chevy truck in a system in High Springs. Should we pull that out too or simply think it's cool and enjoy it?

[sskasser]

That's exactly what we need...More regulation...good plan dude.

Oops, I should have been a little more "wordy"! I definitely am not advocating more regulation, less yes, but definitely not more. I was only asking what/if regulations existed for that situation.

...is it legal to urinate in a state-owned watershed?

I sure hope not, otherwise, I'm probably looking at 20-life in the big house.

...OR calm down and go diving. Enjoy, the fossils that have been left for us and future generations will enjoy ours. We recently discovered a 1920's Chevy truck in a system in High Springs. Should we pull that out too or simply think it's cool and enjoy it?

Absolutely! I'll be diving as soon as I get out of this padded cell, er uh, cubicle, this afternoon! And I'd LOVE to see that truck next time I'm up there, sounds very cool, even if it is a Chevy PM me with the location?

Happy Diving!

[curtschu]

If so come by and say hi to the cook saturday

[sskasser]

Thanks Curt, would love to come "Cavort", but I'll be south of y'all this weekend (40 Fathoms and the Atlantic). I'll be up that way next weekend, and most of the following week, though. Save me some hotdogs!

Have a great Cavort!