Paradise Springs 7/4/08

[Scubastud16]

PfcAJ, Phishfood and I went to Paradise on Friday with 2 other friends for some cavern dives. They were my first dives after my cavern class. Did two dives with a nice long surface interval. Max depth was around 95 on both dives. We got there about 30 minutes after they opened, and began to gear up. We got in the water for our pre-dive checks, and noticed AJ's wing inflator had a leak that was getting worse. He and David walked back up to check it out while I continued to float. I cringed when I watched two OW divers (one in a shorty...sheesh) walk down and get in about 15 minutes before David and AJ came back. They were nice enough, but they did their damage to the viz before we could drop.

I ran reel on the first dive....talk about massive task loading. The depth here drops pretty fast, so I became a hoover pretty quickly attempting to run line, find placements, hit the inflator, and clear as fast as I could. It was a good learning experience. David was my second, AJ was third. On the second dive AJ ran reel, I was second, David was third. AJ also had a primary light failure on the first dive....it was not his day! We were determined to find where the flow came into and out of this place, and we found flow in at two different spots.

Only a couple of surface pics...even if I could have taken pictures while we were under, they would have been pretty nasty due to the viz. Notice in the third pic (kind of hard to see) that we had several of these very large surface sentinels. I'm incredible arachnaphobia, but these didn't bother me too much. Each one was about 3-4'' in diameter.

[inkdiver]

Sounds like you guys had a good time. The task loading will get easier over time, just practice practice practice.

[Cantey]

great report, where's paradise at? private access?

[scblade27]

Paradise springs is in Ocala. It is basically a sink hole that opened up in this guys back yard. Now he charges $30 a diver to go. Its an easy dive, with great viz (unless other friendly divers muck it up), no flow and about 95 feet deep before you get to the cave zone. I have never been into the cave, but was told its nothing to write home about. I guess it is pretty small and doesnt really go anywhere.

Danny, I have a couple of good pics of your team. A lot didnt come out very well because of the fine particles that got kicked up in the water, and my lack of strobe. After I get them posted I will send you the link.

It was a fun dive, we will definitely have to get out with you again soon. There is not too many people i like (read: trust enough) to go diving with, but you guys really seem to have it together.

http://www.floridacaves.com/paradisemap.JPG <--There is the layout of the spring

[scblade27]

http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/h...ings%207-4-08/

^ Link to the pics

[MengTze]

That cave does go down a little, it does get small and very silty. Going in is a guaranteed exit on the line. It is barely doable all the way on BG, sidemount would be a little easier.

[stairman]

We went there once.I may go again but its not on my short list.Those banana spiders arent poisonous but they will bite.If it were closer to another hole or wasent so expensive it would be more desirable.

[Scubastud16]

Kevin, I didn't realize you were on here or I would have included you guys on the report...sorry about leaving you out! Thanks for the pictures.

It's not a bad dive, especially for a new overhead diver. It's a pretty nice cavern, and relatively close to me (little over an hour drive). 30 bucks plus open water divers is not fun, but I'll take what I can get.

Stairman....fortunately those bad boys are not dangerously poisonous, but they're still pretty creepy!

Edit: Oh, and Kevin it was nice to dive with you guys as well. You two most certainly had your stuff together, and I look forward to diving together again as well!

[Scubastud16]

Stole these from Kevin...

Me standing on the platform...



AJ on the left, David on the right, me in the back reeling with the brightest light...



David on the left, me in the center with the slap strap, AJ on the right...