Peacock Springs open to Cave diving

[JCGoodwin]

Cool, I look forward to the report on conditions!
Hope you guys have good weather it has been raining up here since Friday.
Safe diving,
JCG

[Tazman70]

Thanks go out to Kelly Jessop & Martin Robson for doing the test dive on Saturday Morning! Without you guys it would have been another week or two or more before a team could go in.

[Kelly Jessop]

Thanks go out to Kelly Jessop & Martin Robson for doing the test dive on Saturday Morning! Without you guys it would have been another week or two or more before a team could go in.

Thanks,but people have been keeping a close eye for certain indicators to get the system open,and if it wouldn't have been yesterday,it would have been soon after that. Lets hope that the heavy rain in South GA doesn't close the system.

[fghray1]

Me Jeno, Cindy and Jim were the first in today. Waters cold in the main passage. Still tanic but divable. Light have a brown tint. Vis about 20ft.
We went up the penut tunnel, jumped at the crossover and came back the main line. Penut was clearer than the main line. And warmer. Flow is up the most I have evr seen.
Fred

[Cindy]

Yep, Denise and I are... wanna join us ?
tj

Hey TJ, it was great to see you two. Next time call me. I have a new phone 386-454-3977. I think I changed to the new one on the guide lists. I need to check. Hope you have a great Grand Traverse.

[Benthic]

Thanks go out to Kelly Jessop & Martin Robson for doing the test dive on Saturday Morning! Without you guys it would have been another week or two or more before a team could go in.

Yes, thank you to the Almighty Ones for ensuring that the system is safe enough for the rest of us peons...

Brian

[Kelly Jessop]

Yes, thank you to the Almighty Ones for ensuring that the system is safe enough for the rest of us peons...

Brian

In your case Brian we'll guide you.

[Meister481]

What are the rivers looking like? I'm heading down that way the 28th. Looking at diving Vortex 2 days to get some students certified, then sidemount the cave a few times. After that I'm trying to decide where to go. If Peacock is open I'd like to get in there a bit. Is OG doing anything yet?

[Dinny]

Hi Cindy,
Great to see you guys too....we had a great dive this afternoon in Peacock.

Hey TJ, it was great to see you two. Next time call me. I have a new phone 386-454-3977. I think I changed to the new one on the guide lists. I need to check. Hope you have a great Grand Traverse.

Tj and I dived Orange Grove and Peacock 1 this afternoon, we did the Grand Traverse. We entered at Orange Grove, went up mainline through Challenge Sink, jumped over through the Peanut Restriction, and down the Peanut Line, checking out the occasional side tunnel. Hey, someone's (pre-flood) spool or reel is still on the Peanut restriction jump (and covered with crap).

On route, we cleaned off a few of the lines (some looked like something from a haunted house!), and checked line placements.

Throughout our dive the visibility ranged from 20-30 feet. There was much particulate on the floors in places, but is heavy and settles quickly. The water is tea colored, visibility was better on the Peanut side. There was considerable flow pushing against us up along Orange Grove until we hit the Distance Tunnel, and VERY strong flow in the first section of the Challenge-Olsen line. This picked up again down along the Peanut Line.

Our dive time was 95 minutes, and maximum depth was 71 feet. Water temperature was 67F degrees throughout. The water level at the sinks and springs are higher than normal (four of the steps are covered at Peacock and Orange Grove).



There were some carcasses of cave crayfish, but more alive and active than dead, and a few healthy catfish (saw no dead fish). There was a lot of green algae growth in both basins, a few fish, and some turtles out basking in the sun.

After surfacing at P1, we swam over (under the water) to check out P2 and P3. There was a significant (stronger than usual) siphon into P3. Viz in the basin and P3 cave was worst than P1, but was interesting. More 'trash' in P3 than P1 also. I think the water temp was colder too.... but didn't check my computer...

We went by Little River to check it out, but the gate is locked:


Images from our Peacock dive:

[Sludge]

Someone's Atomic Aquatics tech needs a dose of OCD.