How many would dive in Wakulla County?

[Caver95]

Best diving in the world! I have a house there :-0

[a64pilot]

I sort of grew up at Alligator Point, I would love to dive the Wakulla area, there is a whole lot more to do there than just dive too, the whole area is a whole lot more family friendly than Marianna, High springs, Mayo etc.

[jcook]

Awesome diving there, too bad people get all butt-hurt when you start talking about diving sites there. They have intentionally made it more difficult for the average cave diver to dive in the Wakulla county area, Indian, Emerald, and Clearcut. Most cave divers cannot meet the idiotic requirements for diving those sites and aren't going to go through the effort to fill out all the paperwork to dive at Emerald/Clearcut if they have met all the requirements, just to get there and it's blown out. Also they all have ZERO rebreather diving. Guess who spends the most money in those areas? Generally people who can afford and own a $10-15k individual piece of dive gear (probably with me being the exception, being poor and all). There are too many awesome restaurants in Crawfordville and Panacea that could get a huge boost from more cave divers coming into the area. Anyone ever stay at the local hotels in Crawfordville? They are almost always empty. As Bobby said, I also rarely spend money except to eat when I go into Wakulla county to dive. No point in staying in someplace that doesn't have a good supply of friendly dive sites for most people.

Yes I know there are other sites, like Church, Harvey's, and a bunch of other ones with horrible vis most of the time, but when people spend their money and drive from neighboring states, they don't want to go to those sites. They want to back the car up, unload their gear onto a bench and go enjoy a crystal clear dive, not just see the guy in front of them's fins. Also there are other sites that fall into a legal grey area (I won't name them for fear of certain DIR people on this forum complaining about it), which are possible to access though intermediaries or just going via the river. Again, this is a grey area of the law for some and others are just trespassing on state or private land.

All these guys who complain about the damage to the caves in the Wakulla area and why we should make it more difficult to access the ones we already have so the damage doesn't happen. They don't realize that they are keeping the new sites from being opened. The locals and non-divers hear that and assume cave divers will just destroy the cave and the surrounding areas above water too. If you guys want to complain about damage to the caves, go complain to the instructors of the people who shouldn't be venturing into them, it's their fault for certifying the diver.

Finally, whoever said we should allow "normal" recreational diving (non-cave diving) at Wakulla, really needs to get a grip on reality. It is just flat out crazy, look what has happened in the Mill Pond lately when rec divers go do a dive there. Yes I know it sounds like a great idea to train divers in the head pool of Wakulla, but seriously, think about the Mill Pond.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Church Sink isn't technically open, you need permission to dive it from the landowner, otherwise, its trespassing.


Some of the sites in Wakulla County simply can't handle a tremendous amount of traffic, especially from the poorly trained. Contrary to what you may think, one cannot figure out the instructor of a bad cave diver by looking at a formation on the floor. It'd sure help if instruction wasn't occuring in some of them as well. Alot of sites are suitable for higher traffic.

Some sites have clear water the majority of the year, but accessibility at them aren't as good. Itd be cool if theyd get opened.

Indian Springs is probably the best dive in Florida, seriously. If there was ever a reason to get Trimix certified, Indian is it. The waiver to dive it takes less than 2 minutes to fill out and read. Diving Emerald and Clearcut uses the same process, without the need for a guide, and they are excellent dives with numerous options as far as possible dive plans go. I personally feel Emerald and Clearcut would be awesome dives for divers at levels below 100+ & Trimix, but those are the rules as they stand. Hopefully the Emerald commitee continues to push for relaxed restrictions at these sites since there has been no incidents since being open, despite the claims of some of those opposed to having these sites accessible. I feel this change would open up a new area of Florida cave diving to the majority of the cave diving community and Wakulla would start to see the reality of the kind of money that would flow in with more access.

Want to know how conditions are? Pick up the phone. Look/ask online. Nobody has to go into Wakulla Co blindsided to find bad conditions.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I heard it was so you could be south of I10-LOL

I wasnt above I10 premove! :P

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I don't know if I would or not. I have only the slightest idea of what there actually is to dive there. I assume that's because it's so heavily restricted.

Interestingly, it's only 3 minutes further for me than driving to Madison Blue. Based on Clearwater to Wakulla Springs (don't know any other site) vs Clearwater to Cave Excursions to Madison Blue. So if there's a dive shop in a decent location, and decent camping in the area I'd say we'd make a few trips up there a year.

Marianna is just too far. The logistics don't work for me for weekend trips.

Cave Connections is just down the road from Indian(like a mile away) and less than 5 miles from Cherokee Sink, and maybe 6-7 miles from Emerald and ClearCut.


Wakulla Dive Center is further south, but in the area, closer to the coast and the better Wakulla Co hotels.

[speleodiver]

Awesome diving there, too bad people get all butt-hurt when you start talking about diving sites there. They have intentionally made it more difficult for the average cave diver to dive in the Wakulla county area, Indian, Emerald, and Clearcut. Most cave divers cannot meet the idiotic requirements for diving those sites and aren't going to go through the effort to fill out all the paperwork to dive at Emerald/Clearcut if they have met all the requirements, just to get there and it's blown out. Also they all have ZERO rebreather diving. Guess who spends the most money in those areas? Generally people who can afford and own a $10-15k individual piece of dive gear (probably with me being the exception, being poor and all). There are too many awesome restaurants in Crawfordville and Panacea that could get a huge boost from more cave divers coming into the area. Anyone ever stay at the local hotels in Crawfordville? They are almost always empty. As Bobby said, I also rarely spend money except to eat when I go into Wakulla county to dive. No point in staying in someplace that doesn't have a good supply of friendly dive sites for most people.

I am sorry you chose the path in diving that limited your ability to dive certain sites. It is the same limitation that has put me 2800' beyond a WKPP EOL. (which was told to the locals had no cave and could not be pushed.) No one ever said being an explorer would be easy. But all will tell you it takes nads to accomplish! iF YOU WANT TO DIVE HERE I WILL LOAN YOU GEAR FOR FREE! Now you have no excuses!!! Especially since I already offered you gas.

Yes I know there are other sites, like Church, Harvey's, and a bunch of other ones with horrible vis most of the time, but when people spend their money and drive from neighboring states, they don't want to go to those sites. They want to back the car up, unload their gear onto a bench and go enjoy a crystal clear dive, not just see the guy in front of them's fins. Also there are other sites that fall into a legal grey area (I won't name them for fear of certain DIR people on this forum complaining about it), which are possible to access though intermediaries or just going via the river. Again, this is a grey area of the law for some and others are just trespassing on state or private land.

Exploration is work. I'm glad that Amerigo was not of the same opinion as you. He would have been highly displeased when he sailed from Europe only to find there were no piers in Florida to dock his vessel. Dude, exploration and diving in Wakulla requires walking, hauling gear twice as far as you walked and sometimes spending 4 evenings a night in public meetings and weekends volunteering to help where it is needed. Not every dive site will have a 24/7 drive thru!!

All these guys who complain about the damage to the caves in the Wakulla area and why we should make it more difficult to access the ones we already have so the damage doesn't happen. They don't realize that they are keeping the new sites from being opened. The locals and non-divers hear that and assume cave divers will just destroy the cave and the surrounding areas above water too. If you guys want to complain about damage to the caves, go complain to the instructors of the people who shouldn't be venturing into them, it's their fault for certifying the diver.

The true question here is the damage. I dive here a lot!! I see no damage in any caves currently open to divers. So I must be left to believe all the damage spoken about must be done by the only ones who have access being of the same said group that states damage at every turn. Funny how crying about spilt milk when were the only one in the kitchen can bite you in the butt!! So I tend to agree with you here.

Finally, whoever said we should allow "normal" recreational diving (non-cave diving) at Wakulla, really needs to get a grip on reality. It is just flat out crazy, look what has happened in the Mill Pond lately when rec divers go do a dive there. Yes I know it sounds like a great idea to train divers in the head pool of Wakulla, but seriously, think about the Mill Pond.

I believe the person who first mentioned this was the shop owner in the southern region of Wakulla County. Of course he was not the only one. The state is an equal access for all agency. They actually had many conservations about this very subject. Yes they are aware of JB and all other sites in the nation. Simple fact is you can't fix stupid!! You may save it and alter the way of thinking but you can't fix it. Do you ever wonder why the state allows a person to ride a motorcycle without a helmet but can't drive a car without a seatbelt? (BTW, both occur on state property, the highway!). Simple truth, bikers rallied against it in a uniform effort and it was repealed. Keyword there being UNIFORM. The state has issue with opening access to a select group of divers labeled as "public." Then exclude other segments of the "public." Yes I know the other group is "public". Perhaps you should try to join them. But then again they did some work and applied for a permit which anyone can. Just need to do some work assemble a good old boy club like you claim and go for it. Of course it would be easier to just join in on the effort and come work a little. You will get dirty but then look at what you will have. A clear refreshing clean spring or sink to dip in and clense your soul.

Point of the thread is, we can make a difference but it takes work and a UNIFORM effort. In the mean time, I will be attending those meeting, join boards, congratulating those who deserve it and help those that ask. I can send dates, times and addresses to anyone who wishes to join in. If diving where easy, everyone would be doing it and we would be a large group of divers who never have to fall victim to the misleading ramblings of a few.

[jcook]

I believe the person who first mentioned this was the shop owner in the southern region of Wakulla County. Of course he was not the only one. The state is an equal access for all agency. They actually had many conservations about this very subject. Yes they are aware of JB and all other sites in the nation. Simple fact is you can't fix stupid!! You may save it and alter the way of thinking but you can't fix it. Do you ever wonder why the state allows a person to ride a motorcycle without a helmet but can't drive a car without a seatbelt? (BTW, both occur on state property, the highway!). Simple truth, bikers rallied against it in a uniform effort and it was repealed. Keyword there being UNIFORM. The state has issue with opening access to a select group of divers labeled as "public." Then exclude other segments of the "public." Yes I know the other group is "public". Perhaps you should try to join them. But then again they did some work and applied for a permit which anyone can. Just need to do some work assemble a good old boy club like you claim and go for it. Of course it would be easier to just join in on the effort and come work a little. You will get dirty but then look at what you will have. A clear refreshing clean spring or sink to dip in and clense your soul.

Point of the thread is, we can make a difference but it takes work and a UNIFORM effort. In the mean time, I will be attending those meeting, join boards, congratulating those who deserve it and help those that ask. I can send dates, times and addresses to anyone who wishes to join in. If diving where easy, everyone would be doing it and we would be a large group of divers who never have to fall victim to the misleading ramblings of a few.

Apparently reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. I guess if you put stuff in bold font, it must be true, lol. If you read my post, you would see answers to your questions. I gave general unbiased answers about the subject of diving in Wakulla county and what is wrong with it. I like how you just basically attacked everything I said. I do go out of my way to dive in Wakulla county, so get your facts correct.

Also, YOU brought up recreational diving at Wakulla on the forum.

[speleodiver]

I like how you just basically attacked everything I said.

I will disagree with your comment on reading comprehension. Since in paragraph three I stated "So I tend to agree with you here." It's obvious you do not know what it means.

Also, YOU brought up recreational diving at Wakulla on the forum.

Yes I brought it up. It is fact and it is exactly as I just stated. The state sees it that way and so do many others. Including shop owners. What makes cave diving any better then recreational diving when it comes to access in a public park. If you agree with just allowing cave diving then you are just like the other group that dives there now. The state will always be equal access when it comes to public access. However holding a permit is not public access!!!

On another note, you do make some good points but you destroy them with comments like idiotic and people with 10-15k individual pieces of dive gear. Do you even know how the restrictions were put on the sites? I just dove both Emerald and Clear Cut last weekend and I did it on less then $4000.00 in combined gear and I even shot video. Just get the facts straight and let's have a civil conversation. Perhaps its your writing style that does it or perhaps it is just flat out your reputation on here. Either way it is up to you to correct it. Oh and you do not have to PM me to complain about what I said.

Here is some math for you...

less than 400 people with 10-15k gear show up and spend less on gas and the same amount on everything else as the 50,000 people with less expensive gear who spend more on gas. Who spends more money??

[jxh2297]

I agree on the uniform effort that needs to happen. Bottom line, we all love to cave dive, all want sites open so why not ignore all the other stuff and join together.

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