The construction is complete. Earl told me that they have to clean up the park on the morning of the 17th. Other than that it is open and according to Earl the construction is completed.
Basin was clear and there was decent flow yesterday.
I dove Little River today with my buddy Al. I arrived around 10am and observed an open water dive team in the spring head, a cave class gearing up, and a few locals along the spring run. There was a greenish-brown tinge to the water and the water level was ankle deep above the concrete sidewalk. I suited up and entered the water just after 11am, conducting getting comfortable and performing my drills. I proceeded in and observed the large tree at the entrance has shifted somewhat, but is not a hindrance to divers— most divers anyway. I tied off my primary to the usual rebar and began running down towards the main line, dropping my O2 bottle slightly deeper than I normally would due to the threat of theft by local yocals.
I tied off to the main line and proceeded on in. The flow is reminiscent of the Little River of yesteryear, but completely manageable using proper technique. The visibility was 20-25 feet for the entire dive. Proceeding down the chimney I took the shortcut down to the bottom, relaxing and flushing my semidry with cold water. I proceeded up to the Mud Tunnel, laying my jump spool from the main line. Proceeding up the Mud Tunnel, the flow had not abated and so I resorted to pull-and-glide with some moderate swimming. I then jumped back to the main line, proceeding upstream.
At the Serpentine/ Main Line split, I proceeded toward the Main Line and then laid my jump spool to the Merry-go-round tunnel. The flow was more manageable here though the tunnel is smaller. At the end of the tunnel I jumped back onto the Main Line and proceeded upstream once more. At the next Serpentine/ Main Line split, I checked my gas supply and was good to continue on. With the extra exertion, I was feeling warm and so I paused and flushed my suit again with cold water. The flow in the Florida Room was manageable enough to swim to the end. At the end of the Florida Room, I checked my gas once more. I proceeded on until I reached the jump to the deep tunnel. I still had 200psi until 1/3's, but decided to turn the dive and drift out, staying on the Main Line and pulling my jump spools as I came on them.
Total dive time was 84 minutes including 10 minutes of deco on O2.
As I popped up to the surface, the swimming hole had become overrun and was a total madhouse. Rather than leaving Al and my O2 bottle at the bottom of the stairs, I decided to huff them up the stairs with me.
Thanks for posting this. I wish more people would post dive reports![]()
Knabuecave, ready to go?
"...some night, in the chill darkness, someone will make a mistake: The sea will show him no mercy." John T. Cunningham
I was there on 6/8 and 6/9. Viz was 35 ft or so. Topside gets pretty crowded in the afternoon, so I'd show up early in the morning if you can. I had the park to myself the morning of 6/8.
Jason Gulley
any updates over past month. the low river conditions must make it better....
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