Jackson Blue Springs Condition Report

[DMoore]

Jackson County Floridian: "Mill Pond drawdown begins Sept. 28 in Marianna.
Water level to drop 6 feet."

This was postponed due to the river levels but has now begun. From Saturday to Wednesday evening it has already dropped 1 1/2 feet and the flow is raging. I can't imagine what the flow will be like if it drops 6 feet as reported. During my 2 hour dive I'd estimate that it dropped an additional 3 inches based on the water level on the stairs.

Plan accordingly!

Wednesday evening conditions: Flow is very high, visibility is around 50-60 feet and milky @ 68 degrees.

[v101]

Dave - we are traveling to dive FL next week (Arrive Wednesday) so hope things will be ok for us to dive JB. thanks for update.

[tflaris]

I dove JB yesterday and today. Flow is blistering. It never let up for the 2600? penetration.


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[DMoore]

On Saturday, my dive buddy and I met Tony in the Rabbit hole (Lower Route) and yes... the flow is blistering. It's borderline dangerous in there. The flow is a lot worse since Wednesday (10/7) as the water level was down another foot. According to Stacy, they are dropping the Mill Pond just below the dive platform to do some repairs and after that will let it go back up. Fingers crossed it doesn't take two month to do.

Craig... JB is definitely still dive-able. Especially if you have a fast scooter. But be careful in there.

[FW]

... JB is definitely still dive-able. Especially if you have a fast scooter.

Yes, but if you let up on the trigger, you might find yourself at the dam...

[DMoore]

No doubt Forrest!

[v101]

So did a lot of diving in JB as the other caves were not able to be accessed unless I took a flat bottom boat... the flow was highest i've seen in a long time. Getting in, had to have on highest setting to get in. Going down the rabbit hole was a S-L-O-W crawl, the flow was ripping so hard through that area it the small rocks were flying off the bottom and creating mini tornado's in the water... and coming out was a bit on the dangerous side.... I had to fish tail the DPV and go wide, to avoid being blasted against the first wall, as you go over the line, then as you go under it, you had to do the same technique to avoid getting blasted against the wall before you go up.
I was going to take a new DPV diver down there, and Im glad he didn't go w/ me.

[v101]

here are some pics of the water level

[LMN]

Cool, thanks for the report and pics. I was expecting a lower water level, it looks like 2 feet lower, maybe 3 at best.

[patpicos]

id be curious to see the surface at HITW and Twin (stagnant? outflowing?) but doubt any boat or kayak can make it