N Florida -- Wish y'all were here

[theskull]

Having spent last weekend at a family reunion in Orlando, I am now ensconced at The Dive Outpost in Luraville, N Florida.


It is chilly here, for Florida, in the 60's. The spring water is of course 70 F. Made 2 dives yesterday in the Peacock Springs Cave system, each in excess of 80 minutes. quite beautiful. Both dives included jumps to branching tunnels I had not seen before. Quite a few blind albino crawfish, and some of them were swimming around midwater rather than just sitting on the bottom.

This morning dove Madison Blue Springs for 90 minutes, requiring just a few minutes of deco on O2 at the end of the dive--another incredibly beautiful system. First time in that system for me. Took all the jumps and saw most of the system.

Got back over to Peacock this afternoon for another 90 minute dive along the mian line in the lower tunnel. Very relaxing as well as beautiful.

3-1/2 more days of diving to come. Will post more dive reports if anyone cares.

theskull

[SLIM]

Just rub it in buddy. Tell our buddies down there HI for me. You knowthat I did mention that I will be geting down a few days early this year? Tell Starry to brush up on her edjumication. RB and I will getr bak on trak.

SLIM

[steve2281]

Will post more dive reports if anyone cares.

theskull

Yes, we care, we care. Tell us more!!!! Have fun!

[juls64]

Well, its apparent that you miss us!

[MgicTwnger]

Keep the reports coming!

[nauifins73]

At least part of us get to go somewhere great for the Holiday, please send us our fix.

[theskull]

Dived Telford Spring this morning back to "The Gauntlet" on the main line. 60-minute dive. Only 30 ft. visibility in Telford, as compared to the 50-80 ft. viz I had Mon and Tues in the other systems. Much stronger flow to swim in against as well, which makes for a very nice turnaround and then just coast all the way back out.

This was an energetic dive, and I was in or near deco Mon & Tues, so I took the rest of today off. Will be diving Little River tomorrow morn, another energetic dive which will also require a little deco.

Just got a phone call from DeepDiverBob, who is in High Springs taking his class, but is staying right around the corner from me, so I'll see him this evening.

Hey SLIM, #3 in my 3-man team this morning was none other than Marvin Z! Said to tell you "hi". Starry will arrive tomorrow afternoon, and we'll be diving together the rest of the week.

I promise to post another 1 or 2 reports so y'all get the whole scoop. Glad you're interested . . . or are you just diving vicariously? LOL!

theskull

[SLIM]

Tanks buddy, tell Starry Hi for me. I will bring her a gift later next month. Sounds like you were in some great times, I might have to have you GUIDE me when we get there, LOL

SLIM

[theskull]

Dived Little River this morning w/ Marvin Z and another buddy. 1 hour dive to 100 ft. with about 10 minutes of deco on O2 at the end. Excellent dive, took 2 jumps, first through the "mud tunnel", then back on the main line and then another into the "clay tunnel". Serious flow against us all the way in, then a real nice ride back out.

This afternoon did Cow Springs, a little ways into Cow Upstream, then a longer dive into Cow Downstream.

Cathy at Dive Outpost is hosting a very nice Thanksgiving feast for us all this evening, and then there will be more diving tomorrow. Yea.

SLIM--Starry says "hi" back.

theskull

[steve2281]

Keep the reports coming!!!

What about Bob?? We haven't heard a word from him. He needs to check in.

A few of us are diving Mermet tomorrow; the low temp is going to be 16 tonight. Don't you wish you could join us?????

[MgicTwnger]

A few of us are diving Mermet tomorrow; the low temp is going to be 16 tonight. Don't you wish you could join us?????
Man, that 42 degrees at the bottom will seem balmy! See ya tomorrow.

[theskull]

Keep the reports coming!!!

What about Bob?? We haven't heard a word from him. He needs to check in.

A few of us are diving Mermet tomorrow; the low temp is going to be 16 tonight. Don't you wish you could join us?????

Saw Bob out at Peacock Springs today, and then had dinner with him and Mike tonight. They are having a blast with their cave class and Bob said to tell y'all "hi" for him. He has a few dives to make tomorrow, and then will be headed back for St. Louis.

theskull

[theskull]

Dived Madison Blue again this morning (and plan to tomorrow morning as well). Today I was the guide, and we made the complete jump past the "Godzilla room" on a stage bottle, came back around, dropped off the stage and then ran up the main line until we hit our thirds. Made our safety stop on O2 even though a deco stop was not required.

This afternoon we made the Grand Traverse through the Peacock System. Entered at Orange Grove and swam approximately a mile to exit at the Peacock I opening at the other end of the state park. Completed the whole dive on backgas, but we both took a stage bottle along just for additional safety factor.

Both dives were approximately 75 minutes long.

Sadly, tomorrow morning will be my last dive in the N Florida caves 'til Xmas time rolls around.

theskull

[SLIM]

WOW, looks like you might have to guid me through some of the dives this time down. Guess you can take me on the Mile Run and see if you can do it in less time and less gas. I know that this time it looked likeyou did. See what just dive experiance can do for you.

SLIM

[theskull]

WOW, looks like you might have to guid me through some of the dives this time down. Guess you can take me on the Mile Run and see if you can do it in less time and less gas. I know that this time it looked likeyou did. See what just dive experiance can do for you.

SLIM

Yes, I could do the mile run faster than we did yesterday; I wasn't in the lead. But keep in mind I was doing it with my 104s this time vs. my 95s last year. 20 cf of gas can make a difference!

Can't wait to take you through Madison Blue, though. It's been closed to divers for a number of years, just bought by the state a year ago, and now open again. Quite beautiful. I did it 3 times this week and can't wait to do it again.

theskull

[theskull]

Did my final dive for this trip this morning. Madison Blue again, this time for 70 minutes. One of my buddies (Starry) was diving in a wetsuit and got cold and turned the dive while we all still had plenty of gas. Spent most of the dive in the "Godzilla room". Very cool winding tunnel leading to a couple huge rooms.

Will report again when I'm back down over Xmas vacation.

theskull

[DeepDiverBob]

Just got back about 15 minutes ago. My eyes are about 2/3s the way shut, and I am in desperate need of sleep, but wanted to get something on here as soon as I could.

I had a blast down there. I can see why some people would turn down caribbean diving to dive in the caves. They are amazing. I guess the down side of doing class is, you dont get to do much siteseeing in there. I am proud to boast about my 1400 foot penetration from Peacock 1 to Olsen. I know it doesnt compare to some of Bills and Slims dives, but give me time and practice. I'll be there one day. We did out OW line drills at Peacock 3 I believe it was called. That was a grassy, mossy mess to run lines in, but whatever doesnt kill me, only makes me stronger. Looking back, it was pretty fun. My instructor said he thought he hear me laughing as I was doing the eyes closed run along the line. Once we was done with that, we did out first real cave dive into Peacock 1. I cant remember the name of the turn-a-round point, but it was just short of 500 foot in. We exited the cave on our smallest light. My smallest just happened to be my SL4, so that wasnt a big deal. The next dive, we went through Peanut and did the lights out drill. Peanut is a very narrow passage way, and I am pretty sure I have the marks on the backof my tanks to prove it. I used the same philosophy I try to pass on to OW students when I am working a class. I know how much gas I have, and as long as I have gass, I am okay. Took my time, managed to figure out a few of the jumps John through on there, and made it back safely. We did a few more dives in Peacock 1 doing a few other skills, which I was having a great time with. Yesterday, we did our dives in Telford. Telford had a slight flow to it. Once we did our turn around, it was basically a drift dive coming out. Except for the part where he had one of us be simulate out of air, and silt out conditions. We also did out lost line drill in there as well. It was kind of sad leaving the tunnel for the last time, knowing I wont be back there for a while. I am already looking at the schedule to see when I can go back and finish this off. John said we are a skill or two short of getting Apprentice rating.

Now, about John and Shelley Orlowski. Two great people, and also great instructors. Up until now, I have done all my classes through PADI. The PADI way is the only way to complete their courses. John doesnt buy into that way if thinking. He also throws in common sense as well, which was a breath of fresh air for me. He is not big into the book work as well. We didnt spend a single minute in a class room, it was all conversations at the truck bed at the dive sites. When he was explaining the cave systems, he would draw them in the sand. I would highly recommned them to anyone who wanted to look into taking the classes down there in Florida.

The shop I used down there was Cave Excursions. I cant say enough good things about them as well. They have no problem at all doing over fills on your tanks. The best part is, all you have to do is back up to the fill stations, and the whips are long enough to go out to your vehicle, so you never have to unload the doubles for air fills.

Anyway, that is my "report" from down there, and now I am going to go try and get a little rest before I start in the laundry.

[steve2281]

Nice report, Bob. Sounds like you had a good trip. Can't wait to get back down there myself.

[theskull]

Just got back about 15 minutes ago. My eyes are about 2/3s the way shut, and I am in desperate need of sleep, but wanted to get something on here as soon as I could. . . .

The shop I used down there was Cave Excursions. I cant say enough good things about them as well. They have no problem at all doing over fills on your tanks. The best part is, all you have to do is back up to the fill stations, and the whips are long enough to go out to your vehicle, so you never have to unload the doubles for air fills. . . .

Now I know why you haven't returned my phone call yet. LOL. I stopped a little way into Tennesse last night and slept in. Having lunch at a Krystal right now near the Kentucky border and they have free wireless.

Congrats on getting as far as you did in your classwork. Glad you enjoyed it so much. 1400 feet is a very respectable penetration distance; lots to see in that interval. No hurry to go further. A great deal of my cave dives are still turned by me, and well before I reach thirds on gas supply, just because I feel we have gone "far enough" for that dive. Noone ever got into trouble because of too much gas left over in their tanks at the end of the dive.

Since you gave such a plug (and well-deserved, too) to Cave Excursions, I'd like to give my enthusiastic endorsement to Dive Outpost, just around the corner, where I have stayed the last couple trips. You do have to take your doubles out of your vehicle to get fills at Dive Outpost, but you can also lounge in the family room/dive shop/training room while waiting for your fill and visit with a number of divers from all over the world.

:) Now I have another couple buddies to dive Roubidoux and Cannonball with all year long!

theskull

[DeepDiverBob]

I got back from my LDS a little bit ago. I brought my gear in there to clean up. Still getting some of the Telford sand out of everything I own. I got your message, but today has been kind of crazy. I will gladly give you a call sometime this week.

[theskull]

I got back from my LDS a little bit ago. I brought my gear in there to clean up. Still getting some of the Telford sand out of everything I own. I got your message, but today has been kind of crazy. I will gladly give you a call sometime this week.

Please don't expect much sympathy from our local readers over having to rinse Florida sand out of your dive gear!!!

Did you just jump in their pool all geared up, so their pool filters will have to deal with the sand? LOL

theskull

[DeepDiverBob]

Please don't expect much sympathy from our local readers over having to rinse Florida sand out of your dive gear!!!

hmmm....you may be right there.

Did you just jump in their pool all geared up, so their pool filters will have to deal with the sand? LOL

theskull

No, but that is a pretty good idea. Sand can double as a good filter. I just used the tub in that back of the shop to clean it out.

[DeepDiverBob]

I have submitted my request for vacation in Feb to go back and finish off this class. Waiting to hear back from my boss now.

[steve2281]

I have submitted my request for vacation in Feb to go back and finish off this class. Waiting to hear back from my boss now.

Man, you got it bad, don't you.

[DeepDiverBob]

Heck yeah, I do. And the best news is, my vacation has been approved!!!!!

The bad side is, I have been warned that feb is the start of their flood season, so there is a chance this might not work out, but we will see.