Luarville May 07

[steve2281]

Hello from Luraville. It's becoming increasingly difficult to stay away from this little crossroad town. We arrived yesterday and got settled in into our regular house at Rennakers. We arrived early enough to squeeze in an afternoon dive. Our usual site for the warm-up dive is Orange Grove. Vis was 50-60.

The weather is great with air temps in the 80's. The water temp is,,,,,oh heck, you know what the water temp is (about double of Lake Michigan). The word is that all the springs are in great shape. We're expecting a full week of diving and hope to spend the maximum amount humanly possible on 8 cent nitrox.

[steve2281]

Since no one requested reports on NFL dive conditions, I didn’t bother with daily reports. A major computer problem at home delayed my report of our trip.

A midnight departure from W Ky allowed us to arrive in Luraville by noon on Sunday, 4/29. We got settled in and rushed over to Orange Grove for an afternoon dive. Vis was 50-60 as we made an unhurried penetration to about 700’.

Mon: With one of my buddies completing his full cave training, we were again at the mercy of an instructor with regard to dive sites and starting times. Heading over to Peacock, Dennis and I went on our own and made the Grande Traverse. We made the swim in 99 minutes and found vis of 60’ or better along the entire route. A primary light failure put a damper on the dive. Surfacing at Peacock, a tourist on the steps informed us that an alligator was sunning about 50’ behind us. Dive 2 was a swim up Peanut with the vis equally as good.

Tue: We left early enough to make a trip to the light shop in High Springs before returning to meet Mark’s instructor at Little River. Dennis (with his new light) and I staged LR looking for the well casing and began our dive before Mark’s instructor arrived. Although the flow was light by LR standards, it was stronger than during our trip last Dec. Our attempt at the well casing fell short as we turned the dive about 200-300 feet past the Dome Room. 65 minutes below 95’ left us with enough deco to be pretty chilled before getting out. Dive 2 was at Telford as a four man team. Flow was light; vis was about 50’ going in and somewhat reduced coming out as we penetrated about 1000’.

Wed: Dennis and I staged Orange Grove as Mark dove Peacock. We dropped the bottles at about 700’ and jumped to the Distance Tunnel. This tunnel appeared to get much less traffic than the mainline. Although starting plenty wide, it was silty and progressively narrowed the farther we went requiring pinpoint buoyancy and excellent technique. About thirty minutes in this tunnel wore me down, and I turned the dive short of thirds. 103 minutes total. Dive 2: With Mark doing bookwork, D and I made an evening dive at Telford penetrating through the breakdown in Beulahland and turning the dive when it started looking pretty barren. Vis 50.

Thur: Graduation dive for Mark; D and I tagged along as we made the Grande Traverse as a four man team. D and I pulled up the rear taking turns shooting video. Four lights and great vis gave me my best view ever of the amazing rooms south of Challenge Sink.

Fri: Mark now full cave. We celebrated with a trip over to Madison (first visit for all of us). Since no nitrox fills are available close by, we took stage bottles to squeeze two dives out of one set of doubles. Thanks to some great advice from “the skull” we found the mainline without any problems and dived the stage bottles on the first dive to get oriented to the cave. Like WOW, what a cave! Dive 2: jumped to the Godzilla circuit. Double WOW. This cave rocks. Massive rooms with clear blue water and vis as far as the lights would shine. Returning to the mainline and pulling the reel, we still had plenty of gas so we revisited the sights of the first dive.

Sat: 90 minute sunrise dive at Telford past Beulahland and to the Expressway. Packed the bags, paid the bill, hit the road. Home in W Ky by 8 pm after a very long day.

[DeepDiverBob]

great report, I dotnt hink I am going to make it back downthere again until November.

Who was Marks instructor?

[theskull]

Great report. Makes me jealous.

I love Madison, too. Especially the Godzilla circuit. Next trip stay on the mainline; breathe a stage and drop it at the restriction, and continue on up the mainline for another excellent dive.

theskull

[SLIM]

Great to hear that you all had so much fun and great diving. Better then a bad day at work.

SLIM

[steve2281]

Who was Marks instructor?

John,,,,,,,,