Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
Yesterday line was placed in a new cave approx. 9 mi. south of Wakulla Spring. Starts with a sink around 50 ft. across at the surface. Bowl is very similar to Emerald Sink and bells out to nearly 100 ft. across, max depth 98 ft. At 70 ft. on SE side is a tunnel opening 20 ft. high and wide. Initial poke, 2 wks ago, went in 100ft. and cave appeared to go. Next poke added 200 ft. in comfortable 15 - 20ft. wide tunnel, 10ft. high in most places, max depth 75 ft. Viz was 20 ft. Didn't start with full tanks so we stopped once we had determined that cave actually continued. Sat., the water in the bowl was rather tannic, but clear, so Dave Young and I went to where we had left our reel and continued another 300 ft. Cave comes up as shallow as 55ft. After 300 ft. from entrance, water took on (to our maximum delight) a bluish cast and felt a bit warmer. Dave noticed a little flow (slight movement of silt ) for the 1st time. One low area encountered about half way thru the dive, where ceiling is approx. 4 ft. from very silty floor, but this low area is at least 15 ft. wide. Cave continues SE but turns 90 degrees. Ran out of line, so tied off where a breakdown pile continues up into another wide open space. Cave is well populated with large trog crays (Wakulla size) and many amphipods. Walls are beige/yellowish much like Emerald; lots of large, crumbly, clayey knobs covered with black goethite; floor is basic black/brown N. FL silt. Located on private property; landowner relations are excellent; owners only requested a release absolving them of liability. Almost as exciting was what happened while we were gearing up. Two cars stopped and the drivers invited us to look at their sink holes. The 1st time it happened we were stunned -- this is a rare occurance -- usually you get the usual "you ARE crazy" looks and comments.The 2nd time it happened we almost decided to just hang out by the road with our stuff strewn all over and wait for more invites! After the dive, we were shown four small sinks, 2 of which had some water and duckweed but were shallow and plugged or dry. One site was a tannic pond with (we were told) a deep spot sounded but not dived , 65 ft. deep. Will poke that in the near future. The pond is apparently tidally influenced, so location N. of Spring Creek makes this all very intriguing. We were told about yet another landowner with a sink in this area (employer of our new guide) so we have another contact to follow up. Will update as we continue. Christopher A. Brown The Technical Diving Video Library by Sci-Graphica PR/DOCENT FILMS Tallahassee FL 32311 chbrown@fr*.fs*.ed* P 904-942-7222, F 904-942-1240 It's not the pace of life that concerns me -- it's the sudden stop at the end.
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]