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...and I'd like to get back to Florida, but I'm worried about our last experience there and wondering if one can ever more or less guarantee the caves won't be flooded out.
During the last deluge and flooding of Peacock/Madison/Royal/Troy/JB/whatever, there were still several places to dive in the peninsula as well as the panhandle. Ginnie and Manatee for example, and a ton of other places that don't have neat little benches and showers
During the last deluge and flooding of Peacock/Madison/Royal/Troy/JB/whatever, there were still several places to dive in the peninsula as well as the panhandle. Ginnie and Manatee for example, and a ton of other places that don't have neat little benches and showers
I actually arrived at Dive Outpost on February 29th, like a day or two after everything really flooded out at Peacock, and I still managed to dive three systems - Manatee, Ginnie and JB - to complete my full cave training by March 9th. It was a blast, albeit we had to do some driving to get to JB.
Oh, we managed to dive during our trip -- Orange Grove, the next to the last dive before they closed it; Manatee, with the flow down so much we could kick almost to Friedman's; Ginnie, which was a science fiction movie's worth of lights and scooters and line; and JB, which was much more challenging than before with the flow. We had a great trip, but had we been about four or five days later, things would have been more challenging.
If you really want to learn to cave dive it is best to learn in Florida. If you learn in Mexico and plan on coming back to Fl. it will be a learing exp. all over again. Many people can vouch for that. Just a thought.
I think the Florida vs. Mexico for training question is one that there isn't an answer to. Some of it depends on where you intend to do most of your diving -- If Florida is closest to you and you intend to dive there most of the time, it makes sense to train there. For us, Florida and Mexico are almost equally far away (one long day's air travel, with similar fares). Having dived caves in both places, I think you can make equally good arguments for training in either place: In Mexico, you can concentrate on your cave skills, like line running and teamwork, because you are not fighting flow and depth. But if you can handle running a reel in and out of Ginnie, you'll be able to do it just about anywhere, whereas, having trained in Mexico, running line in flow was a real challenge!
But the navigation in Mexico is way more confusing than in Florida, and learning to pace yourself when your gas will last long enough to make a dive exhausting is another thing.
Each environment has its specific challenges, and going from one to the other will be a learning experience in either direction.
If you want to cavern/cave dive, get trained! OW divers die in caverns and caves every year. Don't become a statistic! Don't leave your family wondering why.
Now lets see , when IS THAT Peacock going to open up?
I'm waiting and drooling
Jeano Beano
P.S. Dive-a-holic's going to get invaded next weekend , dat's fer sure
Were bringing the WHOLE North Central cave gang up there. Watch out
Let's see , how can ya rope onto one of dem scooter thingies ... UFFDA
Can't wait to see ya Beano!!! When are you heading over this way? And how long are you staying?
I'll be around for the Fireside Chat Friday night and most of the presentations on Saturday, and you might even see me at the barbecue for a little bit at Cave Adventurers on Sunday, but other than that, I'm heading for the less popular caves.
If you want to cavern/cave dive, get trained! OW divers die in caverns and caves every year. Don't become a statistic! Don't leave your family wondering why.
Just another average diver 
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