Jackson Blue, Peacock, Madison Blue, and Little River 9-29 thru 10-1 Dive Reports
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Jackson Blue, Peacock, Madison Blue, and Little River 9-29 thru 10-1 Dive Reports
9-29-7 Jackson Blue Dive Reports
6AM wasn't an early enough departure time, I ended up leaving around 5:15AM instead so I could get to Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna, FL for their opening time of 8AM. I made it a bit early and quickly purchased a FL State Parks yearly pass, for dives later in the weekend(and for a year to come). After my quick purchase, I was headed to the Sheriff's Dept to sign in for Jackson Blue as well as wait for my dive buddies. kuster500 was there by the time I had signed in, Ed Jackson1 showed up shortly afterwards, followed by Marvin, and our dive group was completed as Jeandiver pulled in. Weather was great and air temps were actually a bit chilly!
Once onsite, we split into two groups. Marvin and I grouped up as one team and Jean, kuster, and Ed made up the other. Marvin and I would be doing Intro level dives while the other team enjoyed more complex diving. We all geared up and hit the water at the same time and our teams dived as one until our Intro level dive was turned while the rest continued. I called the dive on 1/6ths ~850' into the cave and we waved to everyone else continue on. Flow is still down and the water couldn't have been nicer. The park is now closed so divers are the only people onsite - and we just happened to be the early birds. Our first dive was quick at 37 minutes(max depth of 93'), but it was still quite enjoyable. Once we hit the cavern zone, we shut our lights off and drifted back with the glow from OW.
Marvin went to get fills(diving doubled AL80s) while I goofed around with the camera during our 1:47 SI. I took a couple pictures as the more advanced team finished their deco and came out of the water.
They went to get fills and a bite to eat and Marvin and I started on our second dive. We took it a bit slower this time and being more acclimated to the water after the first dive, we were able to reach ~900' before I hit 1/6ths. We drifted back to the fissure at the beginning of the cave zone and looked at fossils as we drifted by. I've got a few dives in Jackson Blue, atleast within the first 1000', and I'm still noticing new features that keep me excited about visiting again and again. This dive lasted 49 minutes with another max depth of 93'.
I had it in my mind that we'd be able to get fills and make it to Madison Blue before their closing, but as we were getting filled, I was reminded of the time zone change. This through my original plans in the trash and we opted to do a 3rd dive at Jackson Blue. When we got back to the park, the other group(Jean, Ed, kuster) were in the water about to descend for their second dive. We geared up and planned to follow our same dive plan. Fresh tanks and bodies already acclimated to the cold, we were able to reach 1100' before I called the dive on 1/6ths, it starts getting pretty neat back there, I can't wait to see what lays beyond. Again we took our time checking out different features and embedded fossils within the walls and floors which are always amazing. The dive lasted a cool hour(flat) with a max depth of 94'.
After settling up with Cave Adventures and signing out at the Sheriff's Dept, the majority of us hit up Old Mexico for some excellent grub. Thanks for dinner Jean! It was a long ride to the armpit of FL, but with a load of Redbull I made it to Dive Outpost safe and sound and Jean gave me a quick tour(thanks again!). The bunks are cheap and more than ample, with all the amenities that I could want. I'll likely be spending my nights there from now on when I'm in that part of FL.
I set my alarm for 6:30 and I was quick out of bed and hit up the Luraville Country Store for a juice and a Redbull before getting back to Dive Outpost for their opening in order to get fills. kuster500 met me there at 7:30 so we could dive Peacock I's Peanut Tunnel.
Peacock I - Peanut Line
We were the first to arrive at Peacock Springs and made quick work of gearing up and going through a dive plan. The original plan would be to hit 1/6ths down the Peanut Tunnel(or hit the Peanut Restriction), turn, then recalculate 1/6ths in the cavern and dive the Pothole tunnel. After reaching the Peanut Restriction(I didn't hit 1/6ths until the 1300' marker on the way back to the cavern) and getting back to the cavern, we noticed that we were already late for our meet time with Jean and Ed at Dive Outpost(9:30AM), so we opted out the second portion of the dive. After better than 1700' of penetration, each way, we had a plenty long dive of 60 minutes with a max depth of 51'. Neat cave, I really liked all the small dome rooms, the tight peanut tunnel, and organic looking rubble that had fallen from the ceiling. The shallow depths allow you to dive for what seems like forever without any NDL issues. OW is still nasty, maybe 5' of visibility, yellow/greenish and warm. Not that the spring water was very cold, 71F is easy! Looking forward to diving here again, and perhaps check out the Pothole tunnel and Orange Grove cave as well.
kuster and I met up with Jean and Ed at Dive Outpost and we socialized for a bit and enjoyed some Fritos and some of Kathy's homemade salso(friggin awesome). The four of us decided to head to Madison and chance the minimum diver rule at that park. We were lucky and they hadn't hit their maximum allowance of divers just yet, although they had to be close, as the only people onsite were divers.
Madison Blue Springs
I buddied up with Jean, while Ed and kuster buddied up to make a more complex dive with several jumps. Our dive would be to 1/6ths, which took us all the way to Mounts Offshoot(better than 1300'). The voices in my head ended up being Jeandiver singing her way through the cave. Half-hitch was interesting, I blasted sand into the water column on passing it the first time, but didn't do too badly coming back through on the exit. We spent alot of time looking at different nooks in detail and Jean pointed out several of the jumps on the way back to the cavern. I really liked the scalloped floors and ceilings in this cave. The dome room around 500' was also very nice with some nice clay stratifications. I hit a max depth of 81' for a dive lasting 86 minutes(a bit of that time was in OW just looking around). Skirted near NDL limits, but never crossed it. Excellent dive, another that I'll have to repeat - arg! Flow is apparently down, I know it of no other way, and visibility was great. Water temps were my more familiar 68F temps. I was a bit chilly towards the end, but by no means uncomfortable.
We chilled out for the rest of the day and Jean, kuster, and I headed to High Springs to see the Cave Divers museum(which is loaded with really cool stuff - go see it!). Afterwards, we went to Gainsville to Yamato's to cure kuster's sushi craving. I opted for hibachi, which was great. Redbull is responsible again, for getting me to Dive Outpost safely.
So its October now, overcast skies came in Sunday afternoon and we had light showers and cool temperatures on Monday morning. It was actually kinda nasty, but we atleast wouldn't have to worry about overheating before we got to the water. Jean, kuster, and I met up at Little River at 9AM. Helped by being a Monday, we were the first people(much less divers) onsite. I like being in the first group to hit the water. The water is low(I could see this just from pictures I've seen) and flow is apparently way down. We geared up and made our way down to the water. Same basic plan as the previous days, dive till 1/6ths and make a slow exit taking note of different features and only pick up the pace if NDL becomes an issue. Little River has beautiful cave, blue clay stratifications, tannic stained scalloped limestone, lots and lots of smaller offshoots, and lots and lots of turns to negotiate. Had a great dive and enjoyed the sites. I was also amazed at the hoard of baby catfish schooling the cavern, I've never seen them so thick! The dive lasted 46 great minutes with a max depth of 96'. The cavern itself is small, but very nice with a great view of OW, I miss not having an UW housing.
I had a great weekend of diving with an excellent set of buddies. It was nice diving with Jean again(it had been 2 years since the last Megadive that I had attended) and it was great meeting several other new cave divers. Looking forward to diving with everyone again. The 5 hour ride home was pretty uneventfull, but I have alot of cave to process in mind - LOL. Aside from Jackson Blue on Saturday, everything I dove this (extended)weeked was new to me!
"You can have peace, or you can have Freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once." (Heinlein)
"... they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep." (Ps107:24)
Those are some nice pictures! great report as well.
I think it's also really nice when you have Jean with you. She knows those caves so well, and she points out so much cool stuff you'd probably miss if she wasn't there.
Those are some nice pictures! great report as well.
I think it's also really nice when you have Jean with you. She knows those caves so well, and she points out so much cool stuff you'd probably miss if she wasn't there.
Awww...You are much TOO KIND , my Friend ...
I am still recovering from the Cave Extravaganza this weekend...
5 straight days of caving , and this old body is pretty sore. :11:
But Jackson Blue was nothing short of Amazing.
(HUGS)
Got to see the start of Hendley's Castle in P3 on Thursday.
Got to see the start of Rocky Horror in Madison on Friday.
Saturday was Jackson Blue (still speechless from this one)
Sunday was another Madison Day ...
Monday was Little River and another swim up to Friedman's sink from Catfish Hotel.
ALL MY THANKS TO MY BUDDIES !!!!
YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME !
(I really mean that)
Ed and his pictures ... Wowza
Matt and his great SAC rate and being WOWED by Little River , Madison and the Peanut Tunnel.
And Ben for being the super legged buddy for our Manatee trek yesterday.
YAHOO !!!!
Opps , I'll be quiet now.
(starts humming her favorite cave songs)
Hmmm....14,000 feet. That's close to three miles , you CAVE MACHINE YOU !!!
Do a nice bow and pat yourself on the back SuprBugMan... (APPLAUSE)
Mat's new nickname: SuPr(KARST ANIMAL)BuGmAn
DA BEANO !!!!
P.S. Er , you didn't mention the Three-cookied line in Jackson Blue
"You can have peace, or you can have Freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once." (Heinlein)
"... they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep." (Ps107:24)
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Just another average diver 
Originally Posted by Narcosis
