Thursday - Early-birds arrive and set up camp. Diving is usual at local springs (Vortex, Morrison, Cypress). Food is usually of the restaurant-type, and there are a handful of decent restaurants within driving distance. On SOME occasions there is decent grub provided by vendors AT Vortex, but don't bank on it.
Friday - Same as Thursday, but volume increases. Sometimes there will be camp grub available, but it's usually simple stuff, or stuff that was premade and heated on-site. Most folks seem to arrive Friday evening in time to make camp before dusk.
Saturday - Diveapalooza! Everyone goes off in different directions to dive, some stay local, others go to Jackson Blue for cavern/cave diving. A significant group goes to Panama City for saltwater dive charters or shore diving.
Saturday Night - Cookout! Everything from hotdogs and hamburgers to cave-country boils, steaks, and cream cheese-stuffed jalapeno peppers wrapped in teriyaki-soaked venison tenderloin. !@#$%^ #@!$% that was good grub... Whoever brought those peppers needs to bring more. Those things were AWESOME!
Anyway, bring some grillable vittles. There is a large community grill, and smaller grills at every other campsite. Everyone sort-of shares food. If you have too many hot-dogs, and your neighbors have too many hamburgers, then both groups benefit from each other.
Alcoholic beverages are "not allowed", but a blind eye is turned for the 'Fests. As long as there's no table dancing and falling down, you should be fine. But...... if you're diving early the next morning (especially from a boat), then it's bad form to show up at the dock with alcohol on your breath. No one wants to see what you ate the night before. On the other hand
most folks don't dive Sunday, and most folks enjoy an adult beverage or six on Saturday, before, during, and after the cookout
Sometimes there are raffles, prizes, karaoke, and the like, but really, Saturday night is all about food and fellowship. Don't be afraid to ask questions or introduce yourself. We're all divers, and we all (mostly)
get along.
Sunday - Remember the folks enjoying adult beverages or six before, during, and after the cookout? They like to sleep a few hours late and can be seen shuffling around camp in the morning, hoping for a strong cup of coffee, and perhaps an Advil or three
Most folks grab a camp breakfast, and either break camp, or grab an early dive before heading back.
