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Cave Diving in Florida
April 11, 2010
Story by Sharon E
Ever wonder what it looks like “under Florida?” We’ll the ADT Dive Team knows.

The long awaited Spring cave trip finally arrived. The team loaded up and flew to North Central Florida. They dove several of the fresh water springs in Gilchrist and Lafayette Counties. Especially noteworthy about this trip was Sharon planned to earn her full cave certification.
Waking on April 11 and ready to start the warm up dives, they headed to Ginnie Springs in High Springs, FL. The first dive found them strapping on twin 95s and a 40 cu ft bottle of 02 for deco. They entered Devil’s Ear. The tannic water was so prominent, the cavers laid a temporary line leading just inside and meeting the main line. This eased the entry and reduced the number of lines in the entry shaft. Deflated, they squeezed through the entrance cavity and to the main tunnel at 40’. Once the bottles were dropped, the primary reel tied in, they headed down the gallery. Soon they passed through the Lips, skinnied through the Keyhole and arrived at Park Bench. These are all names of rock formations along the passage ways. Hence the latter name was chosen as the rock looked like a giant bench positioned around an old oak tree. There are some very unique rock formations to see along the way. Staying on main line, they traveled down the tunnel, turning when they reach thirds. They averaged about 80-90’ with viz as far as your light would shine and a max depth of 99’. As they passed through the tunnel they observed the wonderful alcoves in the ceiling of the cave. The water was crystal clear and perfectly PH balanced; a truly intriguing place to be. Soon they reached the cavern and reeled up the vertical shaft and deco’d with 02 at the giant fallen log wedged, conveniently at 20’. The dive was about 70 minutes. A great first cave dive in a while.
Dive 2 found them entering through the Devil’s Eye, a bit trickier, same flow but a flatter entrance. There were large bolders to navigate over and around, running a line was a challenge. Once inside, Sharon tied to the main line and followed the same route as the first dive. Now on this exit, Sharon followed the line out doing the no mask swim drill along the line. Good show, a drill necessary for the upcoming class.
April 12, the team did 2 more dives. These were pretty much the same dive plan as the two just described. Sharon was set on practicing the entry and exit, line drills, no mask swims to insure good posture and execution. All went very well.
April 13, Sharon began her class with Cave Instructor, Johnny Richards. Les came along as a dive buddy. They entered Devil’s Ear. This time running a reel from o/w and making primary and secondary tie offs. All went well. Sharon and the others dropped O2 bottles at the main line tie in. They floated along main line thru the Lips, Keyhole and to the right at Park Bench, reaching a depth now of 92’. They did a jump, connecting to main line and pushed on. At about 1200 feet back they reach thirds and the team turned the dive. Now for the outbound route, time for skills. First a lost line drill, blacked out mask on Sharon, Johnny led her off the line and planted her somewhere…Sharon had to find her way back to the main line. Sharon tied in a spool and started feeling around. Wow found a line! Once lights and vision was back, she learned that it was a secondary line to Keyhole Bypass. Oops not an exit line, maybe found a line but the wrong line. Lesson learned was the diameter of line was key; a secondary line is white and same as the diver’s line and the main line is kermantale, thicker and yellow. Next Johnny flipped off Les’ light, exit in reduced light and yep you guessed it, Les was now out of air. Sharon donated and they exited, even up the 40’ upright shaft. Total run time was 73 minutes and soon out of the water.
For the next dive, they entered thru the Ear. Sharon ran the reel and all went well. Mind you this was a bit tricky as you were descending against the flow equal to about 3 knot current, stopping to secure the line and maintain buoyancy. Again once a main line, she tied in and dropped O2 bottles. Using the pull and glide technique thru the tunnel, they reached a line separation and they installed a jump spool at about 900’ in, then a second jump spool at about 1100’. Now turning the dive, took out the spools, performed an out of air and lights out drill. Now at the exit, it was a bit tricky getting out as Sharon got caught in the flow. However, just dropped to a slower pace, deflate the bc, got the line reeled in and all was good. Once back on the log at 20’, they did their deco.
Day 4, April 14, Johnny took a day from diving to off gas, after all he had other classes for the last 7 days. So Les and Sharon traveled to Peacock Springs, near Mayo. Geared and ready, they entered Peacock I. The main line was right at the overhead, which was new and due to this spring pool was now off limits to o/w divers. Les led and Sharon followed close behind. They slipped over the giant flat rock entrance passage and along the main line. They traveled about 900 feet back and came across 2 white crayfish, pearly white. These critters had adjusted to their no light environment and lost their color. Now as the cave was very silty and still and they were close to thirds, they turned the dive. Peacock is more shallow as Sharon recorded a depth of 60 ‘ and a dive time of 59 minutes. Always fun to explore something new.
Dive day 5, April 15, the second day of class, they went to Peacock Springs again. Johnny briefed Peanut Tunnel. This was a new site for Sharon. The main line was just inside the overhead. Sharon employed a spool from o/w to mainline. Now a sharp left and they were off. About 50’ inside the tunnel, it flattened and widen, sort of like a peanut. This long flat tunnel was about 400 feet long and then it open out to a small and silty room. Swimming around a few corners and at 600 feet Sharon turned the dive, a little too silty for comfort. One must keep in mind, one misplaced fin could stir up the clay bottom and now there is a real silt out. In Peacock it will take hours to clear. On the exit side, Sharon and Les did an out of air drill and low flow exit in this position. Johnny passed around cudos for the techniques and fast, organized exit pace. The max depth for this dive was 72’ and duration was 72 minutes. A great dive.
Dive 2, April 15, they did another dive in Peanut Tunnel. Sharon led the dive and this time got about 800’ in before reaching thirds. The skill on this dive was lost diver with silt out conditions. Of course this was a surprise to Sharon. But she noticed Johnny “wondered off” from the group, after Les had a light failure. Sharon planted Les on the line and told him to wait while Sharon searched a passage off the right where she saw Johnny swim to. She found him in a silted passage or chocolate milk viz. Passed that one! Now on the exit, Sharon drilled out of air again so she and Les exited sharing air. They kept a great exit pace had it been for real. Great training and a successful end.
Now it was Friday, April 16, the third day of class and back to Devil’s Ear for the team. They planned the circuit dive. This would be entering the system at one entrance and traveling down a tunnel to an identified point about half way in. Then exit and enter again at a different point, follow a different route, finally to meet with the previous dive’s turn point. So, Sharon set the reel in the Ear, dropped the O2 bottles, hit the main line, through the Lips, Keyhole and right at Park Bench. Sharon placed a jump spool to bridge the gap and maintain a continuous line to the surface, moved on a bit, set a second spool and hitting thirds, set the clothespin, a marker of gas consumption, and turned the dive to start the exit. After a surface interval, a bite to eat and gas fills, they headed in the tunnel for dive 2. But this time around to the right side of main line, set another spool to bridge the third gap completing the loop. Now a short swim and there was the clothespin, the previous dive’s turn point at thirds. The team knew they could make the balance of the route on the remaining gas in the cylinders. So they traveled along, picking up their gear and came out at the cave sign in the main gallery. Circuit done! Now the team would do a clean up dive to pull that last or third spool that Sharon set.
Now taking a few days break to allow for off gassing, concluding multiday dives, Sharon and Les headed to St Augustine, FL. About 65 miles east, arriving at the quaint, historical town, they opted to tour the fort, Castillo de San Marcos. The fort was built in 1672 to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World. During the colonial wars or pirate attacks, the 20 acre fort gave refuse to the 1500 townspeople. The fort displayed historical armament, some recovered from the Bay.
Next a visit to the lighthouse was in order. Once across the bridge to Anastasia Island, the lighthouse came in to view. In 1565, the Spanish built a wooden tower, later rebuilt in coquina stone. Yet again rebuilt and finished in 1874 with the distinctive black and white spiral and red top, is 165 feet tall. There are 219 steps up the spiral staircase to the observation deck, including the granite steps at the entrance. In 1911 the US Lighthouse Service reported the distance of the beam to be 19 miles. Once on the landing, far above the community, they enjoyed the view. Can you see Kansas from there? Well maybe Georgia for sure. This was definitely worth the effort.
The last attraction was the Fountain of Youth, recall your US History and discovery by Ponce de Leon. Well, the fresh water spring was so low due to construction over the years, it was barely a trickle. These compared nothing to the springs Sharon and Les were just diving in. But they enjoyed the history and grounds just the same.
Thurs, April 22 found Sharon and Les at Little River Springs just pass Brandon, FL. A personal favorite for Les. This spring was featured in a National Geographic Magazine back in the early 90’s. It published some great photos by Wes Skiles. But over the years the Park has been enhanced with the additions of decking to the water, benches, bathrooms, concrete steps and hard surface parking lot. Donned in twin 95s and a 40 cf sling of O2, they stepped in. After s-drills and light checks, they descended. At the entrance, Les tied in at the post and Les led the way. Just past the entrance, the tunnel sloped significantly, but not vertical like Devil’s, then reaching the floor at about 70’. Slowly, easy kicks, they moved thru the tunnel. Most of this was a long flat tunnel and they seemed to reach depths of 99’. Some areas of the tunnel squeezed down but it opened again. It was a medium flow day, they did watch their fin tips. Reaching thirds, they turned the dive and headed back. Now back to the upward tunnel near the exit, now out of the clay, they got a bit negative to make the ascent. Slowly up the sloped tunnel and soon in the deco tunnel. Over all a good dive, lasting about 67 minutes. This was a good first impression of Little River for Sharon. She’s ready for another visit there.
Now back to High Springs for diving. April 24, Saturday, they hit Devil’s early to miss the crowd. They were first in the Ear. They carried their O2, slipped down the shaft, dropped the bottle at main line, ascend high in the Gallery and gone. The arrived at the Lips within 10 minutes of submerging! Best time ever! They did 3 jumps along the circuit route from the other day. Sharon had 2600 PSI at the third jump, enough to do the circuit again. But this was a one dive day. Turning the dive and headed out. Once they hit the tree for deco, 2 other teams were entering. They exited just in time to miss the crowds. This dive was 92’ and about 67 minutes.
April 27, Tues would be the final day of Sharon’s cave class. The first dive was in the Catacombs in Devil’s. This portion of the tunnel was new for Sharon. She ran the reel as they entered the Eye. Once in the Gallery, they made a left and the tunnel opening was there. There is no main line in the Catacombs so Sharon had to run one. Actually this was not too bad for most of the route. Sharon led and focused on keeping the line taught. As she moved along, she turned a bit and found herself in a short tunnel that stopped. Oopps, had to back out of that one. Maybe Johnny didn’t see that. He probably did. Kicking gently along Sharon found the restriction Johnny mentioned. The plan was to slip thru that, go left down the tunnel which would drop them just above the Lips. However that restriction was a bit too snug for Sharon’s comfort level and she turned the dive. Headed out back thru the Eye was a bit challenging. Sharon got caught in the flow and it flipped her over. It took a bit to straighten back out. Les stepped in to help with the line. The trick there is to get very negative and slide across the rocks to avoid the push of the flow. A few scraped hands and cut fingers but they were ok. This dive was 37 minutes and depth in the Catacombs was 68’.
Now ready for the final dive of Sharon’s cave class. All is going ok so far. Some areas identified for improvement but hey, she is in training. They revisited Devil’s Ear. Again doing dives/skills in a hi flow cave tests one’s skills. Sharon tied in the reel as she led the way in. Once tied in at the main line, everyone dropped O2 bottles. Now to the left and up high in the Gallery. This is the best place to be to avoid the strength of the flow. Pull and glide along, they were at the Lips in about 200 PSI. Sharon’s personal best at gas and penetration. Of course, no goal setting! Slipping thru the Lips and up to Keyhole. Then Johnny initiated a lost line drill. He was tricky this time. After placement of the blacked out mask, Johnny led her down near the bottom at 72’ and deposited Sharon in an alcove. However, mind you Sharon doesn’t know this and has to find her way back to the line. Blindly Sharon had determine where she was, and where the line might be. She tied in at a rock to set a reference point and starting searching by feeling the rocks, walls, floor, etc. In about 6 minutes, she found the main line! Then she ascended a bit more to determine the direction out, testing the flow. Success, she did it! Now succeeding twice. Finding the lost line is a required skill as that line is one’s life line and only real compass down there. The rest of the dive focused on trim, position in the cave, staying away from the ceiling and off the floor. Once they picked up the O2 bottles, the reel, everyone deco’d at the 20’ log. While there, Sharon did the valve drills; turning each off and on and regulator test. All good. After the 67 minute dive, they finished about a 15 minute deco to help wash out a week of dives. Now on the surface, de-kitted and rested, Johnny presented Sharon with her full cave certification. One major triumph. Congrats to her!

Now as a celebratory dive, Les and Sharon did a dive on April 29. They went back to Devil’s due to its proximity, it’s close. Made the entry, dropped bottles and to the left and up. Yep, use that easy way in again. After Park Bench, installed the spools to maintain a continuous line and went left toward the Breakdown Pile to look around. They hung out there till thirds were reached. Then a turn to head back out. They reached 99’ and the dive was about 80 minutes. This was the last dive of the trip as Sharon and Les would be flying home on May 1.
What a great trip, Sharon completed her training, Les did a lot of cave diving too.

The dives were full of intrigue, adventure and challenge. With proper training and discipline, the caves are safe and exhilarating. If you are looking for something more from your diving, maybe you should consider caving.





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