tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80652872504908764202024-03-13T13:27:00.511-04:00Matt VinzantMatt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-78634243312885732132014-12-18T21:34:00.000-05:002014-12-18T21:35:07.309-05:00I haven't forgotWow, over a year since my last post. It has been a pretty incredible year for my family and exploration. We had our second daughter in Sept and I have done some great diving and participated in some incredible exploration. Stay tuned, Ill have some more update in the next few weeks. Here is a photo summary.<br />
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Caves!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhHV52DwN_a3zOTpGa59pM7D6PXxJJEtN6TqzPb03eVngMc4nOlc67oM_MTxDdy5jQH34LEwU6kWmWV1Dm2RQVxQWc8aHQT78hdOI3LSU8t-QaQRDlBUjGpfbACwdO4XV0pyTYLlD3TVQ/s1600/IMG_0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhHV52DwN_a3zOTpGa59pM7D6PXxJJEtN6TqzPb03eVngMc4nOlc67oM_MTxDdy5jQH34LEwU6kWmWV1Dm2RQVxQWc8aHQT78hdOI3LSU8t-QaQRDlBUjGpfbACwdO4XV0pyTYLlD3TVQ/s1600/IMG_0324.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Deep Wreck Diving- Key West</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSccMiCYy40hUrGVHg_mqW1L3V_ugJKfrDZBjirZAnuBV95z8fScF81bRYHmF9G1BdamuN_-hunhSAzWEFe8Va3h43ucg8la_I94FPpi1BpOvrYY_yci0MTsN2z9kVh5I1ffAstxdlLoUw/s1600/k18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSccMiCYy40hUrGVHg_mqW1L3V_ugJKfrDZBjirZAnuBV95z8fScF81bRYHmF9G1BdamuN_-hunhSAzWEFe8Va3h43ucg8la_I94FPpi1BpOvrYY_yci0MTsN2z9kVh5I1ffAstxdlLoUw/s1600/k18.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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USS Kendrick</div>
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CCR Love</div>
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Dipolder III</div>
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Exploring on the Suwannee</div>
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Lots of time in the Twin Dees Shaft</div>
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Even more time in the Deco Habitat</div>
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Great Dives and Good Friends</div>
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Twin Dees</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx3Zh0bowTA61-HBGf1Havwd5n__VSzv9UUKAyvZ-v0qR5xYIJeWRnT67mJ5WHRW_AmB1yeWc_AF277VNVHS3UmfWpnNhbVPG1DOeCB9OeoSnU5Xy4AY6cF2OnCloo04DqLr9QSaqmDi5/s1600/IMG_0051+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx3Zh0bowTA61-HBGf1Havwd5n__VSzv9UUKAyvZ-v0qR5xYIJeWRnT67mJ5WHRW_AmB1yeWc_AF277VNVHS3UmfWpnNhbVPG1DOeCB9OeoSnU5Xy4AY6cF2OnCloo04DqLr9QSaqmDi5/s1600/IMG_0051+(2).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Family Unit</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZppe_suiO6eAbFktPyrxnxaEdNZkbGHbp3sHZhGl7WEc6BmgAeQ4mle5TIpoGn5KaEkzNoOJY_HsLUko8heENa2bugK6KnA67AxYyl46yybtTT3ZC-gVbdSevmXvqxGtk_iKlLGyyPXB/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZppe_suiO6eAbFktPyrxnxaEdNZkbGHbp3sHZhGl7WEc6BmgAeQ4mle5TIpoGn5KaEkzNoOJY_HsLUko8heENa2bugK6KnA67AxYyl46yybtTT3ZC-gVbdSevmXvqxGtk_iKlLGyyPXB/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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Trio became a quartet</div>
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The finer things</div>
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Exploring</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzZOmYUV2hB7p8u3xWfoq4S5UaqEo0ErRiS-fBqhmRQHS7C3Bdgn5VYF82NRqVLfqTSLyrQvFmiEa-vcAh_mvPoPH3PDmo0OF17xrJVHhJ3N-Ge0fNiFGEby4sH55ZD605KmrhoRRZeiR/s1600/IMG_0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzZOmYUV2hB7p8u3xWfoq4S5UaqEo0ErRiS-fBqhmRQHS7C3Bdgn5VYF82NRqVLfqTSLyrQvFmiEa-vcAh_mvPoPH3PDmo0OF17xrJVHhJ3N-Ge0fNiFGEby4sH55ZD605KmrhoRRZeiR/s1600/IMG_0212.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
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Mexican Pride Wreck</div>
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WKPP/KUR</div>
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Manatee Springs</div>
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Madison</div>
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Caves!</div>
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New Cavers</div>
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New Divers</div>
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Finding Beauty in West Texas</div>
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Phantom Springs</div>
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Texas Diving</div>
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The New Addition- Conely</div>
<br />Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-47592916763186941862013-11-27T17:22:00.000-05:002013-11-27T17:22:48.661-05:00Exploring Twin Dees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9AlzqHxUdgjhrxcX2uFLkLfxFyd2XeGY8XaVIKLUwLs-t8LIngaudQb6RGhX1_UmXuW4xiEuKpiejKibiP_bs_wJSNXUXYmS_5rqrwQwpDOlf3bhQF8-zzV4CFpZpjLbxKkfnlSWOabm/s1600/1157489_10100305647853065_1238841984_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9AlzqHxUdgjhrxcX2uFLkLfxFyd2XeGY8XaVIKLUwLs-t8LIngaudQb6RGhX1_UmXuW4xiEuKpiejKibiP_bs_wJSNXUXYmS_5rqrwQwpDOlf3bhQF8-zzV4CFpZpjLbxKkfnlSWOabm/s400/1157489_10100305647853065_1238841984_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Twin Dees is an incredible place; it begins at the entrance.
There is a small pool of blue water in the middle of the woods. White sand
slopes to the middle where a small solution tube appears. The tube is around 2’
in diameter, and can be a miserable place. The mission of this dive was to
explore the southern lead out of the Beleriand/ Deep Earth Tunnel that was
explored and surveyed the week prior to my dive by Brett Hemphill and Andy
Pitkin.</div>
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The lead is 2800’ back and 315’ deep and requires navigating
hundreds of feet of restrictive cave and major restrictions. A dive like this requires
many tanks for OC bailout and decompression.
The task of shuttling 9 tanks, 2 scooters, a goody bag of food, spare
lights and battery packs along with myself with the rebreather on was quite the
task.</div>
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Fortunately KUR is composed of great guys and awesome
divers.</div>
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Eric Deister and Jerry Murphy set me up. They placed an AL40
of O2 in the fitting room, AL80 50% at the fissure, 30/20, 21/35, and 10/65 at
the beach.</div>
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Derek Ferguson was my entry diver. He placed 2 scooters, my Submerge
UV40 and Brett’s Magnus along with my deep bailouts, 2 LP121s with 7/78 in the
fitting room. </div>
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I entered the cave just before 10:00am on the breather with
an al80 entry bottle plumbed in. I had on board O2 and Air for drysuit
inflation. All dil was offboard added via an Omni QD.</div>
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Entry went smooth, I departed from the fitting room in
~5minutes. </div>
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I drove the Submerge Scooters UV40 with viper electronics
and towed the Magnus. While the Magnus is slightly faster I do love the way the
40 rides, and the smaller size of the Magnus was more suitable for towing. The
slow speeds of the viper were great for the smaller areas of the cave. </div>
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At the beach I picked up the bottles the setup divers put
in. I put the 120' bottle of 30/20 on the float ball, butt clipped the 21/35
and properly carried the 10/65.</div>
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I did a good diluent flush with 7/78 to eliminate any excess
nitrogen in the loop and continued onward. I dropped the 190' bottle at the
balcony to Middle Earth and descended into the Alph tunnel at ~33minutes.</div>
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I made good time in the Alph tunnel only stopping once
because the old line can be hard to see on the ceiling. I quickly arrived at
the “T” to the Deep Earth Tunnel that is marked with a labeled cookie. I
dropped in.</div>
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The tunnel was impressive it was relatively wide but fairly
tall. The walls were a beautiful white and very soft. Brett and Andy did a
great job exploring here. The line made a hard left and was hooked around a
large piece of breakdown on the floor, there was a silt stake tied to the line
but not placed. This was the spot Brett told me about. I looked left at their
line and then right into blackness. I scootered over the breakdown to get a
feel for the tunnel, it goes. I looped back to the line placed on the breakdown
and dropped my deep stage and backup scooter. I deployed my reel and tied off.
The exit was marked with a red line arrow. </div>
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I took off with the light and reel in my left hand and the
scooter in my right. This has been on my bucket list for years. I was laying
line in Twin Dees Cave off of a scooter in huge passage 50' high, 100+' wide.
The water was clear with a bit of turbidity. I scanned back and forth looking
for the correct route. Ahead a see a large rock spire sticking straight up from
the breakdown mass. I did a large scooter loop around it as a line placement.
Here the cave got wider. I had a choice, go left or right. I chose left, almost
instantly I came off of the breakdown floor and was on a smooth, flat silt
floor with no rock. </div>
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The ceiling was flat, the walls were chalky and white. I
pressed forward a few hundred more feet. The passage made a hard right and dead
ended in a large room with a white column in the middle. I circled the column
and tied off. As a reached for my knife
I noticed exactly how much my hands were shaking. It was not fear, it was excitement,
as Brett says, it is a slow squeeze. Adrenaline was seeping into my system. I
was 324' deep, 3300' back, alone in a place where no man has EVER been. Incredible</div>
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I tied off and placed a white arrow at the knot to avoid any
confusion about circumnavigating the column.</div>
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I deployed my survey book and began the survey out. It went
quick with 150 and 190' shots. The 2 page slate was great and avoided page
flipping confusion. Black colored knots on the white line were also nice. </div>
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My exploration and survey was only 20 minutes, but what a
memorable 20 minutes.</div>
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The trip out went smooth I picked up my deep stage and
backup scooter and hit the door. My first deco stop was 220' in Middle Earth. I
completed my 220-190' stop in ME. I picked up my 190' bottle and began the slow
swim out decompressing as I went. </div>
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Deco out was smooth. I took all of my bottles and scooters
to the fissure. At 60' I copied my survey to my wet notes and made a rough sketch.
At 50' I took off my scooters before the final restriction.</div>
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I spent the next 2.5 hours at 40' in the comfortable
confines of the fitting room for decompression.</div>
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The suit heater was incredible. I was comfortable the whole
time. The support team brought me a sandwich to eat in the air bell and Allen
brought an underwater speak to play music. AC/DC Rocks in the air bell at 40'.</div>
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I slowly made my way up to 10' through the solution tube,
stopping at 30' and 20'. The 80 minutes at 10' was brutally boring with the
ipod stuck on repeat…</div>
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At the end of the dive I felt great. I accomplished a long
term goal. I did an 8.5hr dive to depths over 300' and laid and surveyed ~500' of line in ridiculous
cave.</div>
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Awesome!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVD6rOr6RDOy04_S1ZjeeUSVztFg04sXyc1VhAEJRB2hySAOLzgKhsawGwHjpR-ZUpDZpbeiLxdgek8OsD880xRg-cIg2ABNMtiXKiuyTH_PmIJwqREBm9clQnSeH_Mz3myw4q8UvZTa6g/s1600/1425547_10100383177473085_541534491_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVD6rOr6RDOy04_S1ZjeeUSVztFg04sXyc1VhAEJRB2hySAOLzgKhsawGwHjpR-ZUpDZpbeiLxdgek8OsD880xRg-cIg2ABNMtiXKiuyTH_PmIJwqREBm9clQnSeH_Mz3myw4q8UvZTa6g/s640/1425547_10100383177473085_541534491_n.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
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Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-9932207301758786812013-09-12T21:17:00.000-04:002013-09-12T21:17:52.033-04:00TAG 2012<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">TAG 2012</span></div>
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The 2013 TAG Fall Cave in is only a month away, I thought I
would share some of my pictures from last year.</div>
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I believe 2012 is the 12<sup>th</sup> Cave-In that I have
attended. I have only missed one since I began caving, I hope that is the only
one I will miss. This year was a fun year; it was my Dad’s 50<sup>th</sup> birthday so
He, my brother and I went together as a celebration. We had a great time at
camp socializing, did some classic caves, some easy caves and a few new ones to
me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhakAHYno4tCxok4VAzAqgi-LlRGLXina4i3vJxCWyVuyaNpqyQ3fxKtFOryi_nt6Q27V6_X8zANTJDPI0xmWxR5VEM5J52OJk_5g_ETOI2NArkChnPgFEqBse8LSLuffN73AHZ3IPVWvD/s1600/Fire12%2527+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhakAHYno4tCxok4VAzAqgi-LlRGLXina4i3vJxCWyVuyaNpqyQ3fxKtFOryi_nt6Q27V6_X8zANTJDPI0xmWxR5VEM5J52OJk_5g_ETOI2NArkChnPgFEqBse8LSLuffN73AHZ3IPVWvD/s400/Fire12%2527+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We arrived at the TAG Campground on Friday morning and setup
our camp. We wandered around the site saying Hi to familiar faces and waiting
for the rest of our group to show up. We rarely have a plan when we get there
so the first few hours is; “Where do you want to go?” “I don’t know, where do
you want to go?”</div>
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We decided to make a return trip to Cedar Ridge Crystal
Cave. This is not an overly large or extensive cave, but it is very heavily
decorated and makes for some incredible photo opportunities.</div>
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We spent a few hours
in the cave with a cool group of people from Florida taking pictures and making
jokes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZ-sCyL3STKeJ0__r516wNrH1pEY724_bTr-MX2XgZxcKB067V1HFYNFyf6IfZwyBeD8HPWfKGKKXg8Jm_QveDbgrHucWiOkm1sRUyXPuXJWtpyC-fTxs0g3Lfdor9ErZUP4fXMAzn9r6/s1600/Cedar+Ridge+12%2527_MV+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZ-sCyL3STKeJ0__r516wNrH1pEY724_bTr-MX2XgZxcKB067V1HFYNFyf6IfZwyBeD8HPWfKGKKXg8Jm_QveDbgrHucWiOkm1sRUyXPuXJWtpyC-fTxs0g3Lfdor9ErZUP4fXMAzn9r6/s400/Cedar+Ridge+12%2527_MV+%252811%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After leaving and locking the cave behind us we headed to
Logging Camp Cave. This cave is not far from Cedar Ridge and requires fording a
river, climbing a steep river bank and following an old logging road to a sink
hole. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxMxYFhx07iQWNi0GLoZsqnQLxXyMEAZBVKU27NgRGTuhUPM4Y_ciZjPN1QYutYUA_ZAvr1iCsET_H22lfFWmY-8fiz0aSYve9a3HmAhAxH4pPiAm4FbfFiZeWAIqoJVrEalWa-1ua8-m/s1600/Logging+Camp12%2527_MV+%252830%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxMxYFhx07iQWNi0GLoZsqnQLxXyMEAZBVKU27NgRGTuhUPM4Y_ciZjPN1QYutYUA_ZAvr1iCsET_H22lfFWmY-8fiz0aSYve9a3HmAhAxH4pPiAm4FbfFiZeWAIqoJVrEalWa-1ua8-m/s400/Logging+Camp12%2527_MV+%252830%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here we rigged a hand line to assist in getting in and out
of the cave. It can be a rather slippery breakdown climb. Instantly one arrives
in a tall dome room with grey scalloped walls and a walking canyon passage
leading out. The walking passage dead ends shortly but there is a short squeezy
climb that leads to much bigger cave. It was tighter for some than others…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFeZthfLaTq50l450ThuxUS2mj16kRd00hIIEI3q2efHJtVtDIlzFHClpqvw7goRQAxwVWoiLDTrUO1TlyQnTcZcCTcFdZiXAQA7iz_Vb_78gu8Olm4yvtAQKDWbfipoaA2GdsujeA5M4/s1600/Logging+Camp12%2527_MV+%252844%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFeZthfLaTq50l450ThuxUS2mj16kRd00hIIEI3q2efHJtVtDIlzFHClpqvw7goRQAxwVWoiLDTrUO1TlyQnTcZcCTcFdZiXAQA7iz_Vb_78gu8Olm4yvtAQKDWbfipoaA2GdsujeA5M4/s640/Logging+Camp12%2527_MV+%252844%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUxes97kERKM-0uzVn928tsBsrocqxdOqZg0CBSQvHbAq_3l_HmGY8icZV4AZa-w6N4cQ7IQVocT2aTkFMFZBXZmO6a2E1wGl4a3cUPedvr0cHN5RfKq4DI8Lh7y_12oo7Crduv7ddpFN/s1600/Logging+Camp12%2527_MV+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUxes97kERKM-0uzVn928tsBsrocqxdOqZg0CBSQvHbAq_3l_HmGY8icZV4AZa-w6N4cQ7IQVocT2aTkFMFZBXZmO6a2E1wGl4a3cUPedvr0cHN5RfKq4DI8Lh7y_12oo7Crduv7ddpFN/s400/Logging+Camp12%2527_MV+%252811%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The climb dumps you atop of a large breakdown slope,
traverse down the breakdown and you are in huge beautiful serpentine borehole.
This leads to another breakdown climb, at the top is a perfect little sanctuary
of formations that made for a nice photo op. From here the cave gets tight and
muddy. We poked around for a while and then headed back to camp.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYud8NMPERLT1cAs7HiNv-Gp_Vsq-popICuS4oxHMYlFqXavmjnmpK0USfJRmyn5VnfFNVG-bVWddLsX3q-Jimx27KKZCPOIY6c5fi01s2h8uoJzYud2CD3HGANPF9o5qvYpvBUsQ0_CF/s1600/Logging+Camp12%2527_MV+%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYud8NMPERLT1cAs7HiNv-Gp_Vsq-popICuS4oxHMYlFqXavmjnmpK0USfJRmyn5VnfFNVG-bVWddLsX3q-Jimx27KKZCPOIY6c5fi01s2h8uoJzYud2CD3HGANPF9o5qvYpvBUsQ0_CF/s400/Logging+Camp12%2527_MV+%252826%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The next morning we joined with Brian Williams, Bill Walker
and his daughter to head up to a TAG classic, Rusty’s Cave. Rusty’s is on Fox
Mountain and managed by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy.</div>
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It is a nice hike up the mountain in early October, it is
not too terribly hot and the leaves are just beginning to change. Last year a
number of tornadoes devastated the area and we hardly recognized the entrance with
a all of the tree fall.</div>
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We rigged the rope and made the short rappel into the cave.
We headed downstream taking plenty of time to enjoy the formations and take
pictures. There are a few “memorable”
formations that you have to take a picture with…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wbkaOWgaUXNHgFKd6ieo6M4CGQTboWSmC6kUj7PWMiBCXoNr7IXjkq6c4i_Ov6_5OgrfGd18_LnTC7wV6edJWo3d6aQitqynaLrqS2D0ag8cpvjMs61YbBgJGhi7YzvI_XoLS-78tYsa/s1600/Rustys12%2527_MV+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wbkaOWgaUXNHgFKd6ieo6M4CGQTboWSmC6kUj7PWMiBCXoNr7IXjkq6c4i_Ov6_5OgrfGd18_LnTC7wV6edJWo3d6aQitqynaLrqS2D0ag8cpvjMs61YbBgJGhi7YzvI_XoLS-78tYsa/s640/Rustys12%2527_MV+%25289%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj802iJX0oWZYIdCBSbviA4VDpCuh_9A0ijCLeEgXDgpDNBlvR5KMDE6DYpASorEQnP7a-ZPprsa905u-4yoYdhXGrPSkm_a4CwBBIwD7VPqvJ41haB4f_6mC02vfxqzFDIJyWGm9E3Sv0l/s1600/Rustys12%2527_MV+%252820%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj802iJX0oWZYIdCBSbviA4VDpCuh_9A0ijCLeEgXDgpDNBlvR5KMDE6DYpASorEQnP7a-ZPprsa905u-4yoYdhXGrPSkm_a4CwBBIwD7VPqvJ41haB4f_6mC02vfxqzFDIJyWGm9E3Sv0l/s640/Rustys12%2527_MV+%252820%2529.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyawUyqxJBaajyRHJUkvVztp_rtQYS042yToXGq0j8GhfawXx8ZepMrb5BRAk4Q6gRseybFX2aOWswK1cWMS6Ab3F6sd6QeW65O0xHsLQzLkR58SGfjt3qLW-hk49TfyEW0XomSyZd4fS1/s1600/Rustys12%2527_MV+%252840%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyawUyqxJBaajyRHJUkvVztp_rtQYS042yToXGq0j8GhfawXx8ZepMrb5BRAk4Q6gRseybFX2aOWswK1cWMS6Ab3F6sd6QeW65O0xHsLQzLkR58SGfjt3qLW-hk49TfyEW0XomSyZd4fS1/s400/Rustys12%2527_MV+%252840%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We continued downstream until we reached the wet crawl and
we headed back.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6cib4ELMV1tOfi9wG3cSTFXsEGQ-hnvLLyxYxpyXFLV5ZtV2gRj-lCpDQOIRDtSc5AH-uWyE9zScg8HosMOwS3QbD5fqechERPm8rFcQXdia64sb9SDuV-e4MUJpKaP9e5uH2sRKNQJE/s1600/Rustys12%2527_MV+%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6cib4ELMV1tOfi9wG3cSTFXsEGQ-hnvLLyxYxpyXFLV5ZtV2gRj-lCpDQOIRDtSc5AH-uWyE9zScg8HosMOwS3QbD5fqechERPm8rFcQXdia64sb9SDuV-e4MUJpKaP9e5uH2sRKNQJE/s640/Rustys12%2527_MV+%252823%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
From here Brian, Woody, Andy and myself decided to make the
trip over the mountain to Byers Cave. Last year Sara and I made the hike but
could not find the cave entrance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHi6i1ZSkQoii17PCMjjzmgL3EOjykdYHa5ed8oq3Dzrq98j0E_GMvOCnFG3uG2MY2QjmqOqSdGUEAu5ApMvVZydlTfMOSo_wsKEvJ3PP_8I6Z14-fPwjTVpN1rexiIx_GAHrzdvmqNlCy/s1600/Byers12%2527_MV+%252828%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHi6i1ZSkQoii17PCMjjzmgL3EOjykdYHa5ed8oq3Dzrq98j0E_GMvOCnFG3uG2MY2QjmqOqSdGUEAu5ApMvVZydlTfMOSo_wsKEvJ3PP_8I6Z14-fPwjTVpN1rexiIx_GAHrzdvmqNlCy/s400/Byers12%2527_MV+%252828%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This year we found it. It starts off small with crawling.
Once inside there is a fair amount of technical climbing, chimneying and
spanning over deep fractures. It is actually a relatively terrifying cave.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo9773_Fokm6xhHPm-ZfS8IQ6Krig7zHjDaccW-6echUUBKGOIS0IWQ2GU17VdRi9SZr8555V0ktiwAVKEJ9UhQ8MSsxoafKulE-PuLJ9gw6ArwcZJYxSOu49onVg9UHVy-DaPAVhiuH0/s1600/Byers12%2527_MV+%252830%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo9773_Fokm6xhHPm-ZfS8IQ6Krig7zHjDaccW-6echUUBKGOIS0IWQ2GU17VdRi9SZr8555V0ktiwAVKEJ9UhQ8MSsxoafKulE-PuLJ9gw6ArwcZJYxSOu49onVg9UHVy-DaPAVhiuH0/s400/Byers12%2527_MV+%252830%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally after a miserable crawl you pop into a huge borehole
passage. We went left. It was neat cave; there were big shale breakdown piles,
incredible formation gates, large domes, huge haystacks, massive columns, big
rooms and a beautiful river. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkhGucjWtk4_978fxy_G7_MaNAGBwXWJkNfPXwUiip5IT6mvkkIhQpqIhvG5EItNoKuD2UzJN4t4gdMwo2sM6Nx4S96bUxXbSg8Y2aHEhTli0GzwXJyv65YljBtpHK2JaIc8hepRT93s7/s1600/Byers12%2527_MV+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkhGucjWtk4_978fxy_G7_MaNAGBwXWJkNfPXwUiip5IT6mvkkIhQpqIhvG5EItNoKuD2UzJN4t4gdMwo2sM6Nx4S96bUxXbSg8Y2aHEhTli0GzwXJyv65YljBtpHK2JaIc8hepRT93s7/s640/Byers12%2527_MV+%25282%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjveiWcOy65ji89G8Zad4sQYCjqhAzl8o34M1Ne9ixifkyOb1bKVPlv70kQ4u_tDVpbeNSaSvnOA8rcZd81gsaa-zL_AbMCh0ooeQOHW4fMbFjkeMc1gL8JwWdbRtLuGAQUykJ99R9V5mb/s1600/Byers12%2527_MV+%252819%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjveiWcOy65ji89G8Zad4sQYCjqhAzl8o34M1Ne9ixifkyOb1bKVPlv70kQ4u_tDVpbeNSaSvnOA8rcZd81gsaa-zL_AbMCh0ooeQOHW4fMbFjkeMc1gL8JwWdbRtLuGAQUykJ99R9V5mb/s400/Byers12%2527_MV+%252819%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KQoncRbS-asrcQBOnD9oSlmEW-8reQ95xWtuHGlVz1AZwKY7QDMQvVkvWe6MihsEhB4cnxOjJchdS3yw1wDWCt80oeHxR9Yhwa11ivuWbPtzJUjQtxMiqlpzdXhuiEt0bryqlo8cKz1P/s1600/Byers12%2527_MV+%252827%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KQoncRbS-asrcQBOnD9oSlmEW-8reQ95xWtuHGlVz1AZwKY7QDMQvVkvWe6MihsEhB4cnxOjJchdS3yw1wDWCt80oeHxR9Yhwa11ivuWbPtzJUjQtxMiqlpzdXhuiEt0bryqlo8cKz1P/s400/Byers12%2527_MV+%252827%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Brian and I did not get out of the cave until well after
dark and it was a long hike back over Fox Mountain. It was a neat cave, but not
for the faint of heart and bring a hand line.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next we visited Tally Cave. This cave was once used as a
bomb shelter and later a grow operation. To get in you must rappel 20’
down a steel culvert and crawl through
and old doorway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8gm5bMIqrnZfOwvDJr7nIOOh75olvHnd5rusF0BH5PJc9SmDM3uOVoShJQB9ucPA5lBY3QUT-WYw2MVAUoIOtZ-FN39-xreVI2SP3HIvD6BMx-FYMVjPzcKty6Tqws_JNdB6IDbG8URr/s1600/Talley12%2527_AV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8gm5bMIqrnZfOwvDJr7nIOOh75olvHnd5rusF0BH5PJc9SmDM3uOVoShJQB9ucPA5lBY3QUT-WYw2MVAUoIOtZ-FN39-xreVI2SP3HIvD6BMx-FYMVjPzcKty6Tqws_JNdB6IDbG8URr/s400/Talley12%2527_AV.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90l1YnuTMIEVwNNeQTyEiK6qNzaBAgpfwQOOGfmB3MKurEtQxJ1waEL4CY8Kx1dcrQjQ83fLMEm6w1NdV9F4-FPQpC814kZvTd1OfoGSuILwrqGtrwfT_9N71QeAwcINcgzoTZTU1O4UV/s1600/Talley12%2527_AV+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90l1YnuTMIEVwNNeQTyEiK6qNzaBAgpfwQOOGfmB3MKurEtQxJ1waEL4CY8Kx1dcrQjQ83fLMEm6w1NdV9F4-FPQpC814kZvTd1OfoGSuILwrqGtrwfT_9N71QeAwcINcgzoTZTU1O4UV/s640/Talley12%2527_AV+%252810%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The first room has been trashed with graffiti. There were
many Cave Salamanders in this first room munching on the remains of a
unfortunate buzzard.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We continued onward, climbing down a ladder made of a bed
frame that we affectionately call the Jesus Ladder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We ended up pushing to the bitter end of this cave, it was
tight muddy and pristine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hung out at the fire that night relaxing with old friends
and new.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn9RdC_rE971dHKLx5s1vtfuPINyKCOb3B5LDoVWzr9LKW4rLXaiTh_0SdcAh0TFl4QILJD5PdrOGM1T11zIYZCUWrZaRCDjD9XjdISA5edsHf56ULXT0IwZ0hfweRQojTGIytSFpH_DV/s1600/Blue+Bird+Spring12%2527+%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn9RdC_rE971dHKLx5s1vtfuPINyKCOb3B5LDoVWzr9LKW4rLXaiTh_0SdcAh0TFl4QILJD5PdrOGM1T11zIYZCUWrZaRCDjD9XjdISA5edsHf56ULXT0IwZ0hfweRQojTGIytSFpH_DV/s640/Blue+Bird+Spring12%2527+%252813%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The next morning we packed up camp and headed out. We had
breakfast at this little mom and pop place. No matter what you order they gave
you they want, “Turkey Sandwich?... I told them ham was ok.”</div>
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Then we went to Pettyjohn’s Cave to relax and play. It is
actually a relatively technical cave. This cave has an insane amount of
traffic. The main rout has been polished by thousands of spelunker butts. It
was a fun cave for the last day and we all had a good time exploring the serpentine
river passage, sketchy climbs, and spray pain navigation.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsC9k-iZBgrRC1kg8MTzq_8pKHwGtt_y8PjL5f5iENHSsiDPxnkS0C1muUW-cxR85QB8zRjhuZ710wT28ffw5hYu4836qOPWB5XcjQQXCq7IfkvzlkLlNXoKybK_WqGpfjQGMfqtFn4Xd/s1600/Pettijohns12%2527+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsC9k-iZBgrRC1kg8MTzq_8pKHwGtt_y8PjL5f5iENHSsiDPxnkS0C1muUW-cxR85QB8zRjhuZ710wT28ffw5hYu4836qOPWB5XcjQQXCq7IfkvzlkLlNXoKybK_WqGpfjQGMfqtFn4Xd/s400/Pettijohns12%2527+%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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TAG 2012 was a lot of fun.</div>
Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-72571648283023337352013-04-26T11:12:00.003-04:002013-04-26T11:58:43.313-04:00Weeki Wachee Spring Exploration 2012<br />
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Weeki Wachee Springs</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqBSR7WySeSF3MHjw9WM_5hsIKIZ6WvouWswnu0taLNmXjB7pz9c3kPWSHV8cCdSps9DazXR4lgwzS0gIOt7gXArDD-PCmSWFkD1uqsnQMT2fll6hj85OarInLdE__ruXWKfN4-Zeygsa/s1600/IMG_0490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqBSR7WySeSF3MHjw9WM_5hsIKIZ6WvouWswnu0taLNmXjB7pz9c3kPWSHV8cCdSps9DazXR4lgwzS0gIOt7gXArDD-PCmSWFkD1uqsnQMT2fll6hj85OarInLdE__ruXWKfN4-Zeygsa/s640/IMG_0490.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Weeki Wachee Spring Basin</div>
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In October of 2011 I wrote about my experience with Twin
Dees Cave, that is an incredible cave and I will have more updates on that shortly.
In the spring of 2012 I was able to visit the other side of Park, Weeki Wachee
Spring!</div>
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If ever I had put a cave on a pedestal, this was it! Weeki
Wachee Spring Cave; it has an intimidating entrance, it is deep, has outrageous
flow that cannot be described, with a MASSIVE and beautiful cave below that
only a handful of people have had the opportunity to experience.</div>
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Once Twin Dees was no
longer dive-able we all crossed our fingers hoping the spring rains would hold
off a few more months and allow us to explore this impressive cave.</div>
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On March 3<sup>rd</sup>, Brett Hemphill and I looked at the monitoring
well on the USGS website (<a href="http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb_72020=on&format=gif_default&period=&begin_date=2013-01-01&end_date=2013-04-02&site_no=283201082315601">Well Data</a>) and decided that we could make it in. The mission was familiarization with the
cave entrance and to make sure the pull ropes were still in place and in good
shape from previous exploration.</div>
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My heart was pumping as we waited for the last Mermaid show of
the day to finish. I geared up and did a giant stride into the spring basin.
The water was peaceful on top with a deep blue hue. Turtles and fish swam
around the manmade decorations, and air hoses. The open water and cavern here
is impressive! There is a sheer rock wall enticing me into the fissure below.</div>
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Cavern Entrance</div>
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As we approached the cave we dropped off the sand shoals at
20’ down to the cavern entrance at 40’, this isn’t so bad. We pull gently on
the wall to a grate at 70 and drop our 50% deco bottles. Brett signals OK and
we grab a hold of the orange rope. One must dump all of the air from the wing
and de-tune the regulator. Once over the grate, it is on, the flow kicks you! But
this is not as bad as I expected… We pull our way to 110’, here a rock is perched
in the narrow fissure and there is a short reprieve from the current. Once off
the perch, the fissure narrows and it is rocking again to 140’. The flow is
howling, regulators are free flowing and you are working. At 140’ there is an
alcove and the last chance to turn around. Brett signals me again to dump my
wing and tuck my head, then he slipped over the edge. Flurries of bubbles rush
from his regulator. The entire Weeki Wachee River is fed from and opening slightly
larger than a normal doorway. This is the gauntlet; it is everything I heard it
would be. Once I went over the ledge and
all hell broke loose, the flow pushed on my chest, and sucked the air from my
reg. It was hard to breathe. I tucked my
head and pulled on the rope, creeping forward only inches at a time. I forced
my way down. My toes were pointed; I was as streamlined as possible. My forearms
burned, my ears hurt, but I was afraid to let go of the rope to equalize them.
I had to be almost there, but I couldn't look up for the fear of losing my
mask. About half way there is a small hump, you can almost think about resting
here… almost.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj184_rtL4pZY4L1nwL6DKuhM5PMKOGEydhPFTZ509G0aLXVGqJPYZ4L82jId0rvrYpQ0lRWKA2WkHpoPEhw6rYDilXmh2-rsbh8Yk5YdKVIXGeNG7EDDzwKwBDhkw3grK3nMABIc-5tuI3/s1600/20120519-IMG_4162-1859422861-O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj184_rtL4pZY4L1nwL6DKuhM5PMKOGEydhPFTZ509G0aLXVGqJPYZ4L82jId0rvrYpQ0lRWKA2WkHpoPEhw6rYDilXmh2-rsbh8Yk5YdKVIXGeNG7EDDzwKwBDhkw3grK3nMABIc-5tuI3/s400/20120519-IMG_4162-1859422861-O.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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Matt Exiting the Cave- Photo by Jon Bojar</div>
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Pull, breathe, and pull…it seemed like forever… just when my
forearms were about to give out and I could no longer breathe… the flow disappeared
and I fell into the “Witches Den.” The cave instantly becomes huge and the flow
is not longer detectable. I try to arrest my fall, as I collapse from exhaustion.
I scream with excitement. I had made it
into Weeki Wachee Cave! It was just as bad
as or worse than I had heard. We checked the gear line and swam over to Sheck's
restriction. My air consumption was horrible, but I will never forget that
first dive at Weeki. I am smiling as I sit here thinking about it!</div>
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Bailout bottles that need to be placed in the cave for exploration</div>
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Sheck Exley was the first explorer that I know of that was
able to make it into the cave. He was unable to find his way out of the first
room. Years later Brett Hemphill returned and found the way onward. It is a
great story.</div>
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So now we are in the cave but one must get out through the
miserable entrance… this is the more daunting task. To leave one must ascend
from 180’ to 140’ through horrible flow. I watched Brett go first. I dumped my
wing, exhaled and wrapped one leg around the pull rope. Here goes nothing… it
was terrible. My side mount tanks were passing me, my crotch strap was giving
me an atomic wedgie, the flow was forcing me upwards, flipping me over, ripping
off my fins, and sucking air from the regulator. After fighting my way to 140’
we still had to negotiate more flow and the narrow fracture up another 100’
until we reached the calmer open water. We did our deco stops and entered the Mermaid
tank at 20’. This is the mermaid changing room for their performances, and
makes awesome and convenient deco habitat. I would spend hours in here over the
next few months.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitETUET9TJCrry1uRrvNqcNs_4QcAdOHB-syhhaZXqixoe6F3fjV9ZeWWd_bzcRF-zl3j2Bdy52pFqeqejLQTS-ZuixqwdVfa1tg1ciUS8gwfIVuvif8NUFhuITzb_HSXra8K0Fmp3dXBe/s1600/IMG_0478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitETUET9TJCrry1uRrvNqcNs_4QcAdOHB-syhhaZXqixoe6F3fjV9ZeWWd_bzcRF-zl3j2Bdy52pFqeqejLQTS-ZuixqwdVfa1tg1ciUS8gwfIVuvif8NUFhuITzb_HSXra8K0Fmp3dXBe/s400/IMG_0478.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Brett in the Mermaid Tank</div>
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To see what the cave looks like, check out this awesome teaser <a href="https://vimeo.com/17689279">VIDEO</a> from Liquid Productions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIPJiCcaVwNbjWQKAV2p3TQfUYg6PP1cyK2mbOpv9xCYBPw_5mY5xIuR7dCBwaBPIYMU93WaEtHRxLT0i7UbLcGQboolhyphenhyphennBkCAZfZeetK30ItWTRpRg57WskkDfsNmQhyphenhyphen18TJZ2gngwm/s1600/IMG_0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIPJiCcaVwNbjWQKAV2p3TQfUYg6PP1cyK2mbOpv9xCYBPw_5mY5xIuR7dCBwaBPIYMU93WaEtHRxLT0i7UbLcGQboolhyphenhyphennBkCAZfZeetK30ItWTRpRg57WskkDfsNmQhyphenhyphen18TJZ2gngwm/s400/IMG_0130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now that we knew it was possible to gain access to the cave
this season, plans were set in motion to get the exploration underway. Two
weeks later anyone who was full cave and trimix certified was invited to
participate in the Weeki Tryouts. Something like 26 divers showed up to
participate. It was a rough day for some people, not everyone made it in and
some hopes were broken.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvo-pNkQQiKeHlNg4gFXX_4hrKevxbZ69D-gX3KIyIn3HsEGseKGzfKIRfOjmsB_1BDQYvhZy3uWussgGToF4cAlLg1LOII6JUOPglLF5t6eUWAXC908O8UKGpw7xNyA9bmrfcIVgJc4E/s1600/IMG_0553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvo-pNkQQiKeHlNg4gFXX_4hrKevxbZ69D-gX3KIyIn3HsEGseKGzfKIRfOjmsB_1BDQYvhZy3uWussgGToF4cAlLg1LOII6JUOPglLF5t6eUWAXC908O8UKGpw7xNyA9bmrfcIVgJc4E/s400/IMG_0553.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Andy Pitkin finishing his 10' Decompression stop as the support crew watches</div>
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The season was kicked off. For the next two months I would
spend nearly every Thursday doing setup dives then every Saturday and Sunday
being support and cleanup for the exploration. It was a great time; it really
meant a lot to be a part of a team of such great people and divers. </div>
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Brett Hemphill and Andy Pitkin decompress at 60'</div>
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Brett Hemphill and Dr. Andy Pitkin were the two primary
exploration divers this year. While no major new tunnels were discovered this
year, many loose ends were tied up. We
had multiple successful radio locations to confirm the accuracy of the survey. In
order to accomplish this, a large PVC tube housing the radio transmitter had to
be portaged into the cave, along with multiple scooters and many bailout
cylinders. This was our usual Thursday dive, every time we had to fight against
the massive flow of the headspring. On
Saturday evenings after 3:00pm when the mermaid show ended, the exploration
divers followed by a slew of support divers would enter the water and begin the
arduous task of diving Weeki. <br />
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Travis Emrich and Mike Poucher using the Radio Locator to find the signal 300+ feet below</div>
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The radio transmitter would be placed at a pre-determined
destination in the cave. Using the paper maps and topographic overlays we could
estimate this location on the surface. At a set time the divers would turn on
the beacon and Mike Poucher, cave survey and radio location expert, would
triangulate the exact location on the tone some 300+ feet below. It is impressive
to watch the team function with such massive hurdles.</div>
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As the dive season at Weeki Wachee continued the core
support crew continued to show up; Travis, Randy, Eric, Gibby, and Scott were
there nearly every weekend. Our late night conversations, ideas of practical
jokes, and cooking out were all incredible and memorable experiences.</div>
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A great team to work with</div>
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I had the opportunity to do two dives beyond Sheck’s Restriction
this year. The first dive was a stage dive towards Helm’s Deep to investigate
the unique microbial formations that inhabit this cave. Once through Sheck’s
the cave drops down to a rectangular shaped tunnel with bright white walls and
a contrasting ceiling. After a few hundred feet we hit a T; right goes to the
River Tunnel, and left goes upstream to the big cave. We ventured to the left. We passed over some
massive breakdown piles and eventually arrived at our destination at the edge
of this enormous room. I was diving a 35w Light Monkey HID (an impressive piece
of hardware) this room swallowed the powerful light; it was blackness as far as
I could see. Charlie and I turned the dive at the top of the hill and headed
back out. Since most of the exploration has been done on closed circuit
rebreathers there was more percolation than I expected, visibility was reduced,
but still good. We exited the water
after 2.5 hours of deco.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRzlBgeb497YLvYpyngof6vHwYTKnUavi10szAD-hek_a19uealNkSnPjzBL34mKd2q5-Flc4V0NvtsxCaOTzEsWDKhU1otrXtthrwzibrhfgWzqY-h5zzZ5YADdXOiYhlwTcF4-xJOuT/s1600/IMG_0485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRzlBgeb497YLvYpyngof6vHwYTKnUavi10szAD-hek_a19uealNkSnPjzBL34mKd2q5-Flc4V0NvtsxCaOTzEsWDKhU1otrXtthrwzibrhfgWzqY-h5zzZ5YADdXOiYhlwTcF4-xJOuT/s400/IMG_0485.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Matt finishing a deco stop after a setup dive</div>
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The next dive we went to check for possible leads at the end
of the River Tunnel. This time we went right at the T. This is a neat tunnel,
it is large and has very smooth walls, it almost looks manmade. The cave ends
abruptly just past the end of the line, so we turned and headed upstream to
take a peek. Total dive time was 4.5 hours. </div>
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Matt exiting the cave from a setup dive - Photo by Jon Bojar</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzdsaliZCAtNyIHVosKJ0U6hccyCrPxAjR92K5DXd0XWj8SuPw72mzMX7upp4VTsnFgcuc5KwERsfzbDL9p176E1I5T82gB1KoSYMPcZtl3JeHESeUBq6kg3PHNPTZsOpTflOPbNoAcT2/s1600/IMG_0143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzdsaliZCAtNyIHVosKJ0U6hccyCrPxAjR92K5DXd0XWj8SuPw72mzMX7upp4VTsnFgcuc5KwERsfzbDL9p176E1I5T82gB1KoSYMPcZtl3JeHESeUBq6kg3PHNPTZsOpTflOPbNoAcT2/s400/IMG_0143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Deco in the 20' Habitat</div>
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I must also mention that during the 2012 Weeki Project we
lost a team member. I am unsure what exactly
to write, a year later and I still do not know what to say. I did not have to
opportunity to get to know Marson very well; we had met several times in
passing and through mutual friends. I will simply copy the statement that KUR
posted online. I can tell you that I will never forget Marson.</div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“On 3/31/2012 at Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida,
KARST Underwater Research (KUR) team members were performing a series of dives
which included entering and exiting the cave system. Marson Kay, a two-year
veteran of KUR’s all volunteer team, drowned while exiting the cave system. The
following information, based on eye witness and forensic evidence, provides
some insight into this tragic accident.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<span class="textexposedshow">Following
a successful dive into the cave at 180 feet, Marson Kay signaled he was
exiting. From that point, a 1/2” braided white rope leads upwards to 142 feet,
where the crevasse area of the cavern begins. Although the cave narrows at this
point, the rope continues, now colored orange with a diameter of 7/16”, and
placed in the largest area, leading to a depth of 68 feet, where daylight
clearly can be seen at all times. Instead of following the ropes as he had done
multiple times in the past, Marson rapidly moved into a highly restrictive area
of the crevasse. It is believed that this behavior was not a calculated decision
but a reaction caused by the affects of an embolism he incurred while rapidly
ascending from depth. According to the coroner's evaluation, Marson developed a
cerebral arterial gas embolism prior to his death. Typically, this condition
causes profound changes in mental functioning including disorientation,
blindness, paralysis, seizures and loss of consciousness within minutes or even
seconds of onset. If it occurs after surfacing, it is often fatal or profoundly
disabling even with prompt recompression therapy; when it occurs underwater,
the incapacity or unconsciousness it causes almost always results in drowning.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="textexposedshow">Although safety divers were in visual contact and
additional safety gas cylinders were in place, he rapidly pushed himself upward
into an area where even side-mount divers could not easily access. Several
attempts were made to communicate, by means of light signals as well as touch
contact. Although Marson was still moving at this time, he did not directly
respond to these communication attempts. After approximately 5 minutes, divers
reported Marson was no longer utilizing his regulator. A subsequent review of
his equipment indicated that Marson had approximately half of his gas supply
remaining in both of his tanks and his regulators appeared to be working
properly.</span><br />
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<span class="textexposedshow">Cave diving is an intrinsically dangerous activity,
just as rock-climbing, mountain biking and even horseback riding. All cave
divers understand the risks of diving in underwater caves and accept them as an
inescapable part of the activity they are so passionate about. Marson's
accidental death is great personal loss to all that knew and loved him as well
as to our team. We will do the best we can to honor his memory.</span>”</span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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There is more I could write about this project, it enveloped
all of our time for several months. It
was great diving, hard work, a lot of commitment, new friends, memories and comradery.
It does not get much better that that. I am looking forward to future
exploration and research at Weeki Wachee Springs. </div>
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Keep an eye on Karst Underwater Research on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karst-Underwater-Research/188562677863262?fref=ts">FACEBOOK</a> and
online for more information on this project. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTkm7_GdzuGPrv97Qxpi1ORlOaNd3C9BN33gITDAMHss7v_qaz1SJmxeadaFfdBrpW7_RXFvJZn85ghfXcI8ZIXwsLocVaq1ghj0nVEKKFFMSnop-sLqGdoKNUL-osY9LiBF_B09vqy2V/s1600/581251_396302913755903_818676542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTkm7_GdzuGPrv97Qxpi1ORlOaNd3C9BN33gITDAMHss7v_qaz1SJmxeadaFfdBrpW7_RXFvJZn85ghfXcI8ZIXwsLocVaq1ghj0nVEKKFFMSnop-sLqGdoKNUL-osY9LiBF_B09vqy2V/s400/581251_396302913755903_818676542_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Google Earth Overlay of Weeki Wachee and Twin Dees Caves</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbwYOtJSXR3KRbaHW3cRuOxvI8eNQ_yysRPgVYtg0q_DsmiaX-9CRPBNzV3pu_DlbVfdpM1Sb1SDwHLlhkaBvkyEGkvcKKiV2pmZ51iHjCk5SW_BPRwfqR8oPSUeJna-hn7f-v7g2bX_j/s1600/IMG_0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbwYOtJSXR3KRbaHW3cRuOxvI8eNQ_yysRPgVYtg0q_DsmiaX-9CRPBNzV3pu_DlbVfdpM1Sb1SDwHLlhkaBvkyEGkvcKKiV2pmZ51iHjCk5SW_BPRwfqR8oPSUeJna-hn7f-v7g2bX_j/s400/IMG_0525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Weeki after dark</div>
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Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-32478788463910066902012-12-10T15:27:00.000-05:002012-12-10T15:27:58.060-05:00Paradise Springs<br />
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I was able to get in a fair amount of exploration this year.
I did not carry a camera every time so I do not have a post for every weekend.
But I should still have some interesting stuff.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvfotqiDl9nrZZa8yLDKgLQImAk2pMB3Wu6tDIJvU5xTOoNkejvl4n8DeoBy7A7dzJbY8wJb1CPfrLYqHkhBMei9AjpvWFZEyWTXhUCVGeZy7OdNsgP1VbBQfQErWqCkMurlHGtOVxIT3/s1600/IMG_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvfotqiDl9nrZZa8yLDKgLQImAk2pMB3Wu6tDIJvU5xTOoNkejvl4n8DeoBy7A7dzJbY8wJb1CPfrLYqHkhBMei9AjpvWFZEyWTXhUCVGeZy7OdNsgP1VbBQfQErWqCkMurlHGtOVxIT3/s640/IMG_0091.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I took the camera with me to Paradise Springs back in May
2012. I had a group of people from the dive shop who wanted to learn how to
dive sidemount for OW purposes. So with their shiny new gear, a lecture and a few dives under
their belt we took a trip to Paradise Springs to get some more dive time. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaq-4mgYa32_cajMxNr1KT4nzvA64nitQ-yKKnqIdalSNAufkIfOeV6UPtCJSGDMVH8LSqSPU6SfRmF27Iyt84v1MKGKnQkZMacuwL8yrHtZ-aCXrh1sy7nHll4ky6SYtFNRIW32nfEnn/s1600/IMG_0050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaq-4mgYa32_cajMxNr1KT4nzvA64nitQ-yKKnqIdalSNAufkIfOeV6UPtCJSGDMVH8LSqSPU6SfRmF27Iyt84v1MKGKnQkZMacuwL8yrHtZ-aCXrh1sy7nHll4ky6SYtFNRIW32nfEnn/s400/IMG_0050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sidemount is a fast growing subset in the SCUBA industry. It
moves your tanks off your back and onto your sides. This gives the diver lower
vertical profile, improves stability and increases flexibility. There are a number
of reasons to move to double tanks; redundancy and increased dive time are the
biggest.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmIm7H7IRSgDp-WwOf4yDxmFM-g1ybUA4FEtc5Fze3E42GQoKXtRsSOVKiuea_eiu2eqoqIhgb_YLGJDxBKlGYnMLR5Zf3P29ws-TJysxSKiuJJZZLGqetZhajka8zRY1O2uIJVbELsB-/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmIm7H7IRSgDp-WwOf4yDxmFM-g1ybUA4FEtc5Fze3E42GQoKXtRsSOVKiuea_eiu2eqoqIhgb_YLGJDxBKlGYnMLR5Zf3P29ws-TJysxSKiuJJZZLGqetZhajka8zRY1O2uIJVbELsB-/s400/IMG_0008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Paradise Springs is a sink hole located near Belleview, FL.
It is privately owned and operated. The water is a constant 74 degrees and crystal
clear. It is a great dive site to tour, practice your skills, and to see if
caverns are the thing for you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1dzs_POlDH5Cgh0KqUi-TzbREpkUaCxic_3qrQJAm88Fsg1-1tRY8_aN_0uHP_SwdjSzx5yQ4q1SQZ0_P8ygYX-tkE8zJQ1qYeA_O0yMuGbJKklFCi9924wigshKXhyFZWVJ95cz7ypB/s1600/IMG_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1dzs_POlDH5Cgh0KqUi-TzbREpkUaCxic_3qrQJAm88Fsg1-1tRY8_aN_0uHP_SwdjSzx5yQ4q1SQZ0_P8ygYX-tkE8zJQ1qYeA_O0yMuGbJKklFCi9924wigshKXhyFZWVJ95cz7ypB/s400/IMG_0067.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The cave does go below 100’ so non cave trained divers need
to know their limits.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72sGlgoDgHdEQ5MPfY7osQvH-NsJff8UNLPcwcXD1N8GDxCqAyenOJR1y0GUKIA1qtMkNL81FKhRMuahS1OtfIz5_UVfNdNPWVdk76hDTIGwRzCTX_5-G44GSTsKO7LWoLzLI0MSSJsnM/s1600/paradisemap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72sGlgoDgHdEQ5MPfY7osQvH-NsJff8UNLPcwcXD1N8GDxCqAyenOJR1y0GUKIA1qtMkNL81FKhRMuahS1OtfIz5_UVfNdNPWVdk76hDTIGwRzCTX_5-G44GSTsKO7LWoLzLI0MSSJsnM/s400/paradisemap.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GFk_wrP2_PupktVMNky9aZkGSItFHVC80xmfZaQQp7sDVuQgDxZEFUFR_p7DPOliyhtcTv8sl_he1kED0EKqJPHIkPFjuqofBs7xns248c1ew-2cmrb3I2AV6o4yAocGg4TVtQCyCuXI/s1600/IMG_0097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GFk_wrP2_PupktVMNky9aZkGSItFHVC80xmfZaQQp7sDVuQgDxZEFUFR_p7DPOliyhtcTv8sl_he1kED0EKqJPHIkPFjuqofBs7xns248c1ew-2cmrb3I2AV6o4yAocGg4TVtQCyCuXI/s400/IMG_0097.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For more information about Paradise Springs check out <a href="http://www.floridadiveconnection.com/paradise-springs/">Florida Dive Connection</a></div>
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Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-43366504527795687042012-12-10T14:02:00.000-05:002012-12-10T14:02:02.091-05:00Jug Hole January 2012Getting behind seems to be a trend with this blog.<div>
I have been very busy this year, and I will try to have a number of updates in the next few days.</div>
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So lets start with Febuary 2012....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKGrRh2z6xOweDmuEvkisGyAoUSDTQPiW49mM2o9jfdEWhuEgwmHbIo1pJ7DESS10CNbAzcmvpgRWJRFL5uj7-1PgjUc8W5vAyxBUTlQifyX2Je55MG5uZ89WwkYcpo5YfupKfl_XqOA8/s1600/IMG_0410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKGrRh2z6xOweDmuEvkisGyAoUSDTQPiW49mM2o9jfdEWhuEgwmHbIo1pJ7DESS10CNbAzcmvpgRWJRFL5uj7-1PgjUc8W5vAyxBUTlQifyX2Je55MG5uZ89WwkYcpo5YfupKfl_XqOA8/s640/IMG_0410.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
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Every year since I was thirteen we have made an annual trip
to Jug Hole. Jug Hole is just one of the
springs that feeds the Ichetucknee river. This blue ribbon transects harwood
hammock and eventually intersects with the Santa Fe River. This is a Mecca for photographers,
kayakers and tubers. In the wintertime the park closes to tubers and opens to
cave divers.</div>
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Here is the Website for the park: <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/">State Park</a></div>
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The cave is relatively short, but it is full of challenge
and beauty. The dive begins a half mile away at the parking lot. Several
hundred pounds of scuba equipment must be portaged 2500’ down a trail to the
springhead.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEN7buZX_pb0Ac-3wr_XCiKazsWKSbf17shjV_Q6SrLTE_RfoNCDo4dP0KRIY-8hxfN-wpqregPWMXJsHCpucRVWj4hSQPAPmLgxR5vZOqketAzuxMXl1ZkO0YucWeQoCP4snrybhR53_/s1600/IMG_0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEN7buZX_pb0Ac-3wr_XCiKazsWKSbf17shjV_Q6SrLTE_RfoNCDo4dP0KRIY-8hxfN-wpqregPWMXJsHCpucRVWj4hSQPAPmLgxR5vZOqketAzuxMXl1ZkO0YucWeQoCP4snrybhR53_/s400/IMG_0451.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This year Andy was not able to make it so we brought our
good friend Sean. This was his first trip to the cave. Sean is a CCR diver and
has been carrying his bailout in a sidemount configuration for years. I believe
this was his first true sidemount dive.</div>
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The cavern is picturesque, in the early afternoon the sun
pours through the round entrance and a beautiful column of blue light paints
the white sand floor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5DzmCfG4O8RxrEWPYIQI5e4Rw2JZL45zTFS12gifyAschPsz2aXao5uGUquIl6OnVPdi3908RswltTv1JJr6X-oBCtxhAPkKF98EwRy54kIZWfVP8a7jtxvVi2LzEIPQnTP347FFwhe4/s1600/IMG_0427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5DzmCfG4O8RxrEWPYIQI5e4Rw2JZL45zTFS12gifyAschPsz2aXao5uGUquIl6OnVPdi3908RswltTv1JJr6X-oBCtxhAPkKF98EwRy54kIZWfVP8a7jtxvVi2LzEIPQnTP347FFwhe4/s400/IMG_0427.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just a hundred feet in we reach the first restriction, the
bedding plane. This is a low wide section of cave is formed when a softer layer
of a sedimentary rock dissolves leaving behind the harder floor and ceiling.
This bedding plane averages 16” high and acts a “nerd gate” for the now rare
back mount diver.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iK4bHey9zRlzyPo6uwBTzQHT0cpanpnuY1-GqIw-vMojkF9aqP5IpqcGwmKX31oWiWn06vkbF9SxCOuhR53XZkIPCyFVsgZMWx4CPJCp7IpEmfV8gGFDsQSKyl1GZ5xpy01KnyfIOIPm/s1600/jug_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iK4bHey9zRlzyPo6uwBTzQHT0cpanpnuY1-GqIw-vMojkF9aqP5IpqcGwmKX31oWiWn06vkbF9SxCOuhR53XZkIPCyFVsgZMWx4CPJCp7IpEmfV8gGFDsQSKyl1GZ5xpy01KnyfIOIPm/s400/jug_map.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
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The cave continues through two tall dome rooms and then
pinches down at the Diamond Sands Restriction. Here the course orange sand
shifts in the current and glistens in our lights. It really is a beautiful
sight. The restriction is not that tight, but it is an odd shape. It is
somewhat of a puzzle to get through here if one has not done it before.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAWcut8u9xYQCiwq1Hhm1s92d32ZBEWAfTNYiKiC8SbB_oc9rDwdMsJWa5cZV9NKNU-XRpvZu_cDDjco7yBynpLgOMumqcPd8J_L0PvGqXF9p4LR1I695-kBnl0dk8g7JPznGxjVeD_bV/s1600/IMG_0391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAWcut8u9xYQCiwq1Hhm1s92d32ZBEWAfTNYiKiC8SbB_oc9rDwdMsJWa5cZV9NKNU-XRpvZu_cDDjco7yBynpLgOMumqcPd8J_L0PvGqXF9p4LR1I695-kBnl0dk8g7JPznGxjVeD_bV/s400/IMG_0391.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From here the cave changes there is a jump to the right
where most of the flow originates. It is a very tight bedding plane restriction
9-10” high. But the cave continues straight to the loft some 50’ shallower. The
cave abruptly ends and a thin layer of grey silt covers everything. There is
typically a collection of “glory markers” here where people like to brag about
their incredible feat of cave diving… Do not leave line markers unless they are
needed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiTsGQqOteP_exY7xNGrpVfVj31flseMsfZp427iTDoZQ74CLBlj4B9N8uzTkqP2iAYzI6N1bl6COSOARB9MSsxschQACYpdvJgQWhXh0NtPfAW7PlsQT40DE5EhpNbjk7dmG77m62dT8/s1600/IMG_0395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiTsGQqOteP_exY7xNGrpVfVj31flseMsfZp427iTDoZQ74CLBlj4B9N8uzTkqP2iAYzI6N1bl6COSOARB9MSsxschQACYpdvJgQWhXh0NtPfAW7PlsQT40DE5EhpNbjk7dmG77m62dT8/s320/IMG_0395.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The dive was load of
fun we got some awesome cave footage and great pictures.</div>
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To see the video of this dive, follow this link: <a href="https://vimeo.com/37159793">Jug Hole Video</a></div>
</div>
Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-75455932709534018682012-07-10T19:59:00.000-04:002012-07-10T19:59:13.429-04:00Manatee Springs Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-zB3ieOLWZGvfZQ1-fF_RVB0rYMs1L8miqRv3KjbEgJz4VJaz3CA8pA0LysazLjGuvDEUk06oXL03WUXwRY7_xsF4NDRhYFc-H0V_PjTqb57MXRe-_gV243eqJw0IH80ulwJvbsh15_8/s1600/GOPR0177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-zB3ieOLWZGvfZQ1-fF_RVB0rYMs1L8miqRv3KjbEgJz4VJaz3CA8pA0LysazLjGuvDEUk06oXL03WUXwRY7_xsF4NDRhYFc-H0V_PjTqb57MXRe-_gV243eqJw0IH80ulwJvbsh15_8/s400/GOPR0177.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Just a few weeks after my last dive at Manatee I had the itch to return. The water was a beautiful blue and the flow was as low as I have seen it. Bob Beckner and I did a repeat dive of the previous weekend, except this time we brought one more stage bottle. So this was a double stage, sidemount scooter diver. We went on the dive to investigate a potential lead. We reached the destination restriction, and Bob waited for me. The restriction was a tight fracture, the walls were rough as I believe I was only the second one through here. Visibility went to zero, due to an orange clay underneath shifting breakdown. Shortly I emerged into a beautiful little room. There was a fracture in the ceiling that would rain clay when bubbles rushed into it. The passage continued and made a hard left here ended in a 2" high sand restriction and I turned the dive. The first 1800' of our exit had very poor visibility due to the small nature of the passage and the result of my shenanigans.<br />
We reached the mainline grabbed our scooters and enjoyed a fast joyride out of the system. Deco was short and chiggers were no too bad.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePNusKvH4XaieIk4YxIR8BbD9TdRISCFmYt4mx9mrGGzxina844JMkgKosgKOF5MmLQpAkM3brRe4Y5RVtuCFE8XSe0w7js6YPPa-Uu-7C4ADJ4eI4dFsNbxsIKYn925s03Lb70CuTYgN/s1600/GOPR0220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePNusKvH4XaieIk4YxIR8BbD9TdRISCFmYt4mx9mrGGzxina844JMkgKosgKOF5MmLQpAkM3brRe4Y5RVtuCFE8XSe0w7js6YPPa-Uu-7C4ADJ4eI4dFsNbxsIKYn925s03Lb70CuTYgN/s400/GOPR0220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Bob packed up and headed home. Sara and I stayed and enjoyed a second dive in Catfish Hotel, one of the other entrances to the Cave system. Catfish Hotel is an offset sink with an upstream and downstream cave passage. This was a fun dive and it allowed Sara to get in the water and play with her new sidemount gear!<br />
She is enjoying the transition to sidemount diving, she particularly likes the increased stability, and the ability to look up without hitting her head.<br />
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Here is a short video of the dive: <a href="https://vimeo.com/36324065">https://vimeo.com/36324065</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JzE2vWNiH6ciQ0VhV1DHjXwZd9hxCoSLerqSxE7DhZTbb_vllrsMv9cVNEtsX-gDtagxArrwvj1Yfq4hP7Xjew9GnDAhCniIKourfFVhgcZmK9RnDcEawwuDIXVdQL5cLD1Z_-aITicf/s1600/GOPR0223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JzE2vWNiH6ciQ0VhV1DHjXwZd9hxCoSLerqSxE7DhZTbb_vllrsMv9cVNEtsX-gDtagxArrwvj1Yfq4hP7Xjew9GnDAhCniIKourfFVhgcZmK9RnDcEawwuDIXVdQL5cLD1Z_-aITicf/s400/GOPR0223.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was a great day.Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-53384072231474552062012-03-19T21:44:00.000-04:002012-03-19T21:44:58.742-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaADw_dZOaXLcPmiPCNlX5Y1rYLEMJ0LS_Vb8daYHU50shz72U5v2H2_7umL6xw_pgtcOtFf85h06arhMFSRcj9mYkjMMSSJZPS5lGs-gOZ-mMz0N1EJy40gyoU96oFpF2UfHp_TFZkyYZ/s1600/IMG_0133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaADw_dZOaXLcPmiPCNlX5Y1rYLEMJ0LS_Vb8daYHU50shz72U5v2H2_7umL6xw_pgtcOtFf85h06arhMFSRcj9mYkjMMSSJZPS5lGs-gOZ-mMz0N1EJy40gyoU96oFpF2UfHp_TFZkyYZ/s400/IMG_0133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have always loved North Florida, the Suwannee River is a magical place. Sara planned a trip for our friends Jen and Ryan so we could share this unique part of Florida with them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH_GGxZKwlTBYoPBfnTooD6ELasqgCcEmp5aCV1x7TNcxvzweQjfBnwiHc3CrXc3jx00KR4UDFLxMY46fSXJT0Pcz3Gcd3IYmkfPAEf9136pF1dIFvkUw6zGw5PAnLUKyLeBOKCcUtmQw/s1600/IMG_0114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH_GGxZKwlTBYoPBfnTooD6ELasqgCcEmp5aCV1x7TNcxvzweQjfBnwiHc3CrXc3jx00KR4UDFLxMY46fSXJT0Pcz3Gcd3IYmkfPAEf9136pF1dIFvkUw6zGw5PAnLUKyLeBOKCcUtmQw/s400/IMG_0114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We drove up after work on Saturday and checked in at a cabin at Suwannee River Rendezvous. This is a great mom and pop camp ground, with a nice little restaurant, cabins, karaoke, trivia, and a cave!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInOOwgpuJPoODvdsL9XLXPkjZxwkHho8HsmgzL0kviuRkgHMf6LCueRg_4kSPxRJ_hU7Qk9HCGGhRRxeYRnK3q1Bt5kXLuzbHBWeNT7hRllUJi-g-YZ_wkejQf9mXIytH5Zg3OlqPXa5i/s1600/IMG_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInOOwgpuJPoODvdsL9XLXPkjZxwkHho8HsmgzL0kviuRkgHMf6LCueRg_4kSPxRJ_hU7Qk9HCGGhRRxeYRnK3q1Bt5kXLuzbHBWeNT7hRllUJi-g-YZ_wkejQf9mXIytH5Zg3OlqPXa5i/s640/IMG_0083.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We started the night with trivia, singing, board games and a campfire. I was a nice night. The next morning we rose early to temperatures in the low 30’s. As crazy as everyone thinks I am I convinced the girls to go for a dive at Troy springs.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknIwMXzUK_S1hUcR2rgSl1DVb2DuCePyMkY38ndexXkGWXP0PP1-u88jwb5Uf9zbCl0sT6171OiH-F_P3Ska_QoLUh3OZjA3ZmAOZismfmZDhPZZsyQARPa5KsUbFy02IyIIsa7JZBVak/s1600/IMG_0116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknIwMXzUK_S1hUcR2rgSl1DVb2DuCePyMkY38ndexXkGWXP0PP1-u88jwb5Uf9zbCl0sT6171OiH-F_P3Ska_QoLUh3OZjA3ZmAOZismfmZDhPZZsyQARPa5KsUbFy02IyIIsa7JZBVak/s400/IMG_0116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Troy springs is a large sink located on the banks of the Suwannee river. The sink is cylindrical and drops to depths of ~70 feet. The water here is an emerald green and is always a beautiful cavern dive. We spent 45 minutes playing in the water until open water classes overran the spring basin. It was great to get Sara back in the water again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2VbiJtDWidbznQ0krQOtyi8CM08i_DInqFWyGFO42YSZu7apAOnpUPhHclq78ECefZxYSHSRXoViHrQqiIfZ2oCeFJTl4nReVZEcE5kKU-D6J2nSzt-FlNzEuepLTy13lEJKVRibXLhd/s1600/IMG_0127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2VbiJtDWidbznQ0krQOtyi8CM08i_DInqFWyGFO42YSZu7apAOnpUPhHclq78ECefZxYSHSRXoViHrQqiIfZ2oCeFJTl4nReVZEcE5kKU-D6J2nSzt-FlNzEuepLTy13lEJKVRibXLhd/s400/IMG_0127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Later that afternoon we spent several hours floating down the Suwannee in canoes. We passed a handful of springs and the retired rotating railroad bridge.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsb22jz1eu95CehaBzAxMJGPFftJcSI5oABp0GyoaokrhnEeYlOgKEthTv7y6wjNcize60oxd4J6-QZP8FcGdrm3CKpHV1TXQ1MKp-kJudjEjhd9P55U45ohxGt6e1BkOsp-OsGuCX41x/s1600/IMG_0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsb22jz1eu95CehaBzAxMJGPFftJcSI5oABp0GyoaokrhnEeYlOgKEthTv7y6wjNcize60oxd4J6-QZP8FcGdrm3CKpHV1TXQ1MKp-kJudjEjhd9P55U45ohxGt6e1BkOsp-OsGuCX41x/s400/IMG_0130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLjndwcR1XjBUsyCAWeHdrE2RW3weU4KxddZD5ihiCoBfQdyM6DxmyMCQop-flx8LDk6jILp5-4mMfwtJFoUfQSK2ObdtBZEE9XWw8PCBzZzjdV1LqqoTIm9omofzYkwKvgE8Z2hcbj3-/s1600/IMG_0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLjndwcR1XjBUsyCAWeHdrE2RW3weU4KxddZD5ihiCoBfQdyM6DxmyMCQop-flx8LDk6jILp5-4mMfwtJFoUfQSK2ObdtBZEE9XWw8PCBzZzjdV1LqqoTIm9omofzYkwKvgE8Z2hcbj3-/s320/IMG_0164.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next moring we hiked at Peacock Springs State Park along the new interpretive trail.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdl76Ohd5fBp0PbUVXaDii1q1mH4VAUfqLQAnEBb3F6yjRKUi2jM1LqfB0IQkuT8jg2vlZaESfjTKXkmZBlC21Xc-p3MMy42htIMT_JRMeOG7ixkjunS-xw7pIIgNShfdikTZR9EFYG5c/s1600/IMG_0230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdl76Ohd5fBp0PbUVXaDii1q1mH4VAUfqLQAnEBb3F6yjRKUi2jM1LqfB0IQkuT8jg2vlZaESfjTKXkmZBlC21Xc-p3MMy42htIMT_JRMeOG7ixkjunS-xw7pIIgNShfdikTZR9EFYG5c/s400/IMG_0230.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was a great weekend in north Florida!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-33240430006107856182012-01-20T16:25:00.000-05:002012-01-20T16:25:33.965-05:00Manatee Springs 1-8-12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTHuFyOXYtNhCJJn6iEhuj5TGPp0l9ZDN2wrGM_6UhyphenhyphenX-t_XbYIAPMVTDplK0-dX-sDCF7GRvD6PBheP2-KqyBruU78KvpdXEBswWPQ_Ac1OWCgic-4GLPR5api5n6cKkrq0ZfbMg-DX3/s1600/Sun+Rise-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTHuFyOXYtNhCJJn6iEhuj5TGPp0l9ZDN2wrGM_6UhyphenhyphenX-t_XbYIAPMVTDplK0-dX-sDCF7GRvD6PBheP2-KqyBruU78KvpdXEBswWPQ_Ac1OWCgic-4GLPR5api5n6cKkrq0ZfbMg-DX3/s400/Sun+Rise-2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It has been a while since I ran the scooter and I was in the mood for a nice long dive.<br />
Bob Beckner and I planned a trip to Manatee Springs.<br />
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</div>This is a "cavers" cave. The flow is high the walls are dark and the visability is never perfect. This is one of my favorite caves!<br />
I had heard about the "Blue Water" tunnel but had never been there. I received directions and we made it happen.<br />
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</div>This side tunnel is small and advanced, it is definitively a sidemount tunnel. The floor transitions from white clay to a coarse, sparkling, orange sand. The passage meanders side to side/ up and down. It was a beautiful little dive.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwxgDnXJeyfJxpXXnYiSv26Oq5o4918YGs4NXjjVmV320eOgCiQOKIOYCLluYhhskLaeAWP1C09QpF0aHO90Ji2ufKTXclpB9BE2h0Q4HA8A47d6SWbHlgiuHbAXDaywnWDDqyS9vrRmz/s1600/Sun+Rise-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwxgDnXJeyfJxpXXnYiSv26Oq5o4918YGs4NXjjVmV320eOgCiQOKIOYCLluYhhskLaeAWP1C09QpF0aHO90Ji2ufKTXclpB9BE2h0Q4HA8A47d6SWbHlgiuHbAXDaywnWDDqyS9vrRmz/s400/Sun+Rise-8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Back in the main passage we cranked the scooters up and had a blast riding them out! Visability was as nice as I have ever seen at Mantatee. It makes me want to come backMatt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-52318948701169018632012-01-17T11:35:00.000-05:002012-01-17T11:35:35.270-05:00Honeymoon Cruise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">A few weeks after our wedding, I finally finished my degree from USF. To celebrate that and our marriage, Sara and I took a honeymoon cruise. After researching resorts and other honeymoon options we decided that a cruise was by far the best bang for the buck.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We booked an 8 night cruise with Carnival from Ft. Lauderdale and traveling the through the Eastern Caribbean.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEOaF3k7BuIVIfi4Gy3MwolhgqoazpmxNceD5CvtvuK7_dwteqhHP-bBZc9KtChCgDmOG3Kg1pb_ygthjBETKhKDBed9qEXuTlLTG8kIF4Fbrbz8XXT1cDqAyyDZzE3ZFDEnoK8dBN5hD/s1600/Sun+Rise-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEOaF3k7BuIVIfi4Gy3MwolhgqoazpmxNceD5CvtvuK7_dwteqhHP-bBZc9KtChCgDmOG3Kg1pb_ygthjBETKhKDBed9qEXuTlLTG8kIF4Fbrbz8XXT1cDqAyyDZzE3ZFDEnoK8dBN5hD/s400/Sun+Rise-3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> The worse part of the trip was the two of us and out 3500 closest friends waiting in line to board the Carnival Freedom for 8 days of fun.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEl0XdjmsuocCMZz3zgL5HnjkLE9mymCgUyR9t7h3qEBoWOh2SWG1oda7BHqSeqJDcVxuMbGrHmWSjIDeAB5-zrSbpGQs-WFfx0bSI0xIm8bvCikTuCVgA8XzUq4qQAw-pW_G-CA2MnRyd/s1600/Sun+Rise-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEl0XdjmsuocCMZz3zgL5HnjkLE9mymCgUyR9t7h3qEBoWOh2SWG1oda7BHqSeqJDcVxuMbGrHmWSjIDeAB5-zrSbpGQs-WFfx0bSI0xIm8bvCikTuCVgA8XzUq4qQAw-pW_G-CA2MnRyd/s400/Sun+Rise-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We went to our room and found it decorated for our Honey moon. We explored the ship, trying to figure out how to navigate it. We almost figured it out by the last day…almost.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">After our safety briefing we slipped into our swimsuits and hit the pool deck, this is where we spent the majority of the first two days at sea. It was nice; we lounged in the pools, hit the water slide, met some nice people, Sara judged the mixology competition, and we enjoyed the Hairy Chest Competition.</div><br />
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</div> I got a little sun burnt, so we moved inside. We decided to go watch the “Game of Love” this is essentially the Newly Wed Game. Brad, our cruise director asked all of the newly-weds to stand up. In a crowd of 1500, Sara and I were the only two… So we played. We competed against a couple that had been married for 30 yrs and a couple that had been married for 60. The questions were hard and embarrassing, but the young newly weds won!<br />
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</div> Our first Port of Call was St. Thomas. We wanted to do some diving on this trip, but the excursions were out of our watermelon budget. So we got off the ship and wandered. We met a man named Ali who ran a tour bus, it was cheap and we were bored with the shops, so we joined him. Ali was well spoken and extremely knowledgeable about the Island and its history. It was an informative tour that showed us the highlights and best overlooks. St Thomas is a beautiful island, and we had a great time.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Back on the ship we gorged ourselves with food, enjoyed standup at the comedy club, and lounged around.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The next day we docked in Antigua. Here we booked a shore excursion; Kayaking, Hiking , and Snorkeling. We boarded a bus and traveled across the island to the NE corner where there was a skiff waiting to transport us to Bird Island. Bird Island was a small rocky island surrounded by coral reef. We hiked to the top and enjoyed an outstanding view. The snorkeling was nice, I always enjoy being in the water.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We kayaked around the mangroves for 45 minutes, enjoyed some homemade banana bread and rum punch before heading back on the bus.</div><br />
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</div> Day 5 we arrived in Tortola. Since we had such good luck with Ali in St Thomas we decided to take another island tour. This guy was not as good… He was very repetitive and uninformed. We were annoyed at first, but after the first hour it was actually entertaining. The island was beautiful and we had a nice time.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Day 6 was spent at sea, eating, swimming, sleeping, and eating.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Day 7, we are almost home, but had one more stop in Nassau. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Here we booked an excursion to avoid the hoards of people shopping. We decided to try paddle boarding. I always thought is looked like an overpriced sport that was inefficient and boring, I was right. It was fun to try, but it was not mobile like a kayak, and it was not as fast as a surf board. After 30 minutes of paddle boarding and getting to see Sara fall once we decided to snorkel instead. Lion fish are taking over down there. In the 30 minutes we were in the water we saw 3.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">It was a great day in the Bahamas</div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Day 8 we were back in Ft Lauderdale. It was sad to get be home and weird to stand on firm ground. The weather was beautiful on our cruise, unfortunately it was windy. We averaged 16’ seas the first few days, and had as high as 30 one night. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We had a great time and plan to do more cruisin’ in the future.</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-44631789686057246292012-01-16T22:18:00.000-05:002012-01-16T22:18:13.581-05:00Spring Hunting<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Polk County Spring Hunting</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmpPg6oSe1WCttiPxJRNYdt5HRfbw-PEgnuBDz3L1g1zIVEpfFqXldU1HKrDhGqfVp19IsoG9ouiAquglg-jrpTjMUhPdMAnTwwtPnvCHS5hjHiYafCmqgB3EPM-Um4UjU2E1SSLlS8VC/s1600/Prt-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmpPg6oSe1WCttiPxJRNYdt5HRfbw-PEgnuBDz3L1g1zIVEpfFqXldU1HKrDhGqfVp19IsoG9ouiAquglg-jrpTjMUhPdMAnTwwtPnvCHS5hjHiYafCmqgB3EPM-Um4UjU2E1SSLlS8VC/s400/Prt-9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Working in retail you meet some interesting people…. My father met a man who claimed to own his own spring; awesome right!? The more interesting fact is that this rumored spring is supposesdly located in Polk County. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9MZaOK3lQXLNHv2g-xRtVJ7m6RNavNxTUi2LjsfSnOFzDuwVEuJk9ks0o8xppvxjMyLU2JSOyESJI527EPInbtVTgeX7SNLtciwBH2MhfbE2TBSkixuiT3TWWj3u1VPZURqUojznb-Js/s1600/Prt-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9MZaOK3lQXLNHv2g-xRtVJ7m6RNavNxTUi2LjsfSnOFzDuwVEuJk9ks0o8xppvxjMyLU2JSOyESJI527EPInbtVTgeX7SNLtciwBH2MhfbE2TBSkixuiT3TWWj3u1VPZURqUojznb-Js/s400/Prt-3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Polk County has no more springs, there used to be Kissinger Springs in Bartow and Crystal Lake Spring in Lakeland. Mining operations, road construction and excessive water usage has killed the two springs. There are no springs to be found on the FL Spring Database.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOLVSY6BBTvj9NBGHR2RLZIrJQumu57Z-r5dKZc_VNcaP0LrWFxkwPTtzhPDJ8uYUHbcrtC4UYGdSJ0XkJBejj_DoR6JWJ4HDOtCxZMsMGKVV_wptFkVeFFk1sZEThJkoKD4aleFCRXKa/s1600/Prt-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOLVSY6BBTvj9NBGHR2RLZIrJQumu57Z-r5dKZc_VNcaP0LrWFxkwPTtzhPDJ8uYUHbcrtC4UYGdSJ0XkJBejj_DoR6JWJ4HDOtCxZMsMGKVV_wptFkVeFFk1sZEThJkoKD4aleFCRXKa/s400/Prt-11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />We acquired directions and permission to access the spring so we made a day to go explore. We drove down miles of dirt roads through orange groves, suddenly the ground to our right begins to fall, we follow it. After a 60’ drop in elevation we arrive at a crystal clear pond 200’ in diameter. This is the spring we were told about. But it was not the source of the water.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">In order to find the spring vent we had to venture into the jungle. We left the manicured orange grove and descended down the ravine. As we reached the water we entered the land of the lost. There was a wall of elephant ears 15’ tall and dense. We pushed on following the clear water upstream. Moving was slow through the dense foliage. As we chopped our way through this prehistoric jungle I expected to stumble across a pterodactyl.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeMBTo9-a4avbD8IrVcGgch4dA9OUWAG9H17EYHv6aW4g0yhXVmwG7b_lgUG1oNtUhpKBKGoasppHlGj-AicEkIL2cUaCpXqSWbgY_Y5lQialv_Q_Gu_xaQLmaFOLubd6RQOKyw185PTx/s1600/Prt-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeMBTo9-a4avbD8IrVcGgch4dA9OUWAG9H17EYHv6aW4g0yhXVmwG7b_lgUG1oNtUhpKBKGoasppHlGj-AicEkIL2cUaCpXqSWbgY_Y5lQialv_Q_Gu_xaQLmaFOLubd6RQOKyw185PTx/s640/Prt-13.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The water was a maze, weaving in and out and branching we pushed on, eventually we found it! The long lost Polk County Spring!, We found 3 gopher sized holes discharging beautiful springwater into the slough. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We hoped* for cave but instead I had an awesome day hiking with my dad in a lost world, stopping through mud and swinging a machete. </div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-70012268720885081332012-01-16T21:52:00.000-05:002012-01-16T21:52:54.933-05:00Remember Remember the 5th of November…..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">On November 5</span><sup style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">th</sup><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> 2011 I married my best friend. Sara planned the perfect wedding and everyone had an incredible time. It was a small-ish outdoor wedding located in South Lakeland at Rocking H Ranch. Jen Noah was Sara’s Maid of Honor, my father Woody was my Best Man and our good friend Alex Musser officiated the ceremony. Below are some of the incredible images from Ricci at BAIpixels. Thank you Sara for planning the perfect wedding, and thanks to everyone who came out that night. Sara and I had an incredible time.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_2bh_2srrPDK5WbgT0yin_Trgmzv5P7-tbcyMKXvR8hyJ0WrGTRgyCP19Zw7qxsEUwBSlzXRbLe9ppyiC2ypDmJSeVY8sDBZP85mezswJI_IoN6G8ghxBT9aEfeny4IetfPW_lrlpAaz/s1600/IMG_1192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_2bh_2srrPDK5WbgT0yin_Trgmzv5P7-tbcyMKXvR8hyJ0WrGTRgyCP19Zw7qxsEUwBSlzXRbLe9ppyiC2ypDmJSeVY8sDBZP85mezswJI_IoN6G8ghxBT9aEfeny4IetfPW_lrlpAaz/s400/IMG_1192.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-13135022249304432572011-12-30T22:36:00.001-05:002011-12-30T22:50:23.878-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWM-HkeHKV4/Tv5_4H5yD1I/AAAAAAAAAQY/jzfl7kgnpNs/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWM-HkeHKV4/Tv5_4H5yD1I/AAAAAAAAAQY/jzfl7kgnpNs/s400/DSC_0039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">For my last dive as a “single” man, my Dad, Brother, Brett Hemphill scheduled a trip to Ward Sink for me. It was my first time here, I have heard about the sink for years and it is not far from home, so I was excited to dive this new location. We arrived early Sunday after spending the night in Springhill. The sink was an impressive cobalt blue and filled with Koi, and Paku. We dropped down to 190’ and made a pass around the sink. we slowly and circled back up. This was an incredible place and I look forward to a return trip.</div><br />
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</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-71188952030771047422011-12-30T14:50:00.001-05:002011-12-30T21:30:01.602-05:00TAG 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyqKy4rp_Tg/Tv4Nn0dV9kI/AAAAAAAAALc/8hIeinW3a-s/s1600/IMG_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyqKy4rp_Tg/Tv4Nn0dV9kI/AAAAAAAAALc/8hIeinW3a-s/s320/IMG_0218.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For the past twelve years I have made it a point to make it to the TAG Fall Cave In. This year was the 34<sup>th</sup> annual event and it was a blast. Cavers from across the south east come together to party and cave every October. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Vendors set up tents and tease us with new gear, the local Fire Department cooks us breakfast, there is live music and the world famous bon fire. The fire is incredible and it brings everyone together for story telling and fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C4IAW74sGNs/Tv4PqhfAcYI/AAAAAAAAANc/FZpdj2edqtU/s1600/IMG_0382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C4IAW74sGNs/Tv4PqhfAcYI/AAAAAAAAANc/FZpdj2edqtU/s400/IMG_0382.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This years trip was very last minute for us. We did not commit to the trip until 3 days prior. We hit the road around 7:00pm from Lakeland on Thursday and drove through the night. We stopped for a nap and coffee in Adairsville and finished the drive early on Friday. We registered and went to rendezvous with other Florida Cavers in the usual spot. On my way past the bonfire I heard honking and screaming, it was Brian Williams, screaming to tell us that a group was leaving for Iron Hoop Cave in 10 minutes. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We were up for the challenge and unloaded the truck and crammed in 3 more cavers. 45 minutes later…. We left. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ooQfmTs6k18/Tv4NYjvydPI/AAAAAAAAALM/X7rxBGtcg40/s1600/IMG_0192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ooQfmTs6k18/Tv4NYjvydPI/AAAAAAAAALM/X7rxBGtcg40/s400/IMG_0192.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The weather was perfect at TAG this year, the skies were clear and the temps were mild, and leaves were just beginning to change their color. </div><div class="MsoNormal">After our breakfast at Hardees and a long drive, both paved and not, we arrived at the parking are to Iron Hoop. This cave is the sole reason I purchased a 4x4. The old road is was torturous; there were steep inclines and declines, cobble stone river beds and rushing creeks. This road was long and dust but easy traveling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xgQCfc0ZJE/Tv4LlCgs08I/AAAAAAAAAJM/ezYwIqMW0KI/s1600/IMG_0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xgQCfc0ZJE/Tv4LlCgs08I/AAAAAAAAAJM/ezYwIqMW0KI/s400/IMG_0080.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Iron Hoop is one of my favorite TAG caves. There is a tiny hole in a creek bed. Drop through this into a small room, then scramble through a maze of breakdown. Do not follow the obvious path, it does not go. Having spent hours looking for the rout on a previous trip, I remembered exactly where to go this time. I was doubted by other cavers, but I was correct in the end. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqn6B4BPqrE/Tv4LtD7rIjI/AAAAAAAAAJU/G_2XL3PMbj0/s1600/IMG_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqn6B4BPqrE/Tv4LtD7rIjI/AAAAAAAAAJU/G_2XL3PMbj0/s400/IMG_0083.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After you find the way onward you are met with low hands and knees crawl through small cobbles and water for nearly 1000 ft. Just when you want to quit the cave explodes into massive borehole. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YiflOBBBI8c/Tv4L4gfhAtI/AAAAAAAAAJk/qFkQ-4u653c/s1600/IMG_0089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YiflOBBBI8c/Tv4L4gfhAtI/AAAAAAAAAJk/qFkQ-4u653c/s320/IMG_0089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next few hours where spent exploring the upstream and downstream sections of the cave and taking pictures of some of the incredible formations this cave has to offer. There are monstrous haystacks, skinny totems, awesome rimstone dams and impressive flow stones. My favorite section of this cave, or any cave, are the areas with smooth rock and jagged scalloped walls.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">After everyone was tired or cold we headed out, it was uneventful and we hit the coldest Ruby Tuesdays ever for dinner. Everyone slept well that night.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4TKBSKDnD4/Tv4N0VwK2UI/AAAAAAAAALk/KSRNR3PlItg/s1600/IMG_0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4TKBSKDnD4/Tv4N0VwK2UI/AAAAAAAAALk/KSRNR3PlItg/s400/IMG_0235.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next day was spent visiting TAG classics. Brian, Sara and I got up early and hit the road to Stephens Gap. While I have been here many times it is still and incredible place. We had the cave to ourselves, we dropped the pit a few times and took many pictures, and ventured on. When we got back the the parking area there was a group of 30 heading up. Glad we got and early start.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkEjTwTIcow/Tv4N5G3vYBI/AAAAAAAAALs/P7lfR5hGDSo/s1600/IMG_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkEjTwTIcow/Tv4N5G3vYBI/AAAAAAAAALs/P7lfR5hGDSo/s640/IMG_0243.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">From there we headed over to another favorite, Kennamer Cave. I have been here many times as well, but I still love it! The cave is owned by the SCCi, and makes a fun through trip. It is a brutally long hike up the mountain, but the lower Orgy entrance is “close” to the car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7DzZsaEONc/Tv4OgWeP4SI/AAAAAAAAAMU/M6CFtlQbsLU/s1600/IMG_0324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7DzZsaEONc/Tv4OgWeP4SI/AAAAAAAAAMU/M6CFtlQbsLU/s400/IMG_0324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">This was a speed trip, we ran through the cave admiring the winding stream passage, massive borehole, huge dome room and the unique formations this cave has. I always forget how incredible this cave is. I would love to make a trip back just to take pictures.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We made it back to camp just after the fire was lit, cleaned up and headed down to vendors row. I ended up spending most of my night meeting people at Chrissy’s Rum Bar. As the night came to an end and most people went to bed; Bill Walker and I closed down TAG.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_eYi4Bn_y-M/Tv4Pv4CPjII/AAAAAAAAANk/L0pAc1lD3AU/s1600/IMG_0390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_eYi4Bn_y-M/Tv4Pv4CPjII/AAAAAAAAANk/L0pAc1lD3AU/s400/IMG_0390.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next day we had a hearty breakfast at the Depot Diner and hit the road. It was a great trip, it is always nice seeing old friends, making new ones, and getting UNDERGROUND!</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-24846876376092228562011-12-22T23:35:00.000-05:002011-12-22T23:35:18.996-05:00Way Behind.....AgainI have fallen way behind on this blog... once again....<br />
In the next few weeks I will be making multiple updates from the last 2 months.<br />
I have gotten married and graduated from USF with a degree in Environmental Policy so now I will have a little more time.<br />
Until the updates come, check out my vimeo account I just started. <a href="http://vimeo.com/user9411572/videos">http://vimeo.com/user9411572/videos</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H4X9a5GOOMo/TvQEnEaydpI/AAAAAAAAAJA/n1MpL8HIgwI/s1600/LostFile_JPG_321686512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H4X9a5GOOMo/TvQEnEaydpI/AAAAAAAAAJA/n1MpL8HIgwI/s400/LostFile_JPG_321686512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-58552099678222305432011-10-18T22:04:00.001-04:002011-10-25T22:34:26.441-04:00My experience with Twin Dees Cave<div class="MsoNormal">My experience with Twin Dees Cave</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd3Yb-E0chE5t0e2M4lgH9yThMKMbZtkxdkWEmo3yvhxFIl6PldFIZbqoDn7dnq0GDqYcFPJ9wn-SVLeChphCHUSGRcHmDzCxX-YDDJNdf1dQPZPanNSjDi5IpzNtWcbvOICGW82TIgl2/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd3Yb-E0chE5t0e2M4lgH9yThMKMbZtkxdkWEmo3yvhxFIl6PldFIZbqoDn7dnq0GDqYcFPJ9wn-SVLeChphCHUSGRcHmDzCxX-YDDJNdf1dQPZPanNSjDi5IpzNtWcbvOICGW82TIgl2/s400/IMG_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Browse around the internet for a while and read cave diving articles, eventually you will hit some articles and pictures concerning the incredible dives done at Weeki over that last few years. </div><div class="MsoNormal">What many people do not know is that on the back side of the same property is another cave, Twin Dees, a possible back door into Weeki. This cave is legendary in its own right and has been regarded by some to be the “Best Cave Dive in Florida.” Unfortunately years of drought and over pumping of the aquifer has rendered the once powerful spring into a mud puddle for most of the year. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Since I have been diving with Brett and the other KUR guys, I been hearing about this cave, and the biggest super room in Florida. I got a message a few weeks ago, “Are you sitting down?” asked Brett, “Twin Dees is flowing!” </div><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t show my excitement well, but I was overjoyed with the possibility of diving the cave. The cave was barely flowing. That day Curt and a team entered the cave in an attempt to shoot some video. Conditions were poor and the percolation was too bad. That next day I got my excuse to enter the cave. The first 200’ of cave can be problematic; it is restrictive and has a z-bend. This is no big deal with simple side mount equipment, but add a few stages, doubles/ rebreather, and scooters and it could be a death trap. Brett and I entered the cave with several hundred feet of #40 line and a handful of silt screws. We relined the entrance to make it easier and safer to follow and also protect the cave a little better.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next dive in the system was with Jeff Petersen, we swam out to the beach to check line conditions and to see if the cave could support exploration at this time. I was actually able to see the cave this time. The first 900’ of cave is relatively restrictive; from the narrow solution tube entrance, to wide bedding planes and the intersection of vertical fissures. Eventually you hit a small breakdown room and the cave turns hard to the left. Here the walls turn from a tan to black and widen out. The blackness draws you in. There is a minor restriction, with an incredible goethite stump on the floor, “The Dragons Tongue” as Jeff calls it.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Past this the cave gets wider, the floor falls and the ceiling rises; Welcome to the Beach. Crayfish are everywhere and our bubbles disturb amphipods from their ceiling roost. The visibility improved slightly and we turned the dive.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QCy3E2hGeXsdtYMUBlk1SlpBp4BIt7wGccsaDBRdhi5JeKo3zOTzsfXY-_QufBAYXPea_SS58AcI-1EUUx65qA-E8bQKDPP0dTT5P8SIUqPdLgNwl7k-L-ZUI4sa9jyE4rCSG2XoGNAz/s1600/dd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QCy3E2hGeXsdtYMUBlk1SlpBp4BIt7wGccsaDBRdhi5JeKo3zOTzsfXY-_QufBAYXPea_SS58AcI-1EUUx65qA-E8bQKDPP0dTT5P8SIUqPdLgNwl7k-L-ZUI4sa9jyE4rCSG2XoGNAz/s320/dd.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Exiting the system is essentially a lights out drill. Years of organic material has built up on the floor, ceiling, and walls. If you look at the silt funny visibility goes to zero. Bubbles and the pressure wave from our movement killed the vis. It was a fun dive!</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next dive we pushed further into the cave. Jeff and I returned again, this time with a stage. After all of the talk of Middle Earth, I was finally going to see it for myself. We passed the Beach, it was just as cool this time as it was last time. We followed the line to the right and dropped straight down the pit. The walls here are dark and the passage is huge. We hit “Grand Central” and went left. We did a slight adjustment to the line and continued on. Soon we were at the Balcony. The ceiling was ~200’ and the floor was a hundred feet away. I peered off the balcony shining a 21w HID into the blackness. It was nothing but Black and Blue for as far as I could see. We dropped down and peered into the cavern zone of the River Alph Tunnel. Visibility improved, it was inviting. Maybe it was a narcosis buzz, or maybe it was the sheer size of the cave, but I did not want to go. Deco cranks up and air goes fast at those depths, so we could not stay long. The trip out was fine, and deco in the solution tube was… cozy.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrbZk6DqGztnBB9l6pMP1MrKZcMVNKcdrIWC_wfuxjnxxE5auJmcuu3bLsL10Ky-FmcmSL_yRvN0Yl57VyMV-9F0euSFiZfmvc4QRSkRphODJeVb9otbtiE9b1Zi4fr8ogaNFdtTEwVO4/s1600/DDpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrbZk6DqGztnBB9l6pMP1MrKZcMVNKcdrIWC_wfuxjnxxE5auJmcuu3bLsL10Ky-FmcmSL_yRvN0Yl57VyMV-9F0euSFiZfmvc4QRSkRphODJeVb9otbtiE9b1Zi4fr8ogaNFdtTEwVO4/s320/DDpic.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I would love to get back and cruise around Middle Earth on a scooter. It is a 1000’ circuit to loop the room.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now that I was familiar with the system I was invited to participate in the Exploration. I do not have a rebreather, or the experience of the other guys, but I assisted the best I could. I did a series of dives to place deco bottles at the beach, the sand chute, the end of the 50’ area, and the Staging room.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6EmfJcKx2rKtqnwFf4fcrblumREhX3rNqOEKSeHAazE3L5GGFM7O76Un9Aonr3O1t6xf7UEzbuM1gr46aMLeDW_9jdj89kYmL0QasvI5TK3yVjXUB6OcVc06yQLo0250FRY8I_0-P4ZB/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6EmfJcKx2rKtqnwFf4fcrblumREhX3rNqOEKSeHAazE3L5GGFM7O76Un9Aonr3O1t6xf7UEzbuM1gr46aMLeDW_9jdj89kYmL0QasvI5TK3yVjXUB6OcVc06yQLo0250FRY8I_0-P4ZB/s320/IMG_0025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Brett Hemphill and Andy Pitkin did the push dive. They entered the water with their rebreathers, bailout bottles, scooters, the radio locator, and a load of knotted line. Their goal was to push the Alph tunnel at a depth of 300’+ and *maybe* connect it to Weeki. Their dive went smooth; they placed a radio locator transmitter at the old EOL in Twin Dees. They then added over 700’ of new line and surveyed it. Mike Poucher was standing ready on the surface, as soon as the radio locator was turned on he began to hone in on it. He had to tromp through some thick underbrush and ankle deep water, but he quickly found the spot.</div><div class="MsoNormal">For the next 10 hours or so, Mike and I hung out on the surface waiting for Brett and Andy to return. After 5 hours be finally saw bubbles, they had made it back to their 40’ stop. It would be another 5 hours to get them from 40’ to the surface. Mike and I lugged extra tanks and scooters out of the cave, and made sure the guys were safe. It turned out to be a 12 hour dive and was safe and productive.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">After Andy crunched all of the survey data it appears that The Dead Marshes Tunnel in Weeki was heading straight toward Middle Earth. Jeff and Andy did a dive and found a tunnel leaving Middle Earth and heading straight at Weeki. A connection was imminent. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Jeff and I had the privilege to push this tunnel. Unfortunately gear issues slowed us down and by the time we reached the end of their line we were close to turning. We spooled out another 70’ of line, and saw breakdown and turned. We tied in the two lines, Far Earth to Moria, and <b>I got to see virgin Twin Dee’s</b>! It was a great dive.</div><div class="MsoNormal">They are planning yet another big dive in the next few weeks; it will be interesting to see what they find! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw5uEvSo5TZiMIXyzBETcXJlGm1B2zlg1h1It4M5J2__Q8ZwWDwmXYiTEuMB0wwA5my0aIoSYSHOBEYYCS7otKnGBABFhIZmpTJghuVzURQdpJuu_GeVCNfqfe9w5TijKIqsdAniHVmmi/s1600/overhed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw5uEvSo5TZiMIXyzBETcXJlGm1B2zlg1h1It4M5J2__Q8ZwWDwmXYiTEuMB0wwA5my0aIoSYSHOBEYYCS7otKnGBABFhIZmpTJghuVzURQdpJuu_GeVCNfqfe9w5TijKIqsdAniHVmmi/s400/overhed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-84050153410905771912011-10-04T22:23:00.000-04:002011-10-04T22:23:22.736-04:00Advanced Diver MagazineI have been doing a fair amount of diving this year, and I have had the privilege to assist with the discovery and exploration of several caves in Florida.<br />
I am honored and excited to become a part of the Advanced Diver Magazine Exploration Team!<br />
<br />
Check out this excellent video of Buzz Spring:<br />
<a href="http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/video/buzzspring.html">http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/video/buzzspring.html</a><br />
<br />
And my Bio:<br />
<a href="http://www.admexplorationteam.com/team/bio/mattv.html">http://www.admexplorationteam.com/team/bio/mattv.html</a>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-77170521151358439612011-08-22T20:31:00.000-04:002011-08-22T20:31:29.757-04:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I am way behind on updating this blog. Work has been slammed, and I am tired and do not feel like writing when I get home. The summer rush is coming to an end as school starts again. So I will try to update this more often.</div><div class="MsoNormal">So what’s been going on?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Two weekends in a row I drove up to N. Florida to Dive with Brett Hemphill and Mike Poucher. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The first trip up we did some ridge walking. Based off of Satellite imagery and their knowledge of the area, <span> </span>we found new cave!<span> </span>We spent some time driving around back roads, dirt roads and a few u-turns, but it worked out in the end. Good land owner relations were made.<span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPOcFvexk7-wQO4KmNHaXNvBN-Rqqdv8amMhOdEmwieiOmHHDh5sVkgNwvNYhEh76WhAYSw7KASdqVMP_FLN5TtKH9_T1Gb5ajJSyqq7SsrUSHeY1RsFEO0cKXtSCXr-AFDRFbVF3ru2R/s1600/262073_719815598625_201401106_36493734_4191697_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPOcFvexk7-wQO4KmNHaXNvBN-Rqqdv8amMhOdEmwieiOmHHDh5sVkgNwvNYhEh76WhAYSw7KASdqVMP_FLN5TtKH9_T1Gb5ajJSyqq7SsrUSHeY1RsFEO0cKXtSCXr-AFDRFbVF3ru2R/s400/262073_719815598625_201401106_36493734_4191697_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The state of the Floridan Aquifer is rather sad, we are in a drought, all major rivers are at record lows and many springs have stopped flowing. The new stuff we found were incredible karst features, there were 15’ cliffs down to water, offset sinks, giant fractures geology; all full of dark water. According the local woman we talked to these features used to flow beautiful blue water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmU45P6suFQI6K4dhnNTCpV_rG7jc8hcLXI73JIIXR-SssLLFBluTFMbiGrI_u0IeliATuOBbBqvbHCCzDssLE0AZW3MI9GHhT-SsCLx21CTHGDSv7JylA6Y_fi37O8p0jJSKRkEy5oNjx/s1600/262000_719815468885_201401106_36493729_1494476_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmU45P6suFQI6K4dhnNTCpV_rG7jc8hcLXI73JIIXR-SssLLFBluTFMbiGrI_u0IeliATuOBbBqvbHCCzDssLE0AZW3MI9GHhT-SsCLx21CTHGDSv7JylA6Y_fi37O8p0jJSKRkEy5oNjx/s320/262000_719815468885_201401106_36493729_1494476_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvIA3kA_6FLiTLal4xaWCtacz37I6Zw6H5K_ctB4yYBAlVPYxFWJsJoRGUk8hxPWFmRRj3Xf8rCD26Q24GooaEsZmBJsKZtNM50rYAjR9cIQqUu1jzS0-3Y1yKJ04LU6XXW9_LXgPv6nV/s1600/263841_719815628565_201401106_36493736_6858916_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvIA3kA_6FLiTLal4xaWCtacz37I6Zw6H5K_ctB4yYBAlVPYxFWJsJoRGUk8hxPWFmRRj3Xf8rCD26Q24GooaEsZmBJsKZtNM50rYAjR9cIQqUu1jzS0-3Y1yKJ04LU6XXW9_LXgPv6nV/s400/263841_719815628565_201401106_36493736_6858916_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnHqr7p2MM51bBX22l1r7bM4KEqGTMfVbPodwW5sZEaDZgQWiaXa7DJgDNm2z_8L1INu3qEZ0ZwHsHZECaaIjUmBl59Z0Ut43umT9REQPk7E0-kPR8INwQNO72lkwdiVdU21AfK-ATuaF/s1600/267448_719815498825_201401106_36493730_3715638_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnHqr7p2MM51bBX22l1r7bM4KEqGTMfVbPodwW5sZEaDZgQWiaXa7DJgDNm2z_8L1INu3qEZ0ZwHsHZECaaIjUmBl59Z0Ut43umT9REQPk7E0-kPR8INwQNO72lkwdiVdU21AfK-ATuaF/s320/267448_719815498825_201401106_36493730_3715638_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe after the rainy season the aquifer will be recharged and the water will clear up, reaveiling beautiful new cave.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHamQZNQoMOtpjhPUVBjZi-YLjgnKlfXpnrvJrbP_pRT9mhaxp8F7Nn1RAI-4kQCLNhPxMJ2C4alnf2_4sxojHEMnYNh3Mb9SORvvdATnFPRA2i5nVUogTAz7XkzOJiOxnYiZBYo-uAW3J/s1600/261715_719816132555_201401106_36493754_5166357_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHamQZNQoMOtpjhPUVBjZi-YLjgnKlfXpnrvJrbP_pRT9mhaxp8F7Nn1RAI-4kQCLNhPxMJ2C4alnf2_4sxojHEMnYNh3Mb9SORvvdATnFPRA2i5nVUogTAz7XkzOJiOxnYiZBYo-uAW3J/s400/261715_719816132555_201401106_36493754_5166357_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next stop is a siphoning fissure crack located along the river, and a sinkhole just a few hundred feet away. The local woman called this Yetti Sink. As I said, the rivers are low, this also means the visibility in the river is good as well. We pulled off the “road” and Brett put on his armadillo; Mike and I ferried two aluminum 80’s down to the water. Brett geared up and descended into the “Big Brown Suck Hole.” Mike and I chatted with the locals for a while. Then we hear noise back in the woods, it was Brett. He had connected the two sinks and was climbing out of the steep sided sink by way of an old fallen oak. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNRbajaSsv-zLW9UVRgrQktR9_t-XquIOzZ-bjg5Vey3v1ORvGhgASSbtcKJHpgVB1tICIih7pYRuOn5QPfXhXhyphenhyphenfDpRfxZkivnBIbK2lv5m8j5VuJwzAlnH_l5ebgXU8I2wmdlW5rZs1/s1600/268737_719815868085_201401106_36493750_3599911_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNRbajaSsv-zLW9UVRgrQktR9_t-XquIOzZ-bjg5Vey3v1ORvGhgASSbtcKJHpgVB1tICIih7pYRuOn5QPfXhXhyphenhyphenfDpRfxZkivnBIbK2lv5m8j5VuJwzAlnH_l5ebgXU8I2wmdlW5rZs1/s400/268737_719815868085_201401106_36493750_3599911_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next stop was a well know but infrequently dove cave, we did a fun dive checking it out. There was no complete survey of it, so we made this a goal for the next trip. I had the privilege to dive with Mike Poucher on this dive. I have dove the cave before and this dive answered several questions I had.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next weekend we made a <span> </span>return trip to N. FL. Sara and I drove up on Friday night in the rain and got a cheap hotel room for the weekend. The next morning we rose early and met with Brett and Mike and headed back out to the cave. Here we met with Andy Pitkin, Jerry Murphy, and Ted McCoy. Andy and Ted both had siddmount rebreathers, so they were going to the EOL to survey out, Brett and Mike were investigating leads and Jerry and I were surveying the first 1k’ of cave. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We enjoyed the usual conversation with the locals and Brett taught them about cave diving as if they were little kids. Jerry and I entered the sytem first, he was pulling tape and setting stations and I was recording data. Not too long into the dive, Andy and Ted passed us. It was slow going, the cave is small and twitsy. We reached our turn pressure about the same time we reached our destination. Once the whole team was back on the surface we discussed the dive. Andy and Ted reached the EOL, and turned the dive, while Brett and Mike’s leads did not pan out as we hoped. Jerry and I got about 700’ of survey, I plan to return to finish this. </div><div class="MsoNormal">It was a lot of fun diving with these guys. We went to a local backwoods restaurant, It wasn’t very good. We said goodbye to Jerry and Ted and the rest of us headed back to the woods.</div><div class="MsoNormal">We did some site analysis and I got to see some new caves to dive in the future. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Sara and I spent the night in N.Fl enjoying a good BBQ dinner and the comfort of a cold hotel room with cable.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next day Sara and I hit the river on the kayaks. It was a nice day, and the river was gorgeous. We headed downstream and I dove a small sidemount cave, and check out a larger river cave. I need to return to both with bigger tanks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGQuJxZ2Crw9uKrfWhuUcfegY4ZPq_DXhzHvmhj9T64LiXKPy6FkD5SAVfteQWB2QiUkP4fTvuZO0C2Q91lrin76g8GA-PrH6yXDK_O7X1kpuINDViZVqD2IvCZzRwLr2-ANhD8udPuEO/s1600/IMG_0822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGQuJxZ2Crw9uKrfWhuUcfegY4ZPq_DXhzHvmhj9T64LiXKPy6FkD5SAVfteQWB2QiUkP4fTvuZO0C2Q91lrin76g8GA-PrH6yXDK_O7X1kpuINDViZVqD2IvCZzRwLr2-ANhD8udPuEO/s400/IMG_0822.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_TR8TeLfXCZdstOhoGwbdYsElvfjoedFPv81zNRjvWA7ZUvCM3Yh3UA5OfELYS0m3VzSk0fai5kLmMB2X1rv4wcmRHT6Z4s303RFeb5ZjnzJQWes5WqJKI1cjRqeKB0XUdQO1o2Abhr3/s1600/IMG_0837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_TR8TeLfXCZdstOhoGwbdYsElvfjoedFPv81zNRjvWA7ZUvCM3Yh3UA5OfELYS0m3VzSk0fai5kLmMB2X1rv4wcmRHT6Z4s303RFeb5ZjnzJQWes5WqJKI1cjRqeKB0XUdQO1o2Abhr3/s400/IMG_0837.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm8ZluGjfJqsjX6bhM7hseok6ic6eAkCmSRO_5Q6v-MSu2HTZpsZCcPKkNKPEk_1sVmDRnnwvwUzKXpTbLlej_TmNVF_Hi5gYLG0BQ5jMhJJfnETcvze5L7co7_u2_ffi2Jr3Hj8Gso8g/s1600/IMG_0840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm8ZluGjfJqsjX6bhM7hseok6ic6eAkCmSRO_5Q6v-MSu2HTZpsZCcPKkNKPEk_1sVmDRnnwvwUzKXpTbLlej_TmNVF_Hi5gYLG0BQ5jMhJJfnETcvze5L7co7_u2_ffi2Jr3Hj8Gso8g/s320/IMG_0840.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next weekend we hung arounf the house and made a short day trip down to Lithia Springs. I cannot stay dry too long. Lithia springs is only 40 minutes from Lakeland and flows into the Alafia River. We checked out the campground, which is very nice! We plan to spend the night here in the fall. It is close enough to home that I could camp and go to work the next day.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The cave here has been grated to keep people from killing themselves, thank you local government. It is a great swimming hole that gets insanely busy on summer weekends.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Homosassa Blue Hole Expedition</div><div class="MsoNormal">For the last few years I have heard from one of our customers at the dive shop about all of the caves in Homosassa, but he would not tell me where they were because he did not want me to die in them.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Brett has connections and he knows where many of these caves are. There are a series of Blue Holes located in the Gulf of Mexico, Simular to the Blue Holes in the Bahamas.</div><div class="MsoNormal">On our first trip out we did some recon diving. We checked out one cave and looked for many more.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The cave we dove was very cool. We motored around the clear, shallow, warm <span> </span>water looking for the obscure entrance. There in about 5’ of water was a fissure crack ~2’wide and 10’ long. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Brett was the first in the water, I hung out on the surface with his son. Eventually the bubbles disappeared, he must have found cave.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">20 minutes later Brett returns, and tells me about the dive. I have to see it for myself. I gear up with my transpac and lp45’s. The gulf water is hot and I descend down the crack. 30 feet down I see a crab trap perched on top of a organic debris pile. There are lines run all over, monofilament and glowsticks, 1” Poly twist and some cave line. I follow and old line across the room, it was much bigger than I thought. There was a thin whispy hydrogen sulfide layer, as I dropped to 80’ the water cooled and visibility improved.<span> </span>I hit a breakdown pile, here the lines ended, and the cave continued, just as Brett described. I tied off my line and ducked down to 130’ visibility was incredbible, the walls were a light grey and reflected my light. The cave was beautiful. After 150’ I tied off my line for a return trip.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I made a big circle back up. The room was huge, it was like a combination of Hospital Hole and Paradise Springs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxg-_UL9gBczI_rQUDc-ET2ExRWiwJjrd1ojMXF7vBAGPd7WM615sHSPfbX3sfs4XCd3Ug3bbZeFBhKg5m1Fvml-2tpgaCyIqLfRogi1iHULC7VvzO7EpJk25DZ_xI2zoPfMdGCce2Ge6/s1600/IMG_0939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxg-_UL9gBczI_rQUDc-ET2ExRWiwJjrd1ojMXF7vBAGPd7WM615sHSPfbX3sfs4XCd3Ug3bbZeFBhKg5m1Fvml-2tpgaCyIqLfRogi1iHULC7VvzO7EpJk25DZ_xI2zoPfMdGCce2Ge6/s400/IMG_0939.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We looked for more caves but the weather began to turn.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We returned again the next weekend with a guide. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHd5Makbgo5TGIHxRy3Ob-pY26TCf6AH9jduQHgkDT4FeZyo-G-zor1nK7y4LY0BlqNVPplDXNgf2vK-r8qQa__ZE761W5eKuDj9x335Tv0nuX6LCIqeu5YaKNQ7ZMUenEPMR9iV9ElSJ/s1600/IMG_0957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHd5Makbgo5TGIHxRy3Ob-pY26TCf6AH9jduQHgkDT4FeZyo-G-zor1nK7y4LY0BlqNVPplDXNgf2vK-r8qQa__ZE761W5eKuDj9x335Tv0nuX6LCIqeu5YaKNQ7ZMUenEPMR9iV9ElSJ/s400/IMG_0957.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first stop was Buzz Hole. I was lucky enough to be the designated diver here. This cave entrance was huge and it was siphoning. We were told divers have been here before, but only the first 50’. I got the to the first room, and there was a low gravel bedding plane, I followed the flow through the hole.<span> </span>Then I popped into a large room and the cave took off, I followed the right wall. Not too far later I hit a Hydrogen Sufide layer at a depth of 65’. Below the layer<span> </span>there were dead stone crabs and black walls. I swam thorough the fog into a large deadend room, I thought, “this cant be it” I swam back into the sulfide. There was a lead I missed in the fog. I traveled another 150’ into the cave and it ended. The room was large, white and crystal clear. I checked for leads, nothing. I turned the dive and headed out, counting knots. I was pumped. I laid ~450’ of line in a virgin sea cave!<span> </span>I got back to the surface and reported my find and we moved on to explore more holes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ4rznIrjHc821NbyThyphenhyphenEWBuyL8XOXfrzHVG5stpI_9Yd2C01b7OOvUvrKKw2HJisGLAfVYfzhFUYB0UXlWoPyCKeBI7eGIYiv2L5b6axS8te2xq7PWIb2eg5dv3Mkg_bUirtjnPTPe4W/s1600/IMG_0966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ4rznIrjHc821NbyThyphenhyphenEWBuyL8XOXfrzHVG5stpI_9Yd2C01b7OOvUvrKKw2HJisGLAfVYfzhFUYB0UXlWoPyCKeBI7eGIYiv2L5b6axS8te2xq7PWIb2eg5dv3Mkg_bUirtjnPTPe4W/s400/IMG_0966.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Brett<span> </span>dove the next cave, N-hole. He had to chase a hawksbill turtle out, this cave began in a hydrogen sufide bedding plane and ended in a series of big rooms.</div><div class="MsoNormal">We then drove around for a while looking for a small hole, we did not find it.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then Colt Smith geared up to dive a narrow siphoning crack. He descended and returned shortly, reporting that it was too small for AL80’s. I had Lp45’s with me so I decended. I made it through his first restriction, then a thighter chest to back restriction, and I stopped at a restriction that required some digging. The cave was taking a lot of water, and I could see nothing but black ahead. We need to return with more gas.</div><div class="MsoNormal">We made two more stops this day. The first stop was a series of fissures and small caverns, but no linear passage.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The last stop was “small hole” this manhole size hole in the sea floor did not look like much. We power snorkeled it first and “hey!” there was cave. I suited up and dropped in, the cave was siphoning water down to 30’ through a 8” high nasty bedding plane. I turned and behind me there was poor visablitly, but I could not see a wall, so I swam. The water was grey, I was in a hydrogen sulfide layer. Eventually the water became clear, and cold. The walls were Black! My light was swallowed up in this room, I dropped down to the floor and had no reference point and limited gas so I headed back up. Brett went in next. He pushed the cave another 200’ through BLACK tunnel to a white room. It was a cool little cave.</div><div class="MsoNormal">We had a productive day and headed home. There are still many more holes we want to explore out there.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next Sunday 8/14, Sara and I had the bright idea to go out to the Chazz to dive. Terrible idea! We drove an hour and a half to get there, thirty minutes down a dirt road, hiked a half mile through mosquito infested waist deep mud, and the visibility was zero. Oh well, it was good exercise. We then headed over to Eagles Nest and swam in the basin and relaxed for a few hours.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally, this past Wednesday, I met with Brett Hemphill and Andy Pitkin to do some land recon and diving. </div><div class="MsoNormal">This time I came prepared. I had bug spray with the highest deet content I could find, long pants, mud boots, long sleeve shirt, a machete, compass, a GPS, water, and a good attitude <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span>J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWywuULi-2v8agiiWqJarmiwmDuCB7zhL60D_KH9n0T2g-dp9fJXhev2JBXzA2IpJRYwNXljU3oxQmbE7t_wQD6i_s3vwk9qmtAqwzi-TRcATTIfJAvWGabcR_DE6vCaWORPlUvNJVfO2/s1600/IMG_1130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWywuULi-2v8agiiWqJarmiwmDuCB7zhL60D_KH9n0T2g-dp9fJXhev2JBXzA2IpJRYwNXljU3oxQmbE7t_wQD6i_s3vwk9qmtAqwzi-TRcATTIfJAvWGabcR_DE6vCaWORPlUvNJVfO2/s400/IMG_1130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">We hiked around the swamp for a few hours investigating Karst features. There is some cool stuff out in the woods. Once the rainy season is over we will (hopefully) have some awesome caves to dive. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoF0fXBdWStKW1RLCn5mGBTxKHnnFvLPDGEvJ75SM_-Nd05wtgptGqnIUjrAqA-Vz9woX5Wjwl6gWJMVJ_JEcfeEHH60GKekZvN4bGNlorr2ayS_DAo7PSpo2eOZR_va1ndVKqmPcolw7/s1600/IMG_1131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoF0fXBdWStKW1RLCn5mGBTxKHnnFvLPDGEvJ75SM_-Nd05wtgptGqnIUjrAqA-Vz9woX5Wjwl6gWJMVJ_JEcfeEHH60GKekZvN4bGNlorr2ayS_DAo7PSpo2eOZR_va1ndVKqmPcolw7/s400/IMG_1131.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">As we wondered past the point where SWFWMD turned around we found a shallow slough, slowly flowing with clear water. We folled this mazy stream through the swamp, as the run became deeper and the water clearer, I became excited, woo hoo, new cave. But no, we found a spring. The spring was probably once magnificent, surrounded by towering cypress trees, lined with white limestone and pumping clear blue water. But man has no been kind to the swamp. Cypress trees were harvested and have been replaced by faster growing oaks, the aquifer has been pumped excessively for irrigation and drinking water, and the recharge area has been paved over with condows. This spring has been reduced to a tiny trickle and is slowly filling in with fine sediment. <span> </span>Hopefully this will not be the future of all spring s in Florida.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The dives in the swamp did not work out this time, to we headed back out to the Gulf.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We returned to the crack from our first trip to shoot some video. Too bad Andy Pitkin brought his low visibility curse and the Hydrogen sulfide was 100’ thick this time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We still got some neat footage and I had a fun dive. Since that didn’t pan out we decide to retun to BUZZ spring to look for a potential upstream lead. We arrived and Brett jumped in with a mask. It was springing fresh water this time! We quickly geared up, and Andy took the lead. I couldn’t believe how much flow there was this time. We got through the gravel bedding plane and this time I followed the left wall, there was a tunnel, it looked just like my downstream tunnel, but where was the line. I turned around and Andy had seen the same thing and was already deploying a reel. Immediately there was a big room, and it went. I was yelling through my reg! On the far side of the room there was going passage 4’ high and 6’ wide, there was flow and a gravel floor (a good sign).<span> </span>Andy put in ~350’ of line upstream and it was still going. He surveyed on the way out while I looked at side leads. I was pumped; it reminded me of Thunder Road at Crystal Beach. This is going to be something big! This is probably one of the most memorable dives I have had. I smiled all the way home, and even dreamed about the cave. The cave is weird, it springs, siphones, has a hydrogen sulfide layer, and upstream and a “downstream” section, there are stone crabs running all over, soft corals and sponges growing on the walls. Very cool cave! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUu6x2VOZrrECohx1WBvOFenVvgLfQ3gezPRxpRmUB12wVBARQ7egHtnMVCIDgw0aY0VMZB147UGVCX365rVQ3okrb4GD1NSXrwiBYxkOFPA8pA0xWoOttdrKI1d8L7ua70pv2D_ej7CE/s1600/287633_1942573843623_1220770688_31807933_2514271_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUu6x2VOZrrECohx1WBvOFenVvgLfQ3gezPRxpRmUB12wVBARQ7egHtnMVCIDgw0aY0VMZB147UGVCX365rVQ3okrb4GD1NSXrwiBYxkOFPA8pA0xWoOttdrKI1d8L7ua70pv2D_ej7CE/s400/287633_1942573843623_1220770688_31807933_2514271_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Brett, Andy, and Curt returned the next day and spooled about another 1000’ of line in “huge” passage. I can’t wait to see it!</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-86067795135320663412011-07-12T00:02:00.000-04:002011-07-12T00:02:54.842-04:00Independence Day Weekend<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXuA9EYPSKX_nAG8YYycBPqz1M6iksTxhoD84ybQ75e2QWzaLqGrliimj3wZagOoOFOpXWAdCUFdKazylHddBs4J5InmCtXV1FpKMpeSHGIipjh3Fw0jYpa9W4ne6ywlMzpW4XFkWoIIb/s1600/IMG_0415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXuA9EYPSKX_nAG8YYycBPqz1M6iksTxhoD84ybQ75e2QWzaLqGrliimj3wZagOoOFOpXWAdCUFdKazylHddBs4J5InmCtXV1FpKMpeSHGIipjh3Fw0jYpa9W4ne6ywlMzpW4XFkWoIIb/s400/IMG_0415.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">This year for the 4<sup>th</sup> of July we did something a little different, instead of spending money on fireworks and staying in town;. I thought it would be nice to get out and enjoy the “Land of the Free”. To me this means getting away from the I-4 corridor and heading north to enjoy the backwoods of Layfayette Co.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Sara and I rented a small cabin on the Suwannee with friends; Ryan and Jess. This was their first trip to this part of Florida, quite different from Pinellas Co.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqwgGQqfZhYs5xZv8NlIH7RPmPZJpuuKftDDrSRz4kSpirilD4Axpnduq0G9hNbyQmG1-LH64KCEWMSrYbLeQVpbReQdjefZFQntXDhveUxxFeKPNIjIeNG9yFJny2X5BYVQVvmsn2rbr/s1600/IMG_0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqwgGQqfZhYs5xZv8NlIH7RPmPZJpuuKftDDrSRz4kSpirilD4Axpnduq0G9hNbyQmG1-LH64KCEWMSrYbLeQVpbReQdjefZFQntXDhveUxxFeKPNIjIeNG9yFJny2X5BYVQVvmsn2rbr/s400/IMG_0411.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">We pulled out of Lakeland around 7pm Friday night in the pouring rain and made our way up the center of the state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After nearly 4 hours of riding and playing driving games, we turned on to a narrow dirt road leading to the cabin. The cabin was not what we expected, it had a nice deck, but it was more of the “mother in law sweet” for a nice old man named Jim. We met Jim and he told us of all of the good places to hang out in Mayo….</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW52fXbUT6AUKU-pZI3OxZRUlp_RGibUN_4raDsLXbSGMWcy0fS61XfWvJx-ZR4SISAMrkMcc1pObtcF8gGGC1Xu995z6Orctbl24lk0q1PiKsXj6K8fbOMwzJqeLC2AZ-AZe3lhPJUEn/s1600/IMG_0418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW52fXbUT6AUKU-pZI3OxZRUlp_RGibUN_4raDsLXbSGMWcy0fS61XfWvJx-ZR4SISAMrkMcc1pObtcF8gGGC1Xu995z6Orctbl24lk0q1PiKsXj6K8fbOMwzJqeLC2AZ-AZe3lhPJUEn/s400/IMG_0418.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The next morning we woke up relatively early, cooked a hearty breakfast, lowered the canoes down the step banks of the Suwannee, and hit the river. First, we headed downstream about a mile to Lafayette Blue Springs. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">This was my first time diving here. We walked up to the ranger station to get some information and ran into some old friends from Gainesville. I geared up and was the attraction for the local children as I walked down the river in my drysuit and transpac. I geared up in the spring basin while answering the common questions; “What’s in there?” “How deep is it?” ect. It is fun to talk to the kids about diving. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I dropped down and headed toward the headspring. I ran my own line looking for the permanent line. The cavern was surprisingly big, the water was clear, probably 50 feet of visibility with an emerald green tint. I swam a few hundred and came to another sink, this was snake sink. I swam on the surface a few hundred more feet and dropped back down. I was looking for the way on when I saw another faint glow in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water was dark brown so this was obviously the wrong way, I turned and something hit me. It knocked me sideways; a rock or a log…. There is not much life in a cave that can physically knock you around, so assumed something fell. ..Then I saw movement and turned looking back toward snake sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just been punched by a beaver! A large beaver had just swatted me in the kidney with his tail. I watch him swim towards the light. It was awesome and I wished I had brought my camera. The rest of the dive was uneventful. The cave was huge! There were skylights every where, the floor was covered in thick brown silt littered with beaver logs and crayfish. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I turned on time at 45 minutes, at 2000 feet. It was a great dive and I cannot wait to return. If you have not been here you should check it out. I do not believe that they allow open water diving.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ54D_xS9M8G-ynq3OM4M-sWqsL5FlvJUKXseGVeNnwsungVX2jLjT2ZbIknyExMHumdxI9wQlD_YiEQEw4tipN1Z83dTCdeyryk0tO0fZJy1KmtsAwRJlDqyWt79cQh5ua_B3cz6-vDn3/s1600/IMG_0429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ54D_xS9M8G-ynq3OM4M-sWqsL5FlvJUKXseGVeNnwsungVX2jLjT2ZbIknyExMHumdxI9wQlD_YiEQEw4tipN1Z83dTCdeyryk0tO0fZJy1KmtsAwRJlDqyWt79cQh5ua_B3cz6-vDn3/s400/IMG_0429.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">We returned to the cabin and we all tried loading into Jim’s loaner, leaky canoe; Terrible idea. The girls stayed behind and Ryan and I motored upstream with the trolling motor clamped on the side. Our first stop was Thomas spring, I had seen it on the Florida Spring Database, and wondered if there was a cave. Florida is in a major drought and most of the major rivers are at their record lows. Because of this the aquifer is low and Thomas Spring was dried up.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">We continued upstream, exploring river I have never seen. We passed a small gator sunning himself on exposed limestone. Shortly we arrived at a small spring run on the left. I had hope to take the canoe up the run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The river is low and there was a small waterfall, not canoe territory.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlyi1j3SX2CeCIV4Gwd-vaO7f7KP40p28EOZIdZk25GFAI2s9ET_ctzJEGkfKxi2r7UZEIeNVSygDQ8uHC1KP8-g-31Ed01AiZDO08AiEFbwYn7I2hAQMkcF5MPYoQYHYSZYq5i_QOElc/s1600/IMG_0432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlyi1j3SX2CeCIV4Gwd-vaO7f7KP40p28EOZIdZk25GFAI2s9ET_ctzJEGkfKxi2r7UZEIeNVSygDQ8uHC1KP8-g-31Ed01AiZDO08AiEFbwYn7I2hAQMkcF5MPYoQYHYSZYq5i_QOElc/s400/IMG_0432.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">This was Allen Mill Pond. I first heard of this spring several years ago with the passing of Ron Simmons in the small cave. I never had the pleasure to meet Ron, but we had similar caving interests. He laid most of the line in the Roppel Cave sump I have dived. He was a side-mounter and a digger. He pushed caves that others wouldn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He more than doubled the known passage at Allen Mill Pond. I have respect for Ron and visiting this place had a special meaning for me.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The spring run was beautiful, and the foundation of the old mill is still in place. Ryan and I hiked around and found a beaver dam. We turned and headed home to spend the evening with the ladies and cook dinner.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The next morning I wanted to take Sara back to Allen Mill Pond. Ryan and Jess chose to stay home and relax. Sara and I drove down winding back roads until we located the entrance to Allen Mill Pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We parked in a gravel area; there was no one else around. First, we check out the mill remains, then we headed upstream. Supposedly there is a trail here... We just hiked the river and shoreline, dive booties are great!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">After ten minutes on the trail I knew we were nearing the dam, suddenly there was a splash. Sara got to see her first beaver swimming across the spring run. Just upstream from the dam was the beaver castle. Very cool to see, it is amazing how much one animal can change the topography of the land. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">We continued upstream tromping through the run, watching birds, fish, and pigs. After ¾ mile and 3 more dams, we made it to the head spring pool. It was beautiful, I wish I had tanks. I did some free diving and we relaxed for a few minutes before heading back out. Sara and I explored the area for a while before heading back.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">We got back to the cabin and after patching the crack in the boat with duct tape, the four of us loaded into a gheenoe. We headed upstream. Our first stop was Charles Spring; the spring run was dried up. The cave looked awesome though; there were land bridges and crystal clear water. I will be back to dive. We talked with the local and hit the rope swing. This was possibly the best rope swing I have ever been on! It was fun swimming in the river before heading back to the cabin.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Dinner was at Suwannee River Rendezvous, we played games and hiked around. The next morning we packed and hit the road. On the way back to Lakeland I was able to squeeze in one more dive at Little River. There is no flow right now; I could hover in the entrance. I had never been up the Harper tunnel, so that was my plan. It was a beautiful little tunnel; there were pristine clay banks and huge silt dunes. At the end the line continues through a no-mount restriction, I poked in here and then turned once through the restriction. I’ll save that for the next time when there is flow again.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5NCAdJBlnjo8CHYPo-qn6wszewbnLp2SJQMEXXVzJ7Jse3rR-Atzh9TlLQ3q1oMybWVXmcN_Sq9mUJk0f1xpkoHhxEeVOWm8282KZLST2o6kF3iDkKVnANvKBg4jas-u63HAUSNlNYzw/s1600/IMG_0684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5NCAdJBlnjo8CHYPo-qn6wszewbnLp2SJQMEXXVzJ7Jse3rR-Atzh9TlLQ3q1oMybWVXmcN_Sq9mUJk0f1xpkoHhxEeVOWm8282KZLST2o6kF3iDkKVnANvKBg4jas-u63HAUSNlNYzw/s640/IMG_0684.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">It was a great weekend! Thanks to Sara, Ryan and Jess for a Great time.</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-88767770352437181382011-06-15T00:00:00.001-04:002011-06-15T00:05:17.238-04:00Motorcycles and Caves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVuPPvbv3LNVrbNhA1CrhWEV8FSjpaVUMGvDBLBy7y1i17-HA2LxG75Qqqck1TUO5mPzT-IMKyG3dN2Id56OEoC6-c74LnD378mTpWuURuyvVPNGyY4V-yxc78S1xRb4OkS7_3O-yxVZS/s1600/DSCF3237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVuPPvbv3LNVrbNhA1CrhWEV8FSjpaVUMGvDBLBy7y1i17-HA2LxG75Qqqck1TUO5mPzT-IMKyG3dN2Id56OEoC6-c74LnD378mTpWuURuyvVPNGyY4V-yxc78S1xRb4OkS7_3O-yxVZS/s640/DSCF3237.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">It has been a few weeks since I have posted an update, so here is one.</div><div class="MsoNormal">It has been busy few weeks, I have been teaching SCUBA at night, the shop is getting busier up as the weather warms up, I am taking online classes and still trying to make time for fun. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This blog was started to share all fun activities, not just diving, so here is a new one.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have been riding motorcycles for the last 6 years, mainly as a way to save on gas. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Recently Andy jumped on board and my dad stumbled on a great deal on a bike. So for a limited time we all have motorcycles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpp3lNhnUJ7SQW41ykJ-ld9S2_sG1xQfDLgBpwgm6VVWMLfiZjOTwvCa3yrIbyTgfHRTGFHQOUs9wdqtoYculCw_uOHXZafx_ZxSNmnFZwrb5YWmeUcsbbebJ_wY0qE_uEsRXgTCfUQ4Y/s1600/100_7653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpp3lNhnUJ7SQW41ykJ-ld9S2_sG1xQfDLgBpwgm6VVWMLfiZjOTwvCa3yrIbyTgfHRTGFHQOUs9wdqtoYculCw_uOHXZafx_ZxSNmnFZwrb5YWmeUcsbbebJ_wY0qE_uEsRXgTCfUQ4Y/s400/100_7653.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIW_c8ds5VYesieWTWmlArraLRxehCL3Ci9c-9_A3fTQWEXQk_KaB9Cm-0bJRV2qpelbCsr4nrutagyLvI8HqoltO094X5mLNHaVrK8tzmVSSYLRZ5HRlWUYe9nli3kJ-cMIwwGd-GTXbm/s1600/DSCF3253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIW_c8ds5VYesieWTWmlArraLRxehCL3Ci9c-9_A3fTQWEXQk_KaB9Cm-0bJRV2qpelbCsr4nrutagyLvI8HqoltO094X5mLNHaVrK8tzmVSSYLRZ5HRlWUYe9nli3kJ-cMIwwGd-GTXbm/s400/DSCF3253.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">In order to spend some quality time with the family and the ladies, we decided to go for a ride. We met at my house early Sunday and headed south. There are some fun roads that wind through Mulberry and over towards Lithia. We had a nice 60 mile ride, stopping for lunch in Picnic, FL. It was a fun ride and a nice afternoon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mHl9S6e0aznysE0dGsg3-D6U4l8G_a05njEB1p5m0GdJQo0juKERwdBGrVhvQImJEDPtg2PYl3CimNtV-aAJ6Fl2vRkgRxLJExaR8Djoi2v5xpef_sw1LESMr1a78lcdBgMe_ERaMdJ5/s1600/DSCF3273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mHl9S6e0aznysE0dGsg3-D6U4l8G_a05njEB1p5m0GdJQo0juKERwdBGrVhvQImJEDPtg2PYl3CimNtV-aAJ6Fl2vRkgRxLJExaR8Djoi2v5xpef_sw1LESMr1a78lcdBgMe_ERaMdJ5/s400/DSCF3273.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmS0SS7Qas87_erqzBAcI2O0aInA074VUoKtwx-ICyZIw7I1LPEBhsfVjSjGwdMm36QTvEb08AvM03cdSwDTdujE9slLZhuuXjuPxdirdqMOHVXn4fGFNJmle50t_zeYjVCBHoJFeicbi/s1600/DSCF3263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmS0SS7Qas87_erqzBAcI2O0aInA074VUoKtwx-ICyZIw7I1LPEBhsfVjSjGwdMm36QTvEb08AvM03cdSwDTdujE9slLZhuuXjuPxdirdqMOHVXn4fGFNJmle50t_zeYjVCBHoJFeicbi/s400/DSCF3263.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">My diving has been limited for the last few weeks. But, I have been able to squeeze in a few dives at Back Door Blue. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKdEkR0XmL-OQvLYFvOd8y5xS16DORdgjxt0KIlbDFCRSA4ltGz-unxciga8o4lHCig2goXk4S5bQgBd8SmMFVdCs3cKwxYJPxVenPqkXB7mD5qCgSRMpAEgz8Nb7-JGtqFMzY1Fpe1Uf/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKdEkR0XmL-OQvLYFvOd8y5xS16DORdgjxt0KIlbDFCRSA4ltGz-unxciga8o4lHCig2goXk4S5bQgBd8SmMFVdCs3cKwxYJPxVenPqkXB7mD5qCgSRMpAEgz8Nb7-JGtqFMzY1Fpe1Uf/s400/IMG_0317.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Two weeks ago I went out there; I had the help of Robert, Tom, and Sara. It is extremely helpful to have a few people willing to Sherpa through the swamp. It is not a bad hike *if* you go in a straight line…. </div><div class="MsoNormal">This was my first dive there with real tanks. I had 98’s adequately filled in side mount configuration. I was hesitant to bring tanks this large after hearing Brett’s horror story of the bedding plane restriction. </div><div class="MsoNormal">As I approached the restriction, I was second guessing my decision to wear my Transpac. When I arrived at the restriction dumped all of the air from my wing and made sure everything was tight. I began working my way into the 9” high bedding plane. My chest was on the floor and back against the ceiling. I actually rubbed holes in the chest of my suit! </div><div class="MsoNormal">I pushed through, snagging on the coarse limestone, stopping and wiggling working foreword and back. After a few tense moments and about 30 feet of thinking about how long my gas would last me if I got stuck in a bedding plane at 30’. My nearest guess is about 6.5 hours…. That’s enough time for a rescue.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I finally popped through the other side. A restriction like this in a dry cave is rough; underwater, it sucks.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The cave was smaller than I remembered; it was easy to fly through this cave with no wing and tiny tanks. A full harness and heavy tanks, slows you down through the tight stuff.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I reached the end of Brett’s line at ~700’ there was a pile of dugong bones sitting at the end. I tied of my newly loaded reel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-56eCOUofr3VVvA9a6lrthuqsX63uBJ6Wj3vh1OOZr6BE0uepTokMg0GjyvVvVUkgaaTKnxjwqCYx6s8rtcOSXJgHpWsmI-jg1SyO-7gpnQx7zW8SymYumllGOzt-buBT0LsA7IdqI9N6/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-56eCOUofr3VVvA9a6lrthuqsX63uBJ6Wj3vh1OOZr6BE0uepTokMg0GjyvVvVUkgaaTKnxjwqCYx6s8rtcOSXJgHpWsmI-jg1SyO-7gpnQx7zW8SymYumllGOzt-buBT0LsA7IdqI9N6/s400/IMG_0323.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here the cave widened, and the floor and walls were grey with thick peat silt. It was hard to see what the cave did. I pushed forward. The cave was low and the silt was “fluffy”. There was no option but to stir up the virgin untouched bottom. Suddenly my light went out; crap! I sat for a split second, holding on the line, there was a slight glow..? My light had not gone out, the silt had overtaken me so quickly that I thought my light had failed. I pushed forward. Visibility improved.</div><div class="MsoNormal">There was a slight stair-step up and I was in less silty passage. It goes! I swam foreword, ecstatic! The cave was low, I hit several breakdown rooms, and it continued on. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I neared turn pressure, and squeezed past a “mud volcano”. The cave continued through another low (~11”) bedding plane. I am guessing that this was ~1000’ past my previous EOL.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The trip out was slow, visability ranged from 0-30’, but the cave is shallow, so gas lasts a while. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I then took a quick trip downstream to see what it was like. Most of it was huge; I went maybe 400’ and tied off in breakdown room with going passage.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t wait to return!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Last Sunday I was able to return for another push trip, Sara hauled a 98 through the woods for me!</div><div class="MsoNormal">I swam and swam… It was further to the end of my line than I remembered<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I am getting better at negotiating the restrictions and I was at the EOL in 37min. I tied off the reel and ducked into the bedding plane. After a short distance it stair-stepped down to a low silty no-mount tunnel, I pushed this to a small room, where I could put tanks back on. It is getting a little grim back there. I found two tunnels with flow; one is impossible, the other will be tough. I turned the dive here to give me plenty of gas for a safe exit. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I had loads of gas remaining once in open water, Sara jumped in and peered into the cavern, wetting her whistle. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope to get back soon to see what the cave does.</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is an awesome cave, with a lot of character, it reminds me more of dry caving than cave diving, you have to crawl, climb, and squeeze through this cave. Awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xc_aCkuvbEfavZ2BjVcByV8NcpsHwxJ-Aq3WC-FDfgAQX_jTjZHssXU3x3cTgXcp9IgZyCsq39SXHXpIRMGCttiiE4ve4j9YIRNR7yrTT22umcVePv0I1O_9jPeTAYZM1ww8Py_Ufwyu/s1600/IMG_0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xc_aCkuvbEfavZ2BjVcByV8NcpsHwxJ-Aq3WC-FDfgAQX_jTjZHssXU3x3cTgXcp9IgZyCsq39SXHXpIRMGCttiiE4ve4j9YIRNR7yrTT22umcVePv0I1O_9jPeTAYZM1ww8Py_Ufwyu/s400/IMG_0345.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-41582072733267621232011-05-28T00:24:00.000-04:002011-05-28T00:24:01.801-04:00BDB Exploration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsAPeQdcZEblv8Xqr4eXjhzp6w2J-bn8HRgDMiqotvUfktdvawzxpDeeFy-C8JTJ_LJMh_XC3l5P4fnmtpx2uEW2tcjAIy2f_UKgN7IoooN63t5QmOnPZqVaoSVgW96jSOJZPG5afQKeV/s1600/IMG_0272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsAPeQdcZEblv8Xqr4eXjhzp6w2J-bn8HRgDMiqotvUfktdvawzxpDeeFy-C8JTJ_LJMh_XC3l5P4fnmtpx2uEW2tcjAIy2f_UKgN7IoooN63t5QmOnPZqVaoSVgW96jSOJZPG5afQKeV/s400/IMG_0272.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Since I began cave diving, I have had the drive to explore. I did most of my training at the typical caves; Ginnie, and Peacock. While these are beautiful caves, they left something to be desired. In the last 10 years I have seen these caves get beat to hell, I hate the high prices and crowds this has led me elsewhere.<br />
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I have enjoyed spending my time in the canoe, the woods and in the swamp, poking into holes, looking for going cave. It seemed that everything I found had already been dove. I would spool out 100’ of line and then there, buried in the silt was old, broken, stained twisted line. These remnants of the former explores were depressing, and yet neat to find out who laid the line and when.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ-iW6jOxXyYeoBt12djAt4qGQ1ikDdwoPz7ykG1LUk6JL2AdZOzsvQ1drDk8sTaGb6v6VM_i_5bwsib3ReIbQLYBBzBixGE10_vLHBH3IXveZgmpuesWaG7tFgpZ464Ot4RY1mWI3rn4/s1600/IMG_0242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ-iW6jOxXyYeoBt12djAt4qGQ1ikDdwoPz7ykG1LUk6JL2AdZOzsvQ1drDk8sTaGb6v6VM_i_5bwsib3ReIbQLYBBzBixGE10_vLHBH3IXveZgmpuesWaG7tFgpZ464Ot4RY1mWI3rn4/s400/IMG_0242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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There was one man in particular that seemed to have been everywhere; Brett Hemphill. I contacted him several months back looking for info on a cave I had found with old line in it. We got to talking and we had similar diving interests. I’m not sure how it happened but a few weeks later I was hiking through the swamp looking for new cave with Brett; a modern cave diving ledged. I’m not going to lie, I was intimidated and honored!<br />
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About 3 weeks ago we returned to one site we had dove previously. I wanted a second crack at a tiny bedding plane that had thwarted me on my first attempt. I laid about 15’ more line in this crappy bedding plane and could push no further. I came up from the dive disappointed. Minutes after surfacing from the dive Brett popped out of the woods with a giant grin on his face, “You’ll never believe what I found!” Just one crappy hike through the swamp and there it was a beautiful pool of clear blue water!<br />
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It was dubbed BDB, Back Door Blue.<br />
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I had the privilege to free dive this cave, I made it about 20’ down and there was an upstream and a downstream. It was getting late so we decided to save hauling tanks for the next trip.<br />
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Brett returned that next week with a single recon bottle and laid 80’ upstream and 200’ downstream. It goes!<br />
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Yesterday we returned, I was the first to dive. I dove with a webbing harness and 2- LP45’s side mount., so I was very low profile. I got to the end of Brett’s line upstream, looked at the bedding plane restriction, and thought, “ You have got to be kidding me?!” It was low and appeared hopeless. I tied off my reel and analyzed the restriction. I thought, what the hell, I’m here might as well try.<br />
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I got into the plane and it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I rolled a few rocks out of the way, trashed the vis, and did some chest to back grinding for about 30’. I laid still for a few minutes waiting for the vis to improve. Looking ahead appeared hopeless, it was an even lower bedding plane with a solid coat of black organic silt.<br />
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Where does the flow come from? I pushed a few feet further and the left wall took a 90 degree left hand turn. I cocked my head to the left and blackness. “Woohoo!” there is cave! I squirmed foreword to a point to check my gas. I had nearly hit thirds in one tank already.<br />
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I swam forward analyzing the cave, it was beautiful. It was small passage, maybe 4’ high and 6’ wide, it had a diamond shape and a thin layer of grey silt coated everything. After a few hundred feet I came to a little breakdown room, the limestone was white and full of sea biscuits. After jogging around the breakdown the cave continues through a duck under.<br />
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Eventually I hit straight passage, the vis was excellent and my light could not reach the end. I swam watching walls without tank dings fly by, and the line pouring off the reel. It felt great.<br />
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All too soon gas was running short. I had small tanks, diving solo in virgin cave, with a major restriction behind me. I did not want to push it. I found a big column to tie the line off. I turned the dive.<br />
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It is the hardest thing to turn the dive with line on the reel, and unseen going cave in front, but it was necessary.<br />
The trip out was easier than expected. When I surface after ~45 minutes I had a crap eating grin on my face. I wish I showed my excitement better. I would have loved to have screamed, sang, danced, streaked, anything.<br />
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All I did was smile, I was ecstatic. It was an awesome little dive.<br />
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After discussing the details and drawing a map; Brett decide he wanted a crack at BDB. We spent some time and knotted some more line, just in case….<br />
I brought an extra set of LP98’s, Brett grabbed these and his armadillo harness. I thought quietly to myself, “that could be cozy,” but he has done more tight diving than me.<br />
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We took the long way back to the spring ( Stupid GPS) and he geared up and dropped in.<br />
I entertained myself on the surface, ridge walking, taking pics, and listening to the swamp come alive at sunset.<br />
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After about 1:15 and a long conversation with an owl, bubbles cracked the surface.<br />
Had he spooled out 1500’ of line? Did it go deep?<br />
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Brett snickered as his reg dropped from his mouth, “You skinny mother…”<br />
I laughed thinking of him in that tiny bedding plane with all that gear. I turns out he had to no mount his way through, digging a trench the whole way.<br />
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It is a great story when he tells it!<br />
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He ended up reaching the end of the line and spooling out another 80’ discovering a pile of dugong bones, before turning to confront that bedding plane restriction once more.<br />
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So BDB is going cave! We have about 1000’ of line in there total, and it appears to continue. I can’t wait to get back.<br />
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I got to lay some line in a pretty cave in Florida and explore with a cave diving icon.<br />
It doesn’t get much better than that!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxsHFh91-uyj1uvj891jBlN0HVEaBXIBW-iP92xKNTT7S8nCMtQ1Rt-VDuB155GNGUdOS-tBNw21aah2iqhNVzrY5FyWUemh9vT7Yc84mUpn3MGew7YAYEeSRJORCGZvDLG86wMj7X6Qn/s1600/IMG_0257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxsHFh91-uyj1uvj891jBlN0HVEaBXIBW-iP92xKNTT7S8nCMtQ1Rt-VDuB155GNGUdOS-tBNw21aah2iqhNVzrY5FyWUemh9vT7Yc84mUpn3MGew7YAYEeSRJORCGZvDLG86wMj7X6Qn/s400/IMG_0257.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-43588487342044488202011-05-24T14:34:00.003-04:002011-05-24T16:21:56.077-04:005-24-11 Volusia Blue Springs Dive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ll-9Zlx7WLegQEQ2jug3DPLERdF50KxLfWSiadpSvscmunSRAEHDYPhPSy4QP1TcUxztb4OfjayyUH1MIt65EBg1Xz24zT_yVCcQShP6WfNCo4nDB7mvBrUbsFkMJ9tFeBr9xuuECkk_/s1600/IMG_0158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ll-9Zlx7WLegQEQ2jug3DPLERdF50KxLfWSiadpSvscmunSRAEHDYPhPSy4QP1TcUxztb4OfjayyUH1MIt65EBg1Xz24zT_yVCcQShP6WfNCo4nDB7mvBrUbsFkMJ9tFeBr9xuuECkk_/s640/IMG_0158.jpg" width="417" /></a></div><br />
It has been several months since Sara was able to dive; her busy season at work, combined with my full weekend agenda, left her desiring a weekend outdoors. So on Sunday, May 22, we decide to run over to Blue Springs in Orange City, FL.<br />
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It has been nearly 10 years since I last dove Blue Springs so I was anxious to go back. My Dad and Carol joined us on the trip.<br />
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Blue Springs is one of Florida's 33 first magnitude springs, meaning it has greater than 100 cubic feet of water discharge per second. All of the water at Blue Springs discharges from a small chimney at 120'. The current here is disorienting, it will rip a mask off of your face, and pull gas out of your regulator. The flow on your chest makes it hard to inhale and it will throw you against the wall. The high flow combined with darkness and depth makes for a fatal combination to those without proper training and experience.<br />
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Blue springs is a beautiful state park, located along the banks of the St. Johns River in Volusia County. Since it is a state park, admission is only $6 for a car load of divers. Open water divers are prohibited from carrying lights (for your own good). The park opens at 8am, so arrive early, it fills quickly on a nice summer weekend.<br />
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Check out their website for more info: <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/">http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/</a><br />
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We arrived at the park a few minutes before 9am, and checked in. My dad and I buddy up as cave divers so we could carry lights, and Sara and Carol buddied up as an open water team.<br />
At the parking lot there was already one group of open water divers gearing up and all of the picnic tables were taken by families cooking out.<br />
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We geared up in the parking lot, one of the advantages to driving a pickup truck. Then we began the long trek to the spring head. Half of the walk is along a raised boardwalk through a hardwood hammock, the second half of the walk is up the spring run through knee to chest deep water. The total walk is about 1/4 mile.<br />
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The head spring is a large fissure crack that drops straight down to sixty feet. Here is the sign warning divers to go no further unless properly trained. The passage angles and you are now in an overhead environment. The tunnel continues to a depth of 110' where it opens to a large room with a crack in the floor.<br />
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<img height="288" src="http://www.caveatlas.com/systems/media/volusia_blue/volusia_blue_profile.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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My dad and I fooled around at the bottom for a while attempting to take pictures and playing in the current. Cork Rock has mostly eroded so the passage is large enough to enter, if you could just get through the insane current.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSH0uHCgfbgGFAp_eSw78XRhxiIDUDu72NJTx8uNQRYsWrIZ8s26ieFW_U4WEAHB7xjNdeN_4JaSnl8RzHPZlmcPA3eIcMmBzZHdZ5u9qaDTcdlm6wJ-4B3SXGpS4zYibUXs-9KtiAGvRD/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSH0uHCgfbgGFAp_eSw78XRhxiIDUDu72NJTx8uNQRYsWrIZ8s26ieFW_U4WEAHB7xjNdeN_4JaSnl8RzHPZlmcPA3eIcMmBzZHdZ5u9qaDTcdlm6wJ-4B3SXGpS4zYibUXs-9KtiAGvRD/s400/IMG_0125.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />
After ~25 minutes at the bottom and a small deco obligation we worked our way up and met the ladies. The remainder of the dive was spent playing in the flow, taking pictures, and admiring the beauty of the crack.<br />
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The cave is reminiscent of a desert cave with smooth sand blasted walls. Here the walls are worn smooth and form perfect symmetrical shelfs the whole way down. The light rays are tinted green from the water and dance along the white limestone. It really is a beautiful place.<br />
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All too soon the dive was over, the total dive was just over an hour. I could have spend hours just laying on the bottom looking up.<br />
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Upon surfacing we were greeted by a huge crowd of swimmers and tubers. We sat at the head spring smiling and talking about the dive for a few minutes. Then we inflated our BCs and enjoyed a lazy float back down to he tuber exit. The walk back to the truck was shorter this way.<br />
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</div>We strolled around the park enjoying the river and people watching before heading home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It was a great day. Blue Springs is only 1:30 away and only $6 to dive.Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065287250490876420.post-69620917326472110322011-05-19T15:47:00.000-04:002011-05-19T15:47:38.079-04:00So I never thought I would have a blog....Well, this is interesting, I never thought I would start my own blog. After all, who cares what I had for breakfast, how many times I used the bathroom etc...<br />
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The reason I started this blog is to share my trip reports from adventures with my friends, family and hopefully inspire others to get outside and enjoy their lives.<br />
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I will try to update this once a week with fun picture and interesting articles.<br />
I hope you all enjoy the reports and pictures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeTOB7mdUS7t7zsWAbfggI-WT2MZxv1P0mqlQpdq6CXd2TyLiXKPPuaD2sTXnpsu0zHJ897LM45yf2OCfbV2Dt9Ym_yPsSuX79kFriPnsYDrQ1h3igE5x2vwJ2-T_rC-NbXPESAaHuGe0/s1600/LostFile_JPG_319400104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeTOB7mdUS7t7zsWAbfggI-WT2MZxv1P0mqlQpdq6CXd2TyLiXKPPuaD2sTXnpsu0zHJ897LM45yf2OCfbV2Dt9Ym_yPsSuX79kFriPnsYDrQ1h3igE5x2vwJ2-T_rC-NbXPESAaHuGe0/s320/LostFile_JPG_319400104.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Matt Vinzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172149923707445185noreply@blogger.com0