Got several good pictures this time. Still havent quite figured out how to get good distance shots with
this camera. I suppose I am going to have to acquire a wide angle lens, which I do track on the net but have not found one at my penny-pinching prices. On top of that, I didn't turn off the stupid date imprint, r3t4rd. So far neither my still or video cameras have been able to capture the awesome size and beauty of this place. Almost wish I had brought video though, might have captured the shimmering rays of sunlight coming down into the cavern today.
Thanks to the season change the insects were minimal, and the cooler weather helped make the walk back carrying your gear a bit more tolerable. No sign of the local otter today, nor the small gator I've seen there before. I'm so glad that it takes a bit of effort to get out to here, keeps the less-than-serious folks out. Here is a
Google Maps link to the GPS trail I traced today.
Some other divers have added a knotted rope by one edge of the pool to make getting out a bit easier. Although ideally they should be coming in from the shallow part of the pond just a bit west of where the rope is. We used it today though and with some care, you can get in without mucking it up.
The upper basin was absolutely clear and still today, with the exception of some rowdy little bluegills that were splashing around in a few inches of water at the edge.
Unfortunately, some
dildo has already begun with the grafitti. It would suck if this place ended up looking like the upper part of Hospital Hole or any of the other easily accessible springs in Florida.
The opening descending to the breakdown was sapphire blue, and with the sun to your back you had amazing beams of light going down below you, with a very stark shadow where your silhouette blocked them. All the way down and to the back corner it was the same, amazingly clear.
The angle of the sun was just right, and an appreciable amount of light made it inside. The direct sun made it all the way to a rock that must have been all of 130 feet down. On my slow ascent, as I poked my way around the breakdown, I could still see surprisingly well without using my light.
The camera missed it, but on the way up Gibby discovered a spot in the rock where the stone was eroded by cascades of bubbles 'pouring' out of it. It was pretty fascinating to watch the bubbles rolling up the walls and ceiling, from pothole to pothole, like a fountain in reverse. Its really crazy to think that enough divers have blown enough bubbles through there that the limestone has actually worn away. Makes me wonder what it does as it bubbles up through the rock like soda.
For once, the deep stops and safety stop didnt seem to take forever. As a matter of fact, this dive went by way too fast. I am inclined to agree with Gibby, that this needs to be dove with doubles and/or stage bottles. And I think I am willing to shoulder them back there if I have to. Anybody in for a footbridge building work party in the woods??
If you've read this far, might as well click one of the links beneath the photos and view the rest of the album. So far these are just the ones that were ready to go right off the camera, there may be more to come if I can work some Photoshop voodoo on the rest.
