Scuba diving in Blue Springs cavern, Volusia, FL

Blue Spring, Volusia county, FL has a safe maximum depth of 120'. However extremely dangerous passage was explored by one of the cavediver.net moderators to a depth of 165'. Certified cavern diver relatively easy can dive it to 115' where the high flow restriction called Cork Rock prevents entering the actual cave. The room above the restriction is about 30' high and 20' wide. Open water divers cannot bring flash lights and they are limited to 70' depth. Blue Spring is closed for diving during the winter seasons when manatees enter the spring run. The quality of water deteriorated in 2007 when permit was issued to the housing development to pump water from the deep cave conduit upstream. Hence you see the green tint in the water that used to be a crystal blue. Despite a worse than years ago visibility it is still a good place for freediving and snorkeling. Blue Spring claimed a few victims of both scuba and freediving accidents however it is actually a very safe cavern for a visitor w/good judgement. For many new local scuba divers this spring is the first dive they conduct after certification on their own. Unless one decide to become a cave diver in a next few years of diving this spring actually dosn't help to develop useful skills for future Open Water Diver - the space for swimming is restricted and current is very strong. If I would give an advise it would be: watch your air carefully, do not try swim against current but rather get negative and rock-climb down, do not squeeze in tight spots - your yoke regulator would be a very fragile piece of brass against overhead rock and those small tunnels will silt up quickly, stay away from center of the shaft and try to maintain horizontal body position, help your buddy to maintain buoyancy and watch his/her air reserve.

Thank you for watching. You may also take a look at my trip photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ary.cave
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ary-cave/sets/

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• scuba
• florida
• volusia
• blue spring
• cave diving
• cavern
• cavediver
• кейвдайвинг
• orlando
• de-land
• apnea
• выходного дня
• nurkowanie
• jaskiniowe

[aojolaifjoa]

I want to do something about that goddamn housing development pumping water and turning the once clear blue spring water green. Not sure if it has any environmental impact but it sure pisses me off to see it spoiled.

Doubt there's anything I can do. Even with all the environmental hoo-haa nowdays Profit will always win. Frustrating. I hope most of the other springs on the St. Johns are doing ok other ones taht I know of don't look good AT ALL but I dont know

[arycave]

@aojolaifjoa AFAIK there was an effort of concerned citizens but did not work: BLUE Spring Working Group, Coordinator Carol Lippincott (search google for more info on that)

[arycave]

5 days is enough to learn scuba :-) I hate summer on a surface - too hot to enjoy :-)

[USAFFountain]

@aojolaifjoa I suppose once the last drop of clean water is to be had, we'll realize that we can't drink paper.

[aojolaifjoa]

@arycave Thanks for the information, definitely disappointing to hear they already tried.

I wonder if the park would let me put a sign up by the exit or something, i might be able to work something out with my club or other ones at UCF hmmm

[aojolaifjoa]

Was there today, thought that was why the water has a green tint. Makes me LIVID

[highflyinhardyz]

I am going to camp here for 5 days in july i went there yesterday and the water was cold but it will be better in july too bad i won't scuba dive

[cheeseluver123]

wooah! thats really cool!! looks like fun!