vid(Offline)

for my sins, work has decided i need to be in florida for a week in february

now assuming that i can get a couple of days out to do my own thing, i'm really tempted to get my first proper cavern experience in ginnie

bare in mind that i'm not dir or cave qualified at all - i'm looking for suggestions of who to contact as a suitable guide

niknaks has kindly suggested larry green - although i'm told he may be busy

i've contacted ginniespringsoutdoors

any others?


Plus - i'd also welcome views & comments on whether to spend a couple of days attempting the NSS-CDS cavern course? am i likely to see more that way (plus get a chance to develop skills)

thanks folks

vid

Artw(Offline)

try contacting Ralph DiPanfilo, he is running a NSS-CDS cavern course for some of my friends early Feb

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Look into my eyes, look into my eyes, don't look around the eyes, don't look around the eyes, look into my eyes, (clicks fingers) you're under. You will from this moment be a DIR diver. 3, 2, 1 ... you're back in the room.

Dan T(Offline)

PM sent (rules?)

WaterDawg(Offline)

Easy! Contact this guy: Jim Wyatt
http://cavediveflorida.com/

Give him a call and see if you like.

Meng_Tze(Offline)

Ginnie is not the only place to experience caverns. The ballroom at ginnie is actually quite small. But a good dive nevertheless.

There is Blue Grotto (but they just put up their prices beyond reasonable), Nice cavern section and fairly big OW section

Devils Den: Hole in the ground with lots of rocks and such. Even though its open water, because it is a 'dry cave with a pool', it actually feels like a true cave.

Paradise springs: one room and one wide tube.

They all accept OW divers and have some limits for divers to prevent them getting into trouble (like no reels, primary lights, no doubles etc, etc)

Expect average price to be around $30 (except Grotto which was put up to $40 last week) for entrance and fills can be extorionate at some places, but there are some fill stations outside (or come prepared with many tanks)

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Homo Bonae Voluntatis

Dan T(Offline)

In my opion, the diving in Devils Den sucks. It has a bunch of OW draging themselfs around in it,. vis can be horriable if not worse, when you can see your hand in your front of your face, you will see platforms,and catfish. Blue Grotto, would probably be better, the main basin silts out, OW practicing the fin kick on the floor. But the large rocks, and the tunnel itself stays decent. The back corner, on the loop, gets down to around 90ft or so, with black silt over the walls, i practiced running reels there a few years ago, peacefull to say the least. Most of the newer divers stay up top,..so the vis stays pretty good. But there is plenty to see, in the daylight area. Its good for a visit. Get there in the morning, it fills rather quick.

my 2 cents

vid(Offline)

thanks for your responses folks and especially to those who pm'd

vid