Ginnie Springs, Cave Diving Feb 2004
I came to Florida to take a decompression diving class, but decided it was maybe a good idea to come a few days earlier and get some cave dives in with number one dive partner William Anzueto.
Ginnie springs is a high flow system very different to the caves of Mexico and it had been raining hard. It was really nice to be back and especially to dive again with William.
William getting his gear together
Due to heavy rains in the area Ginnie was the only diveable cave and so it got a bit busy. This picture was taken from the cave entrance while we waited to exit!
Here I am doing my deco. Unfortunately William's camera flooded during this dive.
Oxygen 20.This tank marking signifies that the contents are 100% Oxygen and that the gas should not be breathed below 20 ft. Below this depth 100% oxygen is toxic.
William swimming along the spring run back to the carpark steps. While only 5 feet deep this is considered part of the deco.
Video clip (30s 850K)
In front of the Devil's Ear during the site check.
These tanks contain 100% oxygen and were used at the end of the dive to lessen our decompression obligation.
William and I are almost set for the dive here. Gear setup for cave diving has to be meticulous and often takes more than an hour. Once in the water we still have further checks and drills to complete before entering the cave.
William writes up his notes while we do our deco on the famous Devil's ear log, where so many famous divers have decoed before. Yes its true, there are famous divers other than Jaques Cousteau.
The orange brown colour is caused by tannic acid where the tannic waters of the Sante Fe river meet the clear spring water of the Ginnie spring run.
William is admiring my new stainless steel halcyon inflator shortly before its recall.
This was a fantastic trip with virtually everything going like clockwork. We got in some great dives and it was excellent preparation for my technical diving training the following week.
