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Jess’ Hole - Fort White FL


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Jess’ Hole is a shore accessible fresh water dive site, located at 485 SW Bonifay Glen, Fort White, FL 32038. This dive site has an average rating of 5.00 out of 5 from 1 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 81-90ft/25-27m. The average visibility is 41-50ft/12-15m.

Jess’s Hole is a deep, vadose tube that drops dramatically from the forest floor, in the woods, West of High Springs. This dry solution tube falls vertically 40 feet, before reaching the water level.

caveatlas.com/systems/system.asp?ID=184&rated=true#

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Comments

SantaFeSandy - 7/06/2017 8:21 AM
I went scuba diving here on 7/4/2017. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Tues. July 4th, 2017 - Had a better opportunity exploring this beautiful cave system, without my camera this time, as Scott gave us a tour. The vis was far better than it was this time last year. Water levels were up from spring feed. Last year it had more river intrusion, and was green and hazy. This year it was more bluish. While the bats were not there, the Pallid Cave Crayfish were out in abundance.

The downsides to the dive: The mosquitoes looked like bears, and were out in force, as were the ticks. Plus, the entry/exit setup for accessing the water, 45 ft. down a shaft, is raw and crude on a steep, muddy embankment, without any safety harnesses or safety leashes for divers or the bottles, making the process quite dangerous, as was evidenced when one of my bottles slipped out of my buddy’s hand as he removed the rope from the pulley, and plummeted 45 ft. back into the depths of the water after crashing into the shaft, and the painter’s scaffolding, just missing the landowner below.

After retrieving my bottle, came the damages: the tank valve knob on my steel 85 was sheared off, and my Scubapro G260 second stage was injured as well, demanding it to be sent off for servicing and repairs.
SantaFeSandy - 6/02/2016 6:21 PM
I went scuba diving here on 6/1/2016. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
FYI: All shots that I’ve posted for Jess’ Hole to date (June 2, 2016) are only screenshots from a video I shot. Better quality to come in the future.
SantaFeSandy - 6/02/2016 6:11 PM
Rating Added: 5
To access this hole, one must first gain approval from the landowner, and only those cave divers in top athletic condition will be granted permission due to the strenuous climb down and up 42 steps of an aluminum ladder, often leaning away from the the steep chimney, before one hits water.

Additionally, only sidemount divers will be meet the requirements. There is very little flow inside this system, so buoyancy control is a must. Entry into the water is crude with only a few 2x12" boards available to straddle before jumping into the water to don gear.

Aside from that, this is one gem of a cave to dive. While short in penetration (approx. 700 feet), the terrain is varied, filled with a variety of crayfish and skeletons, and quite beautiful. Well worth the efforts if granted the opportunity.