#6242
Buddy’s to dive the spring’s in Florida
ScubaCrab - 8/30/2013 11:37 PM
Category: Buddy Wanted
Replies: 16

Looking for buddy’s. Who want’s to dive Blue Sping’s, Manattee Spring’s, Devils Den, Blue Grotto, Alexander Spring’s Ginnie Sping’s or other’s in the area. Been out of diving for some time. My gear is being serviced tanks hydro hope to start diving next week end and more diving regularly. After a few spring dive’s looking foward to diving reef’s then some wreck’s on the east coast and the Key’s.
#126
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NAC - 8/31/2013 9:09 AM
I have been to the vast majority of these sites, If your looking for an easy first dive the blue grotto is recommended, easy entry and an easy dive .. the devils den has a number of swim throughs, blue springs make life hard because you have to tote all your dive equipment several hundred yards to the entry point. Alexander springs is really not worth a dive all it really is is a pit that bottoms out at about 22 feet. I haven’t done Ginny Springs Or Manatee springs yet so cant comment. I am available basically only on Sundays, so if you want to take the plunge on a sunday let me know and we can meet for a dive.
#6242
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ScubaCrab - 8/31/2013 9:32 AM
Sounds good to me. I have some tanks getting Hydro,Regs serviced should be done this week. Thanks for the heads up. I have been to many of the springs and am certified AOW, Nitrox and Wreck penetration. Need to start at the springs to test my gear and adjust weights.
#44
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kyliz - 8/31/2013 11:15 AM
We dove at Blue springs-I really enjoyed it. You do have to walk the boardwalk with your gear. We are in CT but travel to our place in Florida quite often.
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NAC - 8/31/2013 12:45 PM
I have a couple of 100 steels that need to be christened if you don’t have a tank I think they have 33% Nitrox, I have an analyzer so that shouldn’t be a problem I also have AOW Nitrox, but have not worried about the wrecks or any other certs. weighting is not much in the springs... alot more in the salt.. I use about 8 pounds in the fresh and 28 in the salt with my 80 cu aluminum but have to weight myself to the steels yet if you need to weight yourself in salt then the Blue heron bridge is a good shore dive
#6242
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ScubaCrab - 9/01/2013 11:14 AM
Hey kyliz
I enjoy Blue Springs nice place for the day and have a picnic lunch between dives. When you are In Florida make a post and we will see if we can get some divers together for some diving!
#6242
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ScubaCrab - 9/01/2013 11:28 AM
Hey Nac
Thanks for the offer of the tanks and tester. My 100s and 120 steel tanks should be ready in a couple of days. I allso have a nitrox tester just replaced the sensor. Also just bought a CO2 tester just to be safer. You never know about your fills at different shops how well is there compresor maintained? Heard of Blue Heron but have not dove there yet.
#6242
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ScubaCrab - 9/02/2013 9:15 PM
Thanks nitroxjim
I like Blue springs but I will probably pass and go there another time. It is a l long walk on there boardwalk tocarry extra gear and weights as for I need to test my gear and adjust bouyancy! Manatee Springs is probably my prefered location to test my gear and set things up.
#47
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alaz - 9/09/2013 5:18 PM
Thought I already replied, but I don’t see it in the list.... I will be camping in Blue Spring (North of Orlando) this weekend, 13-15 September. The spring is probably good for a one tank dive. If you’re interested, let me know.
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ScubaCrab - 9/09/2013 6:01 PM
Sorry you could not make it! Can’t make it this week end camping. I am going to Blue Grotto with the Reef Seekers Dive Club Sat. Maybe Sun I could come by to dive?
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alaz - 9/09/2013 6:53 PM
Sounds like you live in the water! Sunday would work for me; my wife and I will need to pack up the camp site, so depending on your time, either early in the day, or closer to mid-day or later would work. This would be my first cavern dive, post-certification, so I would look forward to that. I have all the gear, except the tank, which I would rent and bring with me. I assume that one tank is plenty for this site it sounds pretty straightforward. I’m new to this list how do we exchange contact points? If you choose to dive this one, I’ll bring my stuff, if not, I’ll leave it home and we’ll try another time let me know. Thanks for a quick response & have a great time at the Blue Grotto!
#6242
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ScubaCrab - 9/09/2013 7:39 PM
Hey Andy
I Have been out of the water for awhile guess I am trying to catch up. Why dont you post your plans in the forum and maybe you could get someone to dive on Sat? Maybe we should try another time to dive since it is a long drive and you will be packing up. I would want to dive and hang out for the day to make it worth the drive.
Just a head’s up. To get to the point of entry is a bit of a walk from the parking area! Some cary there gear other’s bring there own cart. From the camping area it is best to drive to the day parking. There is a walking trail nice for walking if you did not have to tote all that dive gear. From the parking lot walk to the concesion/gift shop take a right to the boardwak and continue to the water entry point. Then gear up for a swimor walk up stream. Most walk due to the strong current. When you reach the headspring dive. When done you can do a drift dive back to your exit. Fun dive but I suggest walking to the headspring so you know the plan first. It is a bit of a hike with all your gear so I do not bring anything extra and allredy know my weights neededed before I go to Blue Springs.
Have a good time!
Doug
#47
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alaz - 9/09/2013 7:50 PM
I looked up the dive info. With my cavern certification, I’m limited to 70 ft. depth and 130 ft distance, within sight of the entrance. That’s about half way to the end of the shaft, which is 110 ft. depth and 180+ ft. distance. It’s pretty clear that the end of the cave is outside my training. What is your certification? If you are a cave diver, I can’t go as far as you can. There is also the choice of air / nitrox as well. Your thoughts?
#6242
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ScubaCrab - 9/09/2013 7:58 PM
AOW/Nitrox/Wreck Penetration I have the gear to take cave training but have not persued it yet there is alot to dive with out it and it is very exspensive!
#47
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alaz - 9/09/2013 7:58 PM
OK, we crossed notes here. That makes sense. I certainly don’t mind the long walk, but I agree with you that spending the day is a better plan, than sandwiching it in. Let’s consider another time then. What is your certification? My instructor warned me that finding buddies for cavern is the hardest, as either someone takes the course and never does it again, or continues on to cave, and then has little interest in stopping at the cavern level.


Also, I am going to Blue Spring, you mentioned Blue Springs (as in Lafayette Blue Springs), which are two different places! ;-)



I have a post for this dive. We’ll see what happens.



Thanks and have a great dive on Saturday!
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alaz - 9/09/2013 8:03 PM
OK, so we’re about the same. Wreck Penetration is very similar to Cavern, I understand. Yeah, Tech diving is very expensive essentially everything that you have, you need to replace at least twice (for the redundancy)....