Local Cave Diving Sites

This page should soon be updated with photographs and more information about the local dive sites.

This page lists some of the divable caves near the workshop.

Believe it or not, there are a few other things to do in Jackson County besides cave dive!

Jackson County Caves

Merrits Mill Pond

The Mill Pond is a man-made lake fed by the magnitude one spring emerging from Jackson Blue, a big pristine cave. There are a couple of other back-mount caves, Twin Cave and Hole in the Wall, and several sidemount caves, including Shangri-la.

You can get a taste of diving in the Mill Pond by watching this teaser provided by Becky Kagan, of Liquid Productions. Becky is one of our presenters this year, and she will be showing some of her video work on Saturday evening.

Several of the caves are accessable only by boat, and Cave Adventurers will have four pontoon boats available for rent until 10:00PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the workshop. Hmmm - cocktails or Blind Cave Salamander tails (and tales)? I think I know where I'll end up...

Jackson Blue

24/7 diving, Backmountable, accessable through the park and by boat. There is a designated area just for cave diving, parking, and there will be two pavillions dedicated for our use the weekend of the Workshop. The park will stay open late, too.

It has been decided by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department not to open Jackson Blue to the public until Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2008. Jackson Blue will be available Exclusively for the Cave Diving Community Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This decision was to show their support of the Cave Diving Community and the 2008 NSS-CDS Workshop, so that all Cave Divers will have the opportunity to safely enjoy the Pristine Beauty of Jackson Blue.

Vince Ferris of the Navy Experimental Diving Unit will be guiding advanced scooter dives in Jackson Blue. Contact him directly to make reservations.

Twin Cave

Backmountable cave, accessable by boat.

Hole in the Wall

Backmountable cave, accessable by boat. Home to the Blind Cave Salamander.

Shangri La

Sidemount cave, accessable by boat

Bosell-cave

Upstream in the Chipola from Cavern's State park

Mons-sidemount entrance

Mattachuk- in the Chipola

Black Springs

Springboard

Edd Sorenson of Cave Adventurers will be guiding dives at Springboard Cave. Contact him directly to make reservations.

Wakulla County Caves

Emerald Springs

Indian Springs

Indian springs is a YMCA youth camp located in Wakulla county south of Tallahassee. This cave system starts with a central passage with a depth of 140',that continues this way upstream, and downstream it averages 70' with some rather large passage. This guided cave dive requires full cave and trimix certifications, proof of 100 cave dives, proof of DAN Master insurance or equivalent, and the appropriate site fee of $20.

Here is a brief description of Indian Springs, and Herve Deschamps has made videos of cave diving Indian Springs.

Kelly Jessop, Chairman of the NSS-CDS, will be guiding dives on Sunday. Contact him directly to make reservations