THE CAVE DIVING PAGE
I've put together this page as a resource for the traveling cave diver or cave diving student. You'll find some cool links and resources. You can find a lot of this information out there by using search engines and other on line resources such as The Cave Diver's Forum or The Deco Stop, but I've just tried to condense some of it into one place. This is kind of a work in progress and I'll be adding more information, tips and hints that I've collected over the years as I get the time, so please be sure to check back often......
Want to know what current conditions in the caves are?
Walter maintains a wonderful site for just this reason...
- http://tampadiving.com/sections/diving/cave_systems.asp
So where all the cave diving sites anyways?
Raphael showed me a link to a great map of cave country (in PDF form) that is located on Johnny Richards' website...
- http://www.cavediving.com/aftp/cave_map.pdf
What gear should I bring?
I've put together different gear checklists for some of the different courses offered. Feel free to cut & paste, print them out and laminate them for future reference.
- Intro to Cave/Basic Cave diver's checklist
Looking for somewhere to stay in cave country?
Most people tend to stay in one of two areas, up in the Luraville/Branford area by Peacock Springs, Cow Springs and Telford or down in the High Springs/Alachua area by Devil's, Little River and Hart Springs.
Luraville/Branford area......
Bill Rennaker has five homes for rent, which are all located in the Peacock Springs area. For reservations call (386) 776-2299 or click below...
- http://www.caveexcursions.com/t-rentalhomes.aspx
Cathy Lesh has cabins for rent and a bunkhouse in the back of her dive shop's property. For reservations call (386) 776-1449 or click below...
David & Cynthia Penney maintain a private cottage available for daily or weekly rental. For reservations call (386) 362-5404 or email...
A quiet, luxurious style home that is great for families and located on the Santa Fe River near Branford. For reservations please click below...
- http://www.santaferiverhouse.com
Dustin Clesi maintains this motel in Branford, which has a dive shop on the premises. For reservations call (386) 935-2283 or click below...
- http://steamboatdriveinn.com
High Springs/Alachua area.....
A private, quiet two bedroom apartment on the Santa Fe river, located five minutes from Cave Excursions East and ten minutes from Ginnie Springs. Rates are $40/night or $240/week. For reservations call (386) 454-7511 or email....
A room is available for rent at a pet friendly, cave diver's home just outside of High Springs. Please contact Corey (386) 433-0019 or email...
A cave divers cabin, just 5 miles from the Ft White stoplight, plenty of privacy, locking storage shed etc. Please contact Debra at (386) 497-3494 or email...
There are two homes for rent at Ginnie Springs, the Ginnie Springs cottage and the Vardo, plus camping is available on a year round basis. Reservations can be made by calling Ginnie Springs (386) 454-7188 or click below...
- http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/lodging.html
A luxurious and historic bed and breakfast located in High Springs. For reservations call (386) 454-2206 or click below...
A very popular motel with cave divers located in High Springs. For reservations call (386) 454-1701 or click below...
- http://highspringscadillacmotel.com
Another very popular motel with cave divers just across the street from the Cadillac. For reservations call (386) 454-1565 or click below...
- http://www.highspringscountryinn.com
A private, beautiful home on ten acres specifically designed for cave divers and owned by cave divers, located five minutes from Cave Excursions East and ten minutes from Ginnie Springs. For reservations call (386) 454-3327 or click below...
- http://www.michael-angelo-art.com/chateau_h2o
There are two rooms available for rent at a pet friendly, cave diver's home in Ft. White. Please contact Stacey at (386) 853-0389 or email at.....
Where can I get gas fills and equipment in cave country?
There are a number of dive shops/fill stations in the area, with a wide variety of different brand names being carried among the various shops. I'll do my best to list what each facility offers as well as which gear brands/parts they carry...
Luraville/Branford area....
The original full service, technical diving facility that revolutionized how divers buy gas, owned and operated by Bill Rennaker and located in Luraville by Peacock Springs. The cheapest pricing on air, nitrox, pure O2 and trimix, as well as a gear rental program, cave and technical instruction and guide services. Bill was the originator of extended whips so you can fill without removing your tanks from your vehicle and this still holds true today. They are dealers for Dive Rite, Luxfer, OMS, Oxycheq, Silent Submersion and Worthington among others. Hours are 8am to 6pm daily with extended hours on weekends and holidays. Phone number is (386) 776-2299.
A full service, technical dive shop located in Luraville on the road to Peacock Springs, owned and operated by Cathy Lesh. Competitive pricing on air, nitrox, pure O2, and trimix, in addition to guide services, open water, cave and technical instruction, gear rental and storage. Kathy also maintains cabins and a bunkhouse for divers on her property, and is well known for her culinary skills feeding divers as well as having spacious classrooms available to instructors. She is a dealer for Dive Rite, Genesis, OMS, Oceanic and PST among others. Please call for store hours. Phone number is (386) 776-1449.
High Springs/Alachua area.....
A new, friendly fill station owned and operated by Wayne Kinard, located in the Ft. White area. Amigo's carries gear from Dive Rite, plus provides gear rental and guide services. Open water, cave and technical instruction is also available as well as competitive pricing for air, nitrox, pure O2 and trimix, and of course they have the long whips so you can either fill in the trough or fill in the car. Hours are 8am to 6pm daily, with after hours fills available by request. Phone number is (386) 497-3876.
An established, friendly full service technical diving facility located just 5 minutes from Ginnie Springs, owned and operated by Lee Gibson and Bill Rennaker. The staff are all cave divers, with a cave instructor on hand to answer any questions plus they have the cheapest prices on air, nitrox, pure O2 and trimix. In addition they offer a gear rental program, equipment storage lockers, open water, cave and technical instruction and guide services. Extended whips are in use so you can fill without removing your tanks from your vehicle, plus they are dealers for Deep Sea Supply, Dive Rite, Luxfer, Oxycheq, Salvo, Santi Drysuits, Silent Submersion and Worthington among others. The Cave Diving Museum is located in the large building to the side of the main shop. Hours are 9am to 6pm daily with extended hours on weekends and holidays. Phone number is (386) 454-7511.
- http://caveexcursionseast.net
A modern, state of the art training facility and adventure center located in High Springs, owned and operated by Jarrod Jablonski and partners. Competitive pricing on air, argon, nitrox, pure O2, and all the standard trimix gases, and of course they offer guide services, open water, cave and technical instruction, gear rental and storage as well as regulator repair, snorkel and canoe trips. They are dealers for Apeks, DUI, Gavin's, Halcyon and Scubapro among others. Please call for store hours. Phone number is (386) 454-8158.
The famous outdoor recreational facility that is home to the Ginnie Ballroom and the Devil's cave system. This beautiful, private park has been catering to cave divers for many years. They offer air on site and have a full service technical dive center plus they are dealers for Dive Rite, Halcyon, PST, Salvo and Scubapro among others. They also offer a gear rental program, as well as open water, cave diving and technical instruction. Please call for store hours. Phone number is (386) 454-7188.
- http://ginniespringsoutdoors.com
It's said that "through these doors the greatest divers have been trained". Lloyd Bailey's Scuba & Watersports has been a fixture in north Gainesville since 1981 and Lloyd is one of the most prolific cave instructors in the world. Many of the cave instructors teaching today took their training from Lloyd and his store is a treasure trove to be explored. He's located off of exit 399 on I-75. Please call for store hours, phone number is (352) 332-0738.
- http://lloydbaileysscuba.com
Barry Miller's new company that started out taking the light industry by storm and have now expanded to form their own complete lines of technical gear as well as carrying tanks and other accessories. Their beautiful warehouse and store is located in High Springs next to the infamous Floyd's diner, across the street from the High Springs Country Inn. Hours are from 8pm to 6pm Monday through Saturday. Phone # is (386) 454-1440.