broadbandsports.com - spelunking

Spelunking in Jewel Cave

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:06:30 -0700

Diving Downstream Cow Spring

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 03:35:39 -0800

Strictly speaking, Cow Spring is not a spring at all, but rather an in-line sinkhole which provides diver access to an underground river that surfaces for the last time at nearby Running Spring.

Cow Spring makes an excellent cavern dive, with numerous openings, and lots of dramatic lighting effects. From the main cavern, cave divers can travel downstream for approximately 600 feet in either of two directions. These two downstream legs are assumed to connect to the two primary resurgences at Running Springs. Explorers such as Woody Jasper and Sheck Exley have all tried to make the connection; no one has succeeded — or is likely to.

Diving into the Eagle's Nest

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 11:12:38 -0800

Eagle's Nest is a deep sink with both upstream and downstream tunnels. There is a large debris cone in the center that slopes downward. This site is deep (310') and a very advanced dive. The NACD and NSS-CDS recommends that you have the following MINIMUM qualifications to dive:
Full Cave Certification
Trimix certification
Appropriate experience with deep cave dives

At first glance, it looks like any other old pond in the woods, but below lies one of the most awesome deep dives around. The basin slopes down like a funnel where a large solution tube and a couple of smaller ones lead into a massive cavern with a large debris mound. Following the slope of the mound down to depth of around 200', one encounters the "duck under" restriction of the downstream section of the cave. On the opposite side of the cavern, the walls and floor give way to the larger opening of the upstream section. Over 6000' feet of passage has been mapped, some at depths in excess of 300'. This is definitly an advanced site for divers who are trained and experienced in technical diving.