WEEKI WACHEE, Florida (8 July 2007) -- The dry weather has helped unlock the door to a previously unexplored underworld beyond the mermaid's stage. Now, researchers could be on the verge of discovering the deepest underwater cave in the United States. Cave divers are exploring, mapping and photographing the vast caverns at the source of the Weekiwachee River, dozens of feet below where the mermaids perform at Weeki Wachee Springs. Last week, a diver hit a depth of nearly 400 feet before turning around. That would make the cave system the deepest in the United States, said Jeff Petersen, president of Karst Underwater Research, Inc., or KUR, and project manager for the Weeki Wachee endeavor. "From a cave diver's perspective, Weeki Wachee has always been considered one of the crown jewels," Petersen said. Experts have known for years the river's source was an access point to a maze of some of the most awe-inspiring underwater caves in the world. Usually, however, the force coming out of a doorway-sized split in the limestone about 145 feet below where the mermaids perform is simply too strong for a diver to access. Water can rush from the opening at up to 250 cubic feet per second. "It used to be that, as soon as you hit 40, 50 feet, you were hanging on for dear life," Petersen said. "It's like swimming into a fire hose." But the Weekiwachee spring head is at record low flow levels. One recent test showed water coming through at a rate of just 97 cubic feet per second. Still, that's enough force to make the entry a struggle, Petersen said. Once through the door, however, there is hardly any resistance at all because of the vast size of the cavern. Petersen blames the low flow on a combination of development that pulls water from the aquifer and the recent drought. "While it's tragic in many ways, it's kind of a bittersweet boon for us," he said. Divers cannot only access the cave system now, but also can bring in the necessary gear, including powerful lights and battery-operated "scooters" that can be used to propel them to distances of more than a mile. Other technology is on the side of the explorers. Divers are using special "re-breathers" that allows them to recycle the air they've already used by removing the carbon dioxide. The gear is much smaller than the typical double-tank scuba gear, Petersen said. The team has charted about 3,000 linear feet of cave. Petersen said the breathing equipment and scooters would allow divers to go roughly twice that distance. The team also hopes for another achievement: Connecting with the so-called Twin Dees Spring and its network of caves about a mile south of Weeki Wachee Springs. A KUR team explored and inserted guidelines in that network of caves back in 1995. It's very possible that divers on the current project will come around a corner and see one of those lines, Petersen said. "It's just a matter of finding the right tunnel," Petersen said. Like the 'Lincoln Tunnel' These tunnels are big. Think "Lincoln Tunnel" big, Petersen said. | | Karst Underwater Research -- KUR -- divers believe they have discovered the deepest cave system in the United States. Of course, it's difficult for divers to get a true sense of size because even with powerful lights, not much of the area can be illuminated at one time. Scattered on the floor are boulders that have settled over eons. There also are rock formations that Petersen said resemble piles of "two-by-fours and broomsticks." It's all covered in a brown layer of sediment and fossilized organic matter that he likened to Magic Shell chocolate coating. One mind-boggling statistic: Divers who hit depths of nearly 400 feet must remain in the water for seven hours to safely decompress, Petersen said. KUR is a nonprofit organization that relies mostly on a dedicated group of volunteers eager to go where no divers have gone before. The group mapped about 5,000 feet of cave in Tampa's Sulfur Springs network. Closer to home, KUR explored areas underneath the Chassaho-witzka Wildlife Area. Divers take still photos and videos of the caves they explore and also create maps. The data collected is free for the taking and has bolstered such resources as the Florida Geological Survey. Divers get the thrill and conquest of uncharted territory and the pride in helping science take a step forward. "It's a win-win for everybody," he said. The team for the Weeki Wachee project is comprised of about 20 people, said Petersen, who is an accountant by day. "We're going to keep diving until the rain returns," Peter-sen said. The exploration is creating a buzz at Weeki Wachee Springs, said marketing director John Athanason. Current and past employees alike keep inquiring about the team's progress. He said park management is talking to Petersen about creating a short film about the project using KUR footage that could be played between mermaid shows. "For so many years everyone has always wondered what was underneath us," Athanason said. "It's pretty exhilarating." SOURCE - Hernando TodaySCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
