Admin
06-25-2008, 05:58 PM
Blue Spring Dive Plan
By Rebecca Riddle (28 Oct 2007)
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2010_mar_17/DSC05430.jpg
Address & Phone # of Dive Site:
2100 West French Avenue
Orange City, Florida 32763
Phone: 386-775-3663
Normal Arrival Time:
Meet at the gate at 8:00am. NO LATER.
Admission is $16.30 per diver. All divers must check in at the front gate. The ranger will collect your C card upon admission. Remember to pick it up as you leave! If a student, you will sign in with the instructor.
Driving Directions:
From Orlando, head east towards Daytona. Take exit 114 off Interstate 4 and follow the signs. Go west on Rt 472, then south on 17/92 to Orange City, about 2.5 miles. Make a right onto West French Avenue. Follow French Avenue to the park (on left, over a mile...)
Temperature:
72F/22C degrees year round. A 5mm wetsuit and hood, or 3mm wetsuit with a hooded vest is recommended.
At the Dive Site:
From the parking area (first one on right, past the drive to the campsites), walk down the boardwalk to the concession building, then take a right.
http://www.dayo.com/pictures/P8090914b.jpg
Blue Spring Walkway
Follow the boardwalk to the sign for the diver's entry steps area. From this area, walk along the right side of the spring run to the head spring. There is a huge log across the deep hole portion of the spring. At a depth of 60ft, a sign will warn to go no further. DO NOT GO DEEPER THAN THIS SIGN. No dive lights are allowed unless the diver is cavern or cave certified. If Manatees are present, the spring may be closed to divers. If a Manatee is spotted, do not harass the animal in any way. The return to your vehicles will be via the run. This is a drift dive with a current. The depth is 4 to 6 feet depending on the water level.
Have Fun!
More on Entry and Exit:
All divers will gear up at their vehicles and walk to the spring entry carrying their fins and ALL gear. Don't take anything like a towel to leave. Take only what you are going to take underwater. Do not put your fins on at the steps.. Carry them to the head spring. Once at the head spring entry, divers will finish any adjustments and do buddy checks.
Please make sure to check your tank and gear prior to leaving the parking area. It is a long walk back for something that is forgotten or needs repair. After diving the head spring, you will drift dive down the run. The depth is only about 4 to 6 feet depending on water level. No one should go beyond the roped off swim area for any reason. We will take off our fins, and walk back to the parking area which is closer that the initial walk. We will exit the run at the swimming area steps.
Wildlife you can expect to see at Blue Springs:
http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/gallery/files/9/8/9/sandra_6.jpg
There is an amazing diversity of wildlife to be seem on, under and around the water at Blue Springs. Under the water, divers can expect to see alligator gar (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?404-Gars), sunfish (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?390-Sunfish), catfish and schools of mullet (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?396-Mullet) as they swim down the river run. More than 40 different fish species are regularly spotted at Blue Springs. Unfortunately, there has also been at least 4 non-native, alien, fish species reported to be living here in recent years.
Click here for a brochure produced by Blue Springs showing pictures of many fish spotted there (http://floridastateparks.org/bluespring/doc/additionalinformation/bls-bluespringfish.pdf)
Click here for a list produced by Blue Springs of the fish living there (http://floridastateparks.org/bluespring/doc/additionalinformation/bls-bluespringfishlist.pdf)
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/raccoons.JPG
Above the water, keep an eye out for otters (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?818-Otters), raccoons (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?394-Racoons), turtles (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?873-Freshwater-Turtles), hawks (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?400-Hawks) and owls (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?514-Owls).
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2009_sept_02/PICT0793.jpg
It is important to note that Blue Spring is a designated manatee refuge. Temperatures in the spring run remain a constant 72 degrees in in Wintertime, (even when the oceans around Florida chill to 50-60 degree range); creating a safe haven for the West Indian manatee (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?398-Manatees). To provide a safe warm water refuge for manatees (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?398-Manatees) during the winter season, the spring and spring run is closed to all water related activities including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and boating from November 15 through March 1.
Click here for more info and the threats that face Manatees (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?398-Manatees)
Dive Procedures:
Maintain visual contact with your buddy at all times. Do not dive deeper than 60 feet at the head spring. Maintain good buoyancy, and try not to silt the dive site. Make sure to ascend from the spring slowly, exhale, and do a safety stop at 15 feet for 3 minutes minimum. If in a large group, be sure to regroup and make sure that all divers are accounted for prior to exiting the head spring area and drifting back to the exit area via the run. All divers should have a minimum of 800 to 1000 psi for the return drift dive. If necessary, divers may use their snorkel on the drift dive back to the exit area.
Emergency Procedures:
In case of buddy separation, follow standard procedures. Look for your buddy for one minute. If you can not find your buddy ascend slowly, exhale and do a three minute safety stop at 15 feet. Your buddy should also be following these procedures and will see you at the surface. If anyone is low on air, signal your buddy with the appropriate hand signal and begin your ascent. In the rare and unusual case of an out of air situation, signal your buddy and commence sharing air. Maintain buoyancy and ascend slowly, remembering to breathe.
Emergency Contact Information:
911 - This will activate EMS in the Oraange City area
DAN (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org) – 1-919-684-4326
Always call DAN (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org) after 911 in the case of a dive emergency which may require medical attention.
DAN (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org) should be called in the case of any diving medical emergency. They will refer you to the correct chamber, if necessary.
Emergency Oxygen should be made available at the dive site by the divers, as there is none on site.
Environmental Interaction Suggestions:
Good Buoyancy is a must! The head spring can silt rather easily, causing reduced visibility. The limestone in the walls can crumble, please exercise care. Do not harass the wildlife! If a Manatee is spotted, please do not approach it. They are an endangered species, and are protected by law, and you will get in a lot of trouble!
Predive Safety Check:
Check all gear prior to leaving the parking area. It is worth repeating that it is a LONG walk back to retrieve a forgotten item or to repair a piece of equipment. All buddy teams will do a predive safety check and make sure that regulators, hoses and inflater's are working. Remember to check to make sure that your air is on, and that your regulator is in your mouth, not your snorkel.
Map:
http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/../images/bsmap2.jpg
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2010_apr_19/P1010005.jpg
The best view at Blue Springs....back up!
Enjoy your dive, be safe and have fun!
By Rebecca Riddle (28 Oct 2007)
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2010_mar_17/DSC05430.jpg
Address & Phone # of Dive Site:
2100 West French Avenue
Orange City, Florida 32763
Phone: 386-775-3663
Normal Arrival Time:
Meet at the gate at 8:00am. NO LATER.
Admission is $16.30 per diver. All divers must check in at the front gate. The ranger will collect your C card upon admission. Remember to pick it up as you leave! If a student, you will sign in with the instructor.
Driving Directions:
From Orlando, head east towards Daytona. Take exit 114 off Interstate 4 and follow the signs. Go west on Rt 472, then south on 17/92 to Orange City, about 2.5 miles. Make a right onto West French Avenue. Follow French Avenue to the park (on left, over a mile...)
Temperature:
72F/22C degrees year round. A 5mm wetsuit and hood, or 3mm wetsuit with a hooded vest is recommended.
At the Dive Site:
From the parking area (first one on right, past the drive to the campsites), walk down the boardwalk to the concession building, then take a right.
http://www.dayo.com/pictures/P8090914b.jpg
Blue Spring Walkway
Follow the boardwalk to the sign for the diver's entry steps area. From this area, walk along the right side of the spring run to the head spring. There is a huge log across the deep hole portion of the spring. At a depth of 60ft, a sign will warn to go no further. DO NOT GO DEEPER THAN THIS SIGN. No dive lights are allowed unless the diver is cavern or cave certified. If Manatees are present, the spring may be closed to divers. If a Manatee is spotted, do not harass the animal in any way. The return to your vehicles will be via the run. This is a drift dive with a current. The depth is 4 to 6 feet depending on the water level.
Have Fun!
More on Entry and Exit:
All divers will gear up at their vehicles and walk to the spring entry carrying their fins and ALL gear. Don't take anything like a towel to leave. Take only what you are going to take underwater. Do not put your fins on at the steps.. Carry them to the head spring. Once at the head spring entry, divers will finish any adjustments and do buddy checks.
Please make sure to check your tank and gear prior to leaving the parking area. It is a long walk back for something that is forgotten or needs repair. After diving the head spring, you will drift dive down the run. The depth is only about 4 to 6 feet depending on water level. No one should go beyond the roped off swim area for any reason. We will take off our fins, and walk back to the parking area which is closer that the initial walk. We will exit the run at the swimming area steps.
Wildlife you can expect to see at Blue Springs:
http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/gallery/files/9/8/9/sandra_6.jpg
There is an amazing diversity of wildlife to be seem on, under and around the water at Blue Springs. Under the water, divers can expect to see alligator gar (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?404-Gars), sunfish (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?390-Sunfish), catfish and schools of mullet (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?396-Mullet) as they swim down the river run. More than 40 different fish species are regularly spotted at Blue Springs. Unfortunately, there has also been at least 4 non-native, alien, fish species reported to be living here in recent years.
Click here for a brochure produced by Blue Springs showing pictures of many fish spotted there (http://floridastateparks.org/bluespring/doc/additionalinformation/bls-bluespringfish.pdf)
Click here for a list produced by Blue Springs of the fish living there (http://floridastateparks.org/bluespring/doc/additionalinformation/bls-bluespringfishlist.pdf)
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/raccoons.JPG
Above the water, keep an eye out for otters (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?818-Otters), raccoons (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?394-Racoons), turtles (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?873-Freshwater-Turtles), hawks (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?400-Hawks) and owls (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?514-Owls).
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2009_sept_02/PICT0793.jpg
It is important to note that Blue Spring is a designated manatee refuge. Temperatures in the spring run remain a constant 72 degrees in in Wintertime, (even when the oceans around Florida chill to 50-60 degree range); creating a safe haven for the West Indian manatee (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?398-Manatees). To provide a safe warm water refuge for manatees (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?398-Manatees) during the winter season, the spring and spring run is closed to all water related activities including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and boating from November 15 through March 1.
Click here for more info and the threats that face Manatees (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?398-Manatees)
Dive Procedures:
Maintain visual contact with your buddy at all times. Do not dive deeper than 60 feet at the head spring. Maintain good buoyancy, and try not to silt the dive site. Make sure to ascend from the spring slowly, exhale, and do a safety stop at 15 feet for 3 minutes minimum. If in a large group, be sure to regroup and make sure that all divers are accounted for prior to exiting the head spring area and drifting back to the exit area via the run. All divers should have a minimum of 800 to 1000 psi for the return drift dive. If necessary, divers may use their snorkel on the drift dive back to the exit area.
Emergency Procedures:
In case of buddy separation, follow standard procedures. Look for your buddy for one minute. If you can not find your buddy ascend slowly, exhale and do a three minute safety stop at 15 feet. Your buddy should also be following these procedures and will see you at the surface. If anyone is low on air, signal your buddy with the appropriate hand signal and begin your ascent. In the rare and unusual case of an out of air situation, signal your buddy and commence sharing air. Maintain buoyancy and ascend slowly, remembering to breathe.
Emergency Contact Information:
911 - This will activate EMS in the Oraange City area
DAN (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org) – 1-919-684-4326
Always call DAN (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org) after 911 in the case of a dive emergency which may require medical attention.
DAN (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org) should be called in the case of any diving medical emergency. They will refer you to the correct chamber, if necessary.
Emergency Oxygen should be made available at the dive site by the divers, as there is none on site.
Environmental Interaction Suggestions:
Good Buoyancy is a must! The head spring can silt rather easily, causing reduced visibility. The limestone in the walls can crumble, please exercise care. Do not harass the wildlife! If a Manatee is spotted, please do not approach it. They are an endangered species, and are protected by law, and you will get in a lot of trouble!
Predive Safety Check:
Check all gear prior to leaving the parking area. It is worth repeating that it is a LONG walk back to retrieve a forgotten item or to repair a piece of equipment. All buddy teams will do a predive safety check and make sure that regulators, hoses and inflater's are working. Remember to check to make sure that your air is on, and that your regulator is in your mouth, not your snorkel.
Map:
http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/../images/bsmap2.jpg
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2010_apr_19/P1010005.jpg
The best view at Blue Springs....back up!
Enjoy your dive, be safe and have fun!