A Cave Diver Remembers
by James H. Woodard
| MY INTRODUCTION TO the springs came when I was young and stupid. I am now no less stupid but far from young. We would dive the caves with milk jugs to control buoyancy, lights that were far from waterproof, wire spools for cave lines and all manner of improvised devices that should have gotten us killed.
You didn’t need to show cave certification as there was none that I know of and your only fee was the ability to locate the springs and climb fences, especially at Devil’s Den. There is no way in hell I would ever do it again, but I am glad I had the experience. When I see the equipment the cave divers are using now, it looks like a space mission, all of it the result of deceased idiots like us.
When I see the equipment the cave divers are using now, it looks like a space mission, all of it the result of deceased idiots like us.
Many thanks to Attorney James H. Woodard for this memory of the early days of cave diving in North Florida’s springs! He also very generously shared the images below that may bring back memories for some of you.
Little River, north of Branford, was a favorite, but we really liked the seclusion, then, of Jenny/Ginnie as you could camp and have the place to yourself. Peacock Slough was also a favorite for much the same reason. We pretty much checked out anything that had water in it. I understand those times are long gone.
One of my greatest regrets was not taking the opportunity to buy a house on the Ichetucknee, with 200 front feet of river, for $30,000, house and all. I couldn’t afford it then and I am sure that I can’t afford it now.
