Trip Report: Ginnie Springs, August 1st, 2022
After hauling my accumulated junk across the continent, I found myself suddenly sweating in the Floridian summer. Staring down the barrel of a trip to Scotland’s graveyard of early twentieth century wrecks at Scapa Flow, I needed to get in the water to make sure I was ready; and of course to feel the cool water on my face—perhaps also to stretch my muscles after a week of driving. I visited Lake Denton as July was closing and was surprised at the maximum 89.6ºF (32ºC) water (average 86.0ºF/30ºC). I didn’t know lakes got that warm and experienced being too hot underwater for the first time, I was probably sweating, but it felt wonderful to be unencumbered in nothing but a shirt and shorts.
The water at Scapa Flow is around 55ºF (13ºC), and I quickly discovered that the place to wear a drysuit in Florida in August is in the springs of North Florida. My last cave dive was in March 2021, one year and five months previous and I didn’t know anyone in the area yet, so out of an abundance of caution and a ticking timeline, I hired someone competent, an instructor, to dive with me. This proved to be overkill but two fun dives into the Devil’s Spring system at Ginnie Springs left me feeling confident and prepared for Scottish waters! The water was crystal, and pulling through on the rock—my favorite method of locomotion—was entirely reinvigorating. It would have been a perfect day but for the oppressive heat! Gearing up left me drenched in sweat, and on the second dive a mid-donning dip took the edge off.
This was my first dive at Ginnie, but I was surprised at the number of people enjoying the park and swimming in the clear spring water. Coming out of the water all geared up is always somehow slightly embarrassing, but perhaps nice that people are interested.
While not my best diving, this was one of the most refreshing dives I’ve enjoyed. Uploading the entire thing is perhaps an exercise in becoming more comfortable with imperfection in a public forum. Please note the diving shown should not be used as an example of best practice. Make sure to seek instruction and certification with a certified cave diving instructor before doing any diving into a cave environment. No cave is worth dying for: seek training first, your life depends on it.
