Why Cant We Dive Wakulla Springs???

[rox@ucf11]

Hey everyone well I noticed that Wakulla Springs, a giant spring near Tallahassee, is closed to divers, and has been that way for awhile, this really irritates me, because I thought tha waters were public in Florida, so how can they be closed off? I know the cave system is a dangerous one, but I dont necessarily want to go cave diving anyways, just a nice dip in the spring is all. Any ideas, what exactly is the law in Florida??? what I thought was you can own the land around the water but not the water itself maybe im wrong, and that somehow doesnt apply to state parks, someone set me straight please!

[JahJahwarrior]

Some waters are public, but if I buy all the land surrounding the spring, I think I have a right to not let you on it. If you can swim into the spring from an adjoining spring, I don't know if I have legal grounds to prosecute you as long as you stay in the spring, but pretty much if you touch my land I am allowed to start shooting.... (but being the nice guy I am, I'd warn you first.) However, Wakulla...I don't know anything about it. If it's reachable by water, so that you don't have to touch any land....eh, my understanding, with a link below, is that you only want to do it at night when no one will see, and there are some big gators out there ("thunderlizard"). As for fairness, I wouldn't get too concerned about it. There is plenty of other good water to dive. Personally, I'mpretty pissed at the guy that bought Devil's Hole in Interlachen. Mainly, I'm pissed because he threatened to shoot me because I was trying to find the spring to dive, and he found me along his fence walking along in the woods looking for it, and he claimed I was on his property and he was gonna shoot me if I didn't leave....all of my research showed that it was open to the public, it would be nice if this guy would research the spring he owns and tell people he doesn't want anyone looking for it. So I'm not that upset about the spring being inaccessable, I'm upset at the fact that some jerk threatened me for looking for something I was told was open for people to dive, and that the owner had never been upset with divers before.

Anyways, back to Wakulla:


However, here's how some guy's dove Wakulla:
Diving Wakulla

I haven't read it in a while, but I believe they are technical divers who use multiple stages and scooters....

From my own research (search bar on TDS) I've found out that WKPP controls diving in Wakulla for the msot part, though the state has kicked them out to let othe rpeople in. If you want to dive it, get in touch with WKPP.
GUE and WKPP

But, unless you are a DIR diver, don't bother. It's not worth your time, or theirs.

If you want to know more about Wakulla and diving there, I'd suggest this book:
Wakulla Book

Mostly, my understanding is that high calibre technical divers dive/have dived there, and the place to go for techical diving is The Deco Stop Join there, and then search (you might have to join to search. If you do join, do NOT post anything about recreational diving, and do NOT post without searching first! They are VERY serious about their diving, becuase they are doing diving which is more dangerous than rec diving, and they do not tolerate recreational divers there.) about Wakulla.

[rox@ucf11]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated

[JahJahwarrior]

Always glad to help out when I can. I'm guessing you're a freshmen at UCF as well as me? Are you active in the dive club? I haven't bothered to join, they don't offer me much. If they had free air somewhere or severely discounted air somewhere I'd join in a heartbeat.


Have you heard about the Megadive this weekend at Ginnie springs? It's a SB thing but anyone and everyone is invited!

[pnevai]

AH you forgot to mention that part is also a Manatee sanctuary so No diving allowed

[rox@ucf11]

I am a freshmen, and am apart of the dive club you should defintely join you get really cheap rentals, and we go diving almost everyweekend

[rox@ucf11]

sorry about the mega dive tho um... I am busy, going home so I wont be able to attend but I will post something to the others

[Scubastud16]

I wasn't at the last meeting, but I was at the one before that. Go Knights!

[JahJahwarrior]

Originally Posted by pnevai

AH you forgot to mention that part is also a Manatee sanctuary so No diving allowed

I'm not certain about the laws that ban diving in "manatee sanctuaries," but a good bit of Crystal River houses manatees, especially during the winter, and diving is allowed there, just not within so many feet of the manatees.

Moreover, WKPP is allowed to dive there, so evidently the rules can be "bent" for certain people, if they are diving under research pretenses

[peteg]

I've read that you have to get a permit from the state to dive there and even WKPP gets denied from time to time. Please, someone, correct me if I'm wrong.