Scooter free diving Troy Springs, GoPro Video

[ricki]

[ame=http://vimeo.com/26042520]Free Diving Troy Springs[/ame]

Here is a quick clip of a single drop in Troy Springs. Troy Springs is an 80 ft. deep sinkhole located to the west of Ginnie Springs in Branford, FL. It is a first magnitude spring with an interesting meandering outflow through shallow limestone features to the Suwannee River. It has nice vertical rock exposures and a talus slope along one side. I shot this scooter free diving with a GoPro HD camera set on R4 using an Eye Of Mine corrective housing.

 

[Disco850]

Ok now I wanna go there. Ive been freediving Vortex springs lately but its not deep enough. That hole looks awesome. I think its only about 3 hours from here.

 

[Dr. Hawk]

Looks awesome!

 

[Chris_C_NZ]

Nice! Is it hard controlling the scooter and the camera at the same time?

 

[DerekB]

What does the term " first magnitude" mean?

I can't wait till I move to florida!

 

[Todt]

Disco850 I'm in panama city and plan on going to Troy in the next few weeks if interested. I used to hit vortex every weekend but looking for more.

Ricki thanks for the awsome video. How are thing going in Ft Lauderdale. We are about to get our trips going again havent seen anyone in a while. this is Todd been on several practice floats with you and Tony. Actually we took level III at the same time. Hope all is well in your world.
Todd

 

[ricki]

I am sorry, I didn't know posts had been made on the thread until now. Thanks, it is a nice spring, well worth checking out. I found a good deal of information about it on a former website that was taken down. I put the content up at: Underwater Photo Of The Day - Page 6 - FKA Kiteboarding Forums

Nice! Is it hard controlling the scooter and the camera at the same time?

No, it is easy with a sit on top scooter. Then again, carrying three cameras, a dive light and movie light can be challenging. At least as far as proper camera/light alignment. I wouldn't use a tow behind scooter at this point. Sit on top works so well for free diving. There is the downside of colliding head first if you are careless however!

Here is how the DEP defines spring magnitude:

"3. What is a spring magnitude?

Springs are ranked according to the volume of water flowing from the ground. Discharge from Florida’s springs can range from less than 1 pint per minute (Eighth Magnitude) to more than 64.6 million gallons per day (First Magnitude)." The outflow was pretty light because of the drought. Often just swimming in against the flow near the source is quite difficult in normal times.
Springs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Springs | Florida DEP

Ricki thanks for the awsome video. How are thing going in Ft Lauderdale. We are about to get our trips going again havent seen anyone in a while. this is Todd been on several practice floats with you and Tony. Actually we took level III at the same time. Hope all is well in your world.
Todd

Hey Todd, how have you been? Things have been going pretty well down here. It has been fairly calm so lots of diving opportunities. I haven't seen Martin, Niki or the guys in a while except online. They are as active as ever. Have you dove the aircraft carrier up there? I would like to check it out sometime.

Rick

 

[Todt]

Did not do the Oriskany yet, got side tracked with life. We were going to go to Ginnie Springs over the weekend but Troy looks nice. Good to here you're getting in the water often.

Will keep in touch, I'm going to work now.

Todd

 

[ricki]

Troy is about a half hour away from Ginnie if memory serves. Why not do both? I also dove the Devil's Spring system during the weekend we were up there along with the Ichetucknee too. You can more easily get into the systems currently because of the weak outflow. Just put together a video on it and some background on my first dive there in 1975! Free diving Ginnie Springs and the Devil's Spring System - FKA Kiteboarding Forums

Have a good trip!

Rick

 

[Beast_Beneath]

I don't think troy is 80ft at the bottom, closer to 60ft.

 

[ricki]

That was out of the literature for the site. With the drought, I don't doubt it. What was it after the hurricanes in 2004/05? The ranger told us Devil's Millhopper sink went half underwater.

 

[FreeDivingJake]

Troy is only 62ft deep. Did your depth guage or dive computer read differently?

 

[TomW]

That looks fun. Great vid! I really should get a GoPro myself

 

[Antoine]

Nice vid!