|
The 1987 expedition had as its primary goal the exploration of the spring using high pressure, open circuit diving apparatus and diver propulsion vehicles. In order to deal with the narcosis problems associated with breathing compressed air at depths near 100 m, the average depth of the artesian cavern tunnels at Wakulla, gas mixtures consisting of helium and oxygen were used. A total of 3,310 m of previously unexplored subterranean passageways were mapped during the 1987 expedition. One of the results of this effort was the discovery of four major tributaries to the primary underground river gallery. This discovery provides strong evidence that the extent of the region drained by Wakulla Springs is much larger than previously imagined and, therefore, much more likely to be affected by pollution as the nearby capital city of Tallahassee expands southward towards the spring. It has been estimated on the basis of the regional geology and the general size of the artesian tunnels, some in excess of 40 m wide by 12 m in height, that the primary corridors may extend radially more than 15,000 m from the spring. Borrowing upon and enhancing the techniques first used in 1987, the Woodville Karst Plain Project (WKPP) has continued the exploration of Wakulla Spring and has expanded exploration to other nearby sinkholes in an attempt to integrate these disparate hydrologic conduits. Utilizing diver propulsion vehicles and emphasizing speed and efficiency they have managed to extend explorations to approximately 5500 m from the closest known cave entrance. These operations have involved the use of conventional open circuit diving (Scuba) apparatus and, more recently, semi-closed circuit rebreathers. There are hard limits to the safe use of Scuba. It is inherently inefficient at extreme water depths. So much so that as distances grow from the entrance, faster and faster transit speeds become essential, leaving no margin for error. Likewise, detailed study and documentation of many interesting discoveries, particularly those within the more remote areas of the cave, have been relegated to cursory visual inspections during a high speed fly by. In order to safely extend exploration to substantially greater distances, and to more completely document these discoveries, advanced methods-using equipment permitting radically longer bottom times and safer decompression procedures combined with innovative cave mapping technology are needed. An important technological milestone achieved during the 1987 expedition was the successful testing of a long range, closed circuit, mixed gas life support backpack designed specifically for cave diving. The experimental device was used to conduct the first 24-hour dive by an individual equipped solely with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. On the basis of the tests conducted at Wakulla Springs, and four generations of successor technology built in the intervening nine years, an improved, compact, closed circuit backpack (the Cis-Lunar MK5 system) has been developed which will permit 12-hour sustained missions at 100 m depth.
For a more thorough discussion of the history of the ~40 years of exploration at Wakulla Springs, the interested reader is directed to: Stone, W.C., Ed. The Wakulla Springs Project, published by the U.S.Deep Caving Team, Inc., January 1989, ISBN-0-9621785-0-0, Library of Congress Card Number 88-051320. 220 pages, hardbound. Second printing presently available from the NSS-CDS bookstore, Cave Diving Section of the NSS, P.O. Box 950, Branford, FL 32008 Woodville Karst Plain Project website Copyright ©1998, U.S. Deep Caving Team, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of these pages may be used for any reason without prior written authorization. |
In
the fall of 1987, an international team of explorers and
scientists conducted a 10-week project at Florida's historic
Wakulla Springs to explore and study this remarkable
artesian cavern. The results of this work are detailed in
the book, The Wakulla Springs Project, by Stone, et.
al.