WKPP plan Turner to Wakulla traverse

[Kelly Jessop]

From the WKPP

Many of you have followed and promoted the efforts of the Woodville Karst Plain Project over the years and I wanted to communicate information regarding the upcoming traverse from Turner Sink to Wakulla Springs scheduled for December 15. The linked press release provides background on the WKPP along with the dive plan for the traverse. Entering at Turner Sink and traveling 7 miles underground before surfacing at Wakulla Springs is not only an incredible diving adventure given the depth and distance, but it is also very symbolic because it clearly illustrates a physical connection between a seemingly isolated sinkhole in northern Wakulla county and the incredible environmental and cultural resource that is Wakulla Springs. Given the current and future focus on water issues for Wakulla County, Leon County and the state of Florida, this dive should be of interest to divers and non-divers alike and will likely generate increased awareness about the water flowing beneath the surface all across Florida.

www.gue.com/Galleries/WKPP/2007/Traverse_Dec_15/wkpp_traverse_pr.pdf

[L Roebuck]

Thanks for the pdf link Kelly! There's definitely a lot of good project information on it and also some stats... " Wakulla-Leon Sinks Cave System - Ranks #1 in the US - longest underwater cave system ". I can't wait to hear the results of the Turner Sink to Wakulla Springs Traverse on December 15th.

Also in the News, (Wakulla) " Woodville Karst Divers will Attempt World Record Dive of Seven Miles"

[Kelly Jessop]

www.silentplanet.info/pages/Wakulla%20Dec%2007/Wakulla%20Dec%2007.html

[jonsdigs]

Thanks for the timely report. What a feat!

[L Roebuck]

Divers Break Record for Longest Cave Passage
Brian Handwerk, National Geographic News

Completing the longest dive from one cave opening to another, divers on a treacherous 20-hour journey proved that vast underwater networks in Florida are linked.

Jarrod Jablonski and Casey McKinlay dropped into a small cave entrance called Turner Sink on the afternoon of December 15 and dove to a depth of some 300 feet (91 meters).

They then swam through 7 miles (11.25 kilometers) of underground freshwater cave—enjoying what McKinlay called "an incredible ride"—before resurfacing the morning of the 16th at Wakulla Springs State Park near Tallahassee, Florida.

Full Article