Other Dive Sites
In addition to the four sites the NSS-CDS directly owns or manages, that are additional sites in which the Section plays a major role in facilitating access.
Emerald Sink
Emerald Sink is located in Wakulla Spring State Park. Access to the sink is controlled by the park system and follows procedures set up by the five major Cave Diver training organizations. Divers wishing to dive Emerald Sink must first qualify by having their application approved by a five-person panel.
The necessary forms are available as PDFs and can be downloaded using the links below.
Hart Spring
Hart Springs is a Gilchrist County Park located northeast of Trenton and north of Fanning off of State Road 341 on the Suwannee River. After being closed to diving for many years Hart Springs has reopened for cave diving. To dive Hart Springs a diver must hold a Full Cave certification from a Recognized cave diving certification agency and meet other experience requirements. In addition to meeting all the necessary diving experience requirements a diver is required to dive the Hart Springs system with an active guide. A list of active guides is available on this web site.
Eagle’s Nest
Access to Eagle’s Nest is through the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. Divers must check in at an iron ranger at the entrance and pay the $3.00 daily fee, or you can purchase a yearly Wildlife Management Area pass for $26.50 at most hunting supply stores, Wal-Mart or on line. Either the day pass stub or the Management area pass should be displayed on the dash so that law enforcement can see them while you are in the water.
The road to the sink is not improved and four-wheel drive is a must. Fish and Wildlife is not responsible for getting your vehicle out if it gets stuck. They intend to make improvements by the end of this year to allow two-wheel drive access, but until then, they ask that drivers stay on the existing road and not to wallow out the holes. This will just make repairs more extensive, more costly, and take more time. The roads will have to closed while the repairs are made.
This site is deep and a very advanced dive. The NACD and NSS-CDS recommends that you have the following minimum qualifications to dive:
- Full Cave Certification.
- Trimix certification.
- Appropriate experience with deep cave dives.
In addition we highly recommend that first time divers go with someone familiar and experienced with the site. It took over a year to open Eagle’s Nest, but accidents due to irresponsible divers could close it overnight. Lets all be safe and Eagle’s Nest will be there, and open, when we are ready to dive it.