Category: Ricky Simon

The team went to Rock Spring to collect samples.  Terrence led the way followed by Renee, Carl, and I.  Our mission as we dove into the cave was to collect the first set of samples. While they had warned me about the sharp rock and mega flow, no one had mentioned how low and tight it was going to be. There were a few spots that were so low I was not sure I was going to make it through. The team then exited the cave and brought the samples up.

Terrence and Renee went the furthest back from the stations and Carl and I went to go collect different cave organisms.  This was not an easy task in the high flow. I ended up having to crawl on my stomach and push on the cave sealing with one foot to get by without damaging the cave. This was one of the most beautiful caves I had ever seen. The neat thing about this cave is that it is not open to the public.  There are fossils and undamaged cave everywhere. Amazingly it still has the original survey lines in it. When we exited the cave we were met by a lot of curious people.  This is mainly due to the fact that the cave is right next to a big swimming hole. I do not think the life guards liked us to much. After that we went and tried to get tanks filled but the dive shop was closed.

We went back to the house for a well need rest and said good-by to Carl as this was his last day with us. The project came to an end as soon as it began.   We had a big debriefing meeting and called it a day.

The team headed to Sanlando Spring to gather more research data. The cave team consisted of Terrence, Renee, and Carl. Since this cave is very low it can not be dove with back mount tanks, instead it is a side mount cave. My job was to sit by the entrance and bring the samples up to the surface.  This meant the divers did not have to squeeze through the hole each time to bring the samples to the surface.  At the end Terrence took me into the cavern section, it was very tough getting there due to the small hole and having to fight the current to get in. From there the team went out to a late lunch/early dinner. Every restaurant we tried to go to was closed.  Finally we found a place that was open. After dinner we went back to the house to get ready for the next days events.

Some places God doesn’t mean for man to go. Today Terrence, Carl, and Rene went into the no mount section of Wikwa Springs to gathers samples. iI you didn’t know, no mount diving is when you don’t wear any tanks because there is not enough room . This means that the diver has to push his or her tank ahead of them. I sat underwater just outside the small hole they squeezed themselves through and brought all the samples to the surface. Once I hit the surface I handed the samples to Amy. Some one is planning on using the samples to figure out how to get things to grow in a 0 light areas. Last but not least we all went to get tank fills and to get a bite to eat. We had our nightly briefing on the days activities and discussed the next days dives.

We got an early start to collect samples in DeLeon Springs. Terrence briefed me on the flow and our mission to collect 6 water samples. We suited up to venture into the cave. The entrance into the cave is a tube that has a tremendous amount of flow coming out of it. As we walked to the spring I could see the huge boiler of water coming out. We made our decent and hit the entrance of the tube. It was spewing out rocks and other things.Terrence made entering the tube look easy. When it was my turn I pulled myself into through the cave. Let me tell you this was a lot harder than Terrance made it look. I had to fight all the water coming at me.

Once through the entrance the flow got a little better. Since this cave is not open to the public it is very rarely dove which meant that every time our bubbles hit the sealing bacteria and silt fell. This caused what is known as a silt out. On our way out Terrence noticed a new passage no one had ever explored before. This was an exciting dive made even more exciting when we hit the surface and Terrence told me that of all the caves he dives this one is the worst one and that I had made my first advanced cave dive.

After my dive Josh Woody and Boz did their first open water dive in the spring. After all the days dives were done we headed back to the dive shop to get fills and do a debriefing meeting. The next stop was to a Friends of Wikiva meeting. Here one of Terrence’s neice presented her State winning science fair project on water flow in the springs. . At the meeting we met up with another member of the Cambrain teem, Carl Shreves. We all went out to dinner and then we called it a day.

We went to Terrence’s storage unit to get 40 or so tanks to go get filled and pick up other needed equipment for tomorrow’s big event. Later that night Terrence and I went through my gear. He made suggestions to streamline my setup. The evening ended with Amy making a great dinner and lots of fun conversation ;-}. Tomorrow there will be more cave work and preparation.

We spent the day at Terrence’s wife’s parent’s house so that he could use the pool with the other interns. This was not an easy task since we had to time the pool dives in-between the frequent rain storms. I did some book work for the courses I will be taking when I get back to Connecticut. During the remainder of the day we went and got the tanks filled and went over logistics for the project at hand.

Gill and I followed Terrence to the airport to pick up Josh , Woody and Boz. All three are other interns that I will be working with during my time at the Cambrian Foundation. After getting them settled we piled into the car and set off to meet a well known biologist. Of course Gill and I got lost on the way to meet the biologist.. That night I sat and watched Terrance start to teach Jon, Will and Boz their open water course. I was very impressed. He is a very good instructor probably the best.

Upon landing in Florida, I attempted to navigate through the airport to find my bags. Not an easy task, I might add. Luckily I met up with Amy and her husband Paul. Amy is the Cambrian Foundation president. Amy and Paul took me out to dinner with their daughter. During dinner I told them about my experiences thus far as the 2005 Frank Scalli intern. Shortly after dinner we met up with Terrence Tysall, one of the funniest men alive, also one of the best divers I have met, along with his friend Gill. Here is a piece of Terrence’s biography as it is listed on the Cambrian web site…it speaks for itself!

“Terrence is the Special Projects Director for the Foundation. Terry holds Instructor / Evaluator ratings with IANTD, NSS-CDS, SSI, TDI, PSA. He also sits on the Board of Directors for the Florida Speleological Researcher and the Advising board for the League of the New Worlds with Scott Carpenter and Clive Cussler. He has led multiple expeditions around the world including: The S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, The Great Blue Hole of Belize, The Andrea Doria, The U.S.S. Atlanta, The U.S.S. Monitor Survey and numerous cave explorations.”

Can you guess what I started out the day with again? You got it, food prep. Today, however, I got to do the 10 o’clock dive, and scrub the tank. Sometimes I get side tracked and play with Murtle. She likes to be scrubbed with the scrub brush. After the dive it was off to the farmers market. This is where the Aquarium purchases the food for the fish and Murtle. Holly taught me proper etiquette for the farmers market. Rule number one, You don’t pick out what you get. Don’t even think about it. Rule number two, DON’T, I really mean it, DON’T touch anything. We hurried back for the 1:15 cleaning dive. The rest of the afternoon was spent doing general maintenance and cleaning. My time at the New England Aquarium came to an end to quickly. I enjoyed working with Holly and the many volunteers, to numerous to name. Thank you to all of them for making me one of the “Crew”.

I started off the day, of course, with food prep. It takes a small army to prepare the food. The aquarium depends on many dedicated volunteers to keep the tanks up and running. The ten o’clock feeding time rolled in before I knew it. It was my turn to feed Myrtle and keep her occupied. Her morning meal consists of protein and assorted produce. Top of the line produce I might add. After lunch Holly and I went to dip the last of the fish that she had collected on her last collecting trip. The day would not be complete without my daily scrub time. My mother only dreams that one day my room would be half this clean.