Echo Cave, Rutherford County, Tennessee

[Larry E. Matthews]

Sometime back in the 1980s (I think) Echo Cave was connected to Snail Shell Cave by cave divers and the connection was mapped.

Can anybody tell me who the divers were and it there was a written report of their dive, the connection, and the mapping?

Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F

[FW]

I have an idea, I will check and post the results.

[FW]

Well, I guessed wrong. Other ideas would be Wes Skiles, or Ron Simons, but they aren't around anymore to ask.

[joestewart]

The TCS narrative file for Snail Shell simply says:

"...Paul Smith cave dove the sump between Snail Shell and Echo Cave."

[Larry E. Matthews]

Thanks for the information. Is this the same Paul Smith the NSS Members Manual shows living in Gainesville, Florida?

Larry

[joestewart]

Interesting article in the August 1982 NSS News on the exploration of Snail Shell.

http://digital.lib.usf.edu:8080/fedora/ ... CUMENT_PDF

Some good Gerald stories and the Echo connection portion is on page 211.

[Larry E. Matthews]

Thanks, that was it. The August, 1982 NSS News has the complete story of the connection. I hadn't read that article in quite a few years, and it is just excellent. If you have never read it, it is worth taking the time to find a copy and reading it.

Jeff Sims and Charles Clark did a wonderful job writing it. Paul Smith was indeed the diver who made the connection. The sump was 310 feet long.

Larry

[JR-Orion]

Great article. Thanks for posting the link. Sounds like an amazing cave.

Seven hours of survey for 7,000+ feet, wow. I usually wind up in cramped, twisty passages where 7 hours = 300 feet.

[Larry E. Matthews]

The great news is that Snail Shell Cave is owned by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, so you can still go visit it.

It is best explored with wetsuits and inner tubes.

Larry

[rchrds]

Paul was at the hot tub at TAG this year. I hadn't seen him in years. He's still around.