by Mako » Apr 24, 2007 8:56 am
Hey - New member here and just read this post - I realize that it is old news but thought I would share.
I have been to Chassahowitzka river dozens of times and have snorkeled through many of the springs in that river, most of them are very shallow.
I grew up in Fl and live in Michigan now. Going to Chassahowitzka to play in the springs was a regular trip growing up and I still make an effort to go there and play when I make a trip down there to see the family.
The most popular springs are the "7 sisters" - there are two springs, one with 2 shallow chimneys and the other with 4. The first one, with shallow chimneys may reach a max depth of 15 feet and a distance of maybe 8-10 feet between the chimneys. The one chimney closest to the source of the flow is quite large, 8-10 ft in diameter, and the other is maybe 3-4 ft in diameter. The second spring with 4 chimneys, has a max depth of maybe 8-10 feet, the chimneys are no more than 3-4 feet apart and they are all 3-4 ft in diameter. This one is definitely the more dangerous of the two, as the passage from one chimney to the next is a little tighter, but I use the word dangerous very loosely here. Worst case scenario, in my experience, is a bump on the head or a scrape on the back - that sort of thing. The flow rate from these springs is quite low, low enough to make it easy to swim through the passages in either direction.
There is a campground nearby, canoe rentals and boat launch. The springs can actually reached by walking through the water and never getting wet above the waist though. There is a side street to park on and a short trail to the water.
The other springs are reached by canoe etc. and I think I have been in the water at all of them and I can not think of any of them where there is any type of passage to enter.
I really think that there must have been something more to the story. Alcohol, no lights at night, drugs, something...