Peacock Springs: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:34, 18 June 2024

Site Info
Type	Cave
Coordinates	30.1230879, -83.1330770
Region	US Southeast
Access via	Shore
Depth range	20-175 ft

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Peacock Springs/Orange Grove is a submerged freshwater cave system connecting a collection of karst features (sinkholes and springs). It is located within Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park in north central Florida in the United States. The closest city is Live Oak, FL.

Details[edit | edit source]

Location[edit | edit source]

Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is located a few miles east of Luraville, on 180th Street.^[1]

Topography[edit | edit source]

Peacock Springs is a large interconnected underwater cave system with 9 known access points, some of which are suitable for open water and cavern diving.

Conditions[edit | edit source]

Conditions in the sinks and springs are variable. Temperature remains around 72F year round. Visibility is generally quite clear in Peacock I and II. Peacock III tends to have the milkier visibility characteristic of siphons, around 20-50ft^[1]. Orange Grove conditions range from unlimited visibility to just a few feet in the basin. See individual pages for details.

Facilities[edit | edit source]

Peacock I/II/III and Orange Grove parking areas have:

Gear benches
Picnic tables
Changing areas
Porta-potties

There are steps leading to the water's edge at Peacock I. Peacock II and III have no steps.

Notes[edit | edit source]

Since Peacock is relatively shallow, it is one of the few caves in Florida where deco is usually not required^[2]

Maps[edit | edit source]

Detailed maps are available for purchase from Cave Country Dive Shop and Extreme Exposure. Those two maps are reproduced in full here.

Map of the underwater cave system and sinks except Peacock III
Map of Peacock III

Access[edit | edit source]

Enter the park and pay the iron ranger. Per vehicle fees are $4. Sign in on the diver sign in sheet.

Upon entering the park you will be in the parking lot for Orange Grove. To get to Peacock 1-3, go to the rear of the lot and turn right. Follow the winding road through the woods until you arrive at the P1 parking lot.

Do[edit | edit source]

Peacock is one of the most popular dive sites in the area. Be mindful of other divers, especially when entering the water.

See[edit | edit source]

With multiple entrances, many traverses are possible. The "Grand Traverse" goes from Orange Grove to Challenge, then Olsen, ending at Peacock I. Plenty of other shorter and simpler traverses can be conducted, such as P1 to Olsen Sink. Interconnecting tunnels also provide ample opportunity for setting up circuits.

If diving the Olsen tunnel, keep an eye out for Pothole in the ceiling. You cannot exit here but it is possible to spot light entering the system.

Life[edit | edit source]

Cave-adapted crayfish may be found throughout the cave system
Catfish inhabit the cavern and cave
Alligators are known to frequent Peacock

Safety[edit | edit source]

To enter the cavern areas you must be cavern certified. To enter the cave you must be cave certified.

Hazards[edit | edit source]

Gators are known to inhabit the entire Peacock tract
Peacock II and III do not have steps and demand caution when entering and exiting, especially in backmount doubles

Gallery[edit | edit source]

View of Peacock spring basin
Steps leading to Peacock I
View of P2

Nearby[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

[:0-1] 1.0 ^1.1 https://extreme-exposure.com/peacock-springs/

[:1-2] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230624194235/https://www.cavediving.com/where/peacock/

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Divesite_infobox
-|coordinates=30°07'54.8"N 83°08'10.7"W
+|coordinates=30.1230879, -83.1330770
 |region=US Southeast
 |site_access_type=Shore
 |depth_range=20-175 ft
-|Type=Sinkhole, cavern, cave}}
+|type=Cave}}
+[[File:Wes Skiles Peacock Springs Peacock Spring 1.jpg|thumb|Wes_Skiles_Peacock_Springs_Peacock_Spring_1|Spring pool at Peacock Springs]]
-[[File:Image-Peacock Springs Entrance.jpg|thumb|Looking out from within the Peacock I cavern|alt=Looking out from within the Peacock I cavern]]
+Peacock Springs/[[Orange Grove]] is a submerged freshwater cave system connecting a collection of karst features (sinkholes and springs). It is located within [[wikipedia:Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park|Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park]] in north central Florida in the United States. The closest city is Live Oak, FL.<categorytree mode="pages">Category:Peacock Springs</categorytree>
-Peacock Springs is a submerged freshwater cave system connecting a collection of karst features (sinkholes and springs). It is located within [[wikipedia:Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park|Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park]] in north central Florida in the United States. The closest city is Live Oak, FL.
 ==Details==
 ===Location===
+Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is located a few miles east of Luraville, on 180th Street.<ref name=":0">https://extreme-exposure.com/peacock-springs/</ref>
+===Topography===
+Peacock Springs is a large interconnected underwater cave system with 9 known access points, some of which are suitable for open water and cavern diving.
+===Conditions===
+Conditions in the sinks and springs are variable. Temperature remains around 72F year round. Visibility is generally quite clear in Peacock I and II. Peacock III tends to have the milkier visibility characteristic of siphons, around 20-50ft<ref name=":0" />. Orange Grove conditions range from unlimited visibility to just a few feet in the basin. See individual pages for details.
+===Facilities===
+Peacock I/II/III and Orange Grove parking areas have:
-===Depth===
+* Gear benches
+* Picnic tables
+* Changing areas
+* Porta-potties
-Depths in the system typically do not exceed 70 ft. There are a few exceptions:
+There are steps leading to the water's edge at Peacock I. Peacock II and III have no steps.
-* Hendley's Castle drops to depths of around 200ft
+== Notes ==
-* Lower Orange Grove has a deepest point of around 175ft
+* Since Peacock is relatively shallow, it is one of the few caves in Florida where deco is usually not required<ref name=":1">https://web.archive.org/web/20230624194235/https://www.cavediving.com/where/peacock/
-* The tunnel to Peacock II is around 80ft<ref>https://www.cavediving.com/where/peacock/</ref>
+</ref>
-===Topography===
+=== Maps ===
-<gallery>
+Detailed maps are available for purchase from Cave Country Dive Shop and Extreme Exposure. Those two maps are reproduced in full here.<gallery>
 File:Peacock map.jpg|Map of the underwater cave system and sinks except Peacock III
 File:Peacock III map.png|Map of Peacock III
 </gallery>
+==Access==
-===Conditions===
+Enter the park and pay the iron ranger. Per vehicle fees are $4. Sign in on the diver sign in sheet.
-Conditions in the sinks and springs are variable. Temperature remains around 72F year round.
+Upon entering the park you will be in the parking lot for Orange Grove. To get to Peacock 1-3, go to the rear of the lot and turn right. Follow the winding road through the woods until you arrive at the P1 parking lot.
-===Facilities===
-There are gear benches, picnic tables and porta potties at each main spring.
-==Access==
-Orange Grove and Peacock I have lots of parking.
 ==Do==
+* Peacock is one of the most popular dive sites in the area. Be mindful of other divers, especially when entering the water.
-<!-- General recommendations on how to conduct the dive, as well as interesting things to do during it -->
 ==See==
-<!-- Notable things to see on the dive. Include pictures if you can! -->
+With multiple entrances, many traverses are possible. The "Grand Traverse" goes from Orange Grove to Challenge, then Olsen, ending at Peacock I. Plenty of other shorter and simpler traverses can be conducted, such as P1 to Olsen Sink. Interconnecting tunnels also provide ample opportunity for setting up circuits.
+If diving the Olsen tunnel, keep an eye out for Pothole in the ceiling. You cannot exit here but it is possible to spot light entering the system.
 ===Life===
-<!-- Description of life you may find at this site -->
+* Cave-adapted crayfish may be found throughout the cave system
+* Catfish inhabit the cavern and cave
+* Alligators are known to frequent Peacock
 ==Safety==
 To enter the cavern areas you must be cavern certified. To enter the cave you must be cave certified.
-Please respect these rules. They are for your own safety. There is nothing in the cave worth dying for!
 ===Hazards===
-<!-- Site specific hazards, entry hazards -->
+* Gators are known to inhabit the entire Peacock tract
+* Peacock II and III do not have steps and demand caution when entering and exiting, especially in backmount doubles
-===Equipment===
+== Gallery ==
+<gallery>
-<!-- What equipment beyond basic configuration is recommended -->
+File:Wes Skiles Peacock Springs Peacock Spring 1.jpg|View of Peacock spring basin
+File:FlPeacockSprings.jpg|Steps leading to Peacock I
+File:Peacock Springs SP spring II01.jpg|View of P2
+</gallery>
 ==Nearby==
-<!-- Include cross links to other nearby sites, or a link to a region -->
+* [[Cow Spring]]
+* [[Telford Spring]]
+* [[Bonnet Spring]]
+* [[Peacock I]]
+* [[Peacock II]]
+* [[Peacock III]]
+* [[Orange Grove]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 70: / Line 88: @@
 [[Category:Dive sites]]
-{{IsPartOf|Florida}}
+{{IsPartOf|Suwannee River Basin}}