Peacock I: Difference between revisions

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== Cave ==
== Cave ==
Adjacent to the central parking zone of the park, you'll find Peacock I, II and III. The main attraction for divers, Peacock I, features two interconnected tunnels under the wooden staircase at the water's entrance, forming a spacious cavern. The path to Pothole springs is straight underneath these stairs. On the cavern's extreme right, a narrow passage heads in the direction of Peacock II, though it's impassable for divers. Venturing left from the cavern, over a field of scattered debris, leads to a pathway diverging towards the Peanut tunnel, located to the right after a 300-foot swim from the surface. This section is shallow, ranging from 15 to 30 feet deep, before expanding into a larger, collapsed chamber. Depths here fluctuate between 30 to 70 feet. On the Peanut route, 1200 feet in, a left-hand side detour provides access to the Water Hole exit. Continue 200 feet beyond this detour to find the crossover passage on your right, creating a round trip back to Peacock I. A further 400 feet along, there's a detour on the left, 100 feet away from the main path, leading to another spring source for the system. The Peanut tunnel's course ends 200 feet after this spring source, just beyond the Peanut restriction area.<ref name=":0" />
Adjacent to the central parking zone of the park, you'll find Peacock I, II and III. The main attraction for divers, Peacock I, features two interconnected tunnels under the wooden staircase at the water's entrance, forming a spacious cavern. The path to Pothole springs is straight underneath these stairs. On the cavern's extreme right, a narrow passage heads in the direction of Peacock II, though it's impassable for divers. Venturing left from the cavern, over a field of scattered debris, leads to a pathway diverging towards the Peanut tunnel, located to the right after a 300-foot swim from the surface. This section is shallow, ranging from 15 to 30 feet deep, before expanding into a larger, collapsed chamber. Depths here fluctuate between 30 to 70 feet. On the Peanut route, 1200 feet in, a left-hand side detour provides access to the Water Hole exit. Continue 200 feet beyond this detour to find the crossover passage on your right, creating a round trip back to Peacock I. A further 400 feet along, there's a detour on the left, 100 feet away from the main path, leading to another spring source for the system. The Peanut tunnel's course ends 200 feet after this spring source, just beyond the Peanut restriction area.<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable"
| colspan="99" |'''Peacock Springs Survey Project 1990'''''Distance Measurements''
|-
|'''Point A'''
|'''Point B'''
|'''Distance'''
|'''Type'''
|-
|Peacock I
|Pothole
|458'
|One Way
|-
|Pothole
|Olsen
|1,006'
|One Way
|-
|Olsen
|Challenge
|1,434'
|One Way
|-
|Challenge
|Orange Grove
|1,773'
|One Way
|-
|Peacock I
|Breakdown Room
|539'
|One Way
|-
|Peacock I
|Peacock I
|2,637'
|Circuit ''(via Crossover)''
|-
|Peacock I
|Challenge
|2,650'
|One Way ''(via Peanut)''
|-
|Orange Grove
|Peacock I
|4,423'
|Grand Tour ''(via Peanut)''
|-
|Orange Grove
|Peacock I
|4,671'
|Grand Tour ''(via Olsen)''
|}


=== Notes ===
=== Notes ===

Revision as of 20:20, 2 December 2023

Site Info
Type {{{type}}}
Coordinates "N83°08'10.7"W 30°07'54.8"N 83°08'10.7"W
Region US Southeast
Access via Shore
Depth range 20-175 ft
Loading map...


[[Category:{{{type}}}]]


Looking out from within the Peacock I cavern
Looking out from within the Peacock I cavern

Peacock I is a freshwater spring located in Peacock Springs. Its spring basin is a beautiful site for open water and cavern diving. It forms one of the major access points to the Peacock Springs/Orange Grove cave system.

Details

Location

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

Depth

The spring basin is deepest near the cavern entrance at around 40ft.

Depths in the cavern are around 60ft. For cave depths, refer to the system maps.

Topography

Conditions

Conditions in the spring is variable. Temperature remains around 72F year round. Visibility is generally quite clear in Peacock I.

Facilities

Peacock I, II and III share a parking area which is well equipped with facilities including:

  • Gear benches
  • Picnic tables
  • Changing areas
  • Porta-potties

There are steps leading to the water's edge at Peacock I.

Cave

Adjacent to the central parking zone of the park, you'll find Peacock I, II and III. The main attraction for divers, Peacock I, features two interconnected tunnels under the wooden staircase at the water's entrance, forming a spacious cavern. The path to Pothole springs is straight underneath these stairs. On the cavern's extreme right, a narrow passage heads in the direction of Peacock II, though it's impassable for divers. Venturing left from the cavern, over a field of scattered debris, leads to a pathway diverging towards the Peanut tunnel, located to the right after a 300-foot swim from the surface. This section is shallow, ranging from 15 to 30 feet deep, before expanding into a larger, collapsed chamber. Depths here fluctuate between 30 to 70 feet. On the Peanut route, 1200 feet in, a left-hand side detour provides access to the Water Hole exit. Continue 200 feet beyond this detour to find the crossover passage on your right, creating a round trip back to Peacock I. A further 400 feet along, there's a detour on the left, 100 feet away from the main path, leading to another spring source for the system. The Peanut tunnel's course ends 200 feet after this spring source, just beyond the Peanut restriction area.[1]

Peacock Springs Survey Project 1990Distance Measurements
Point A Point B Distance Type
Peacock I Pothole 458' One Way
Pothole Olsen 1,006' One Way
Olsen Challenge 1,434' One Way
Challenge Orange Grove 1,773' One Way
Peacock I Breakdown Room 539' One Way
Peacock I Peacock I 2,637' Circuit (via Crossover)
Peacock I Challenge 2,650' One Way (via Peanut)
Orange Grove Peacock I 4,423' Grand Tour (via Peanut)
Orange Grove Peacock I 4,671' Grand Tour (via Olsen)

Notes

  • Peacock I is relatively shallow; it is one of the few caves in Florida where deco is usually not required[2]

Maps

Detailed maps are available for purchase from Cave Country Dive Shop and Extreme Exposure.

Notes

Access

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 parking lot.

Do

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

See

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

  • 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.

Hazards

  • Gators are known to inhabit the entire Peacock tract

Gallery

Nearby

References