Karst Divers Find Route Under Every Home in Spring Hill
The Underwater Karst Research team has discovered a route within the Weeki Wachee watershed underwater cave system that allows them to go under every home in Spring Hill. It only took them three weeks underwater to map out the entire area. After mapping, it only took them two weeks to decompress.
Lead researcher Jake Coosto said that there was a section around Landover Boulevard that they did not think they would be able to get to, but they found a little hole that led to a new part of the cave system.
Although Jake expressed concern about the rate of development. “It seems they are putting up new houses everyday. It takes us a while to recover and map out our next dive. We are constantly playing catch up,” said Coosto.
“We already have a dozen more homes to add to the route and we surfaced just two days ago.”
In addition to mapping out the caves under houses, he also likes to see how close he can get to the roads. He found a cave that was only 20 feet below US 19. “You can practically feel the vibrations of the cars that drive over you,” he explained.
Jake said his next project is to trace the water back to the Appalachian water shed. He said it will only take him six months to find the source of the water. Although after that long underwater he will have to decompress for a year before surfacing.
