ichtucknee NEWMAN SMITH

[1969ivan1]

I saw the newer pics of Newman Smith in the Ichtucknee headspring and I almost started to cry . I discovered the Ichtucknee in 1997 and fell in love with her and try to snorkle or dive her every year. Diving is not really allowed however a friend of mine got my buddy Wayne and I special permission to dive the river. I used a 72 by usd along with a Mint Mistral that I have in the orig box. The dive took over 2 hours at depths not more than 8 feet at most parts. Wayne and I picked up a rubber raft full of old soda cans, masks, and sunglasses(part of the deal to get the permission to dive). We were so tired after the dive Wayne and I laid on the dock for an hour in the sun like lizards. I have a great pic of me with the mistral next to the NO DIVING allowed sign. When I find it I will submit it to Dan and Linda for the photo contributions. I will be headed down to the ichtucknee later in July to snorkle it perhaps somebody out there cares to meet up with me?
Rob
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[Gary]

I know what you mean about enjoying the Ichetucknee River. I used to snorkel the river all the time with my friends back in the late 70's. We used to leave Jacksonville at "O-dark thirty" in order to be the first ones at the gate. Back then there were only two parking lots, one at the headsprings and one at the SR-27 bridge. If you didn't get there early, the parking lot filled up and you had to park and walk. I've been there only a few times in the last couple of years and I think they ruined the park by adding the lower parking lot. Before they added it, if you got to the river early, you had the whole thing to yourselves. Nowadays you still have to get there early if you want to park at the headsprings, but you run into herds of people halfway down the river, UGH .

[1969ivan1]

Well, Gary I never got to dive it in the 70s, but I find that if u go to the river in the winter u can have it all to yourself. I am from up north, Cincinnati and 70 degrees air temp is warm to me as is that 72 degree water. The locals don't care for the cool days in the winter I guess. I never get enough of that river and from what locals have told me it has been cleaned up a lot since decades back when the head springs and the Blue Hole was full of tires and trash. The real emeny of the river is all of the tubers that discard all the trash. Unfortunately the Blue hole has been closed for at least the last 2 years. Keep looking for my photo that I am submitting to Dan and Linda once I find it!

[TENNESSEE DIVER]

SMITTY AND I DOVE THIS WHEN THERE WERE FEW WHO EVEN KNEW OF IT AS A DIVE SPOT. WAY BEFORE IT WAS EVER COVERED IN SKIN DIVER. I HAVE A BUNCH OF SLIDES OF THAT DIVE. WE LATER TOOK AN EXPLORER SCOUT TROOP ON A TRIP THERE. 18 TEEN AGE KIDS, WHO HAD A BALL. ONE OF THE GUYS HAS GROWN UP TO ALSO BECOME A SCOUT LEADER AND STILL DIVES, NEWMAN AND I TAUGHT HIM IN THE SCOUT CLASS. HE GAVE US BOTH CREDIT FOR HIS SUCESS WHEN HE WAS AWARED THE SILVER BEAVER AWARD IN SCOUTING.

[TENNESSEE DIVER]

DID NOT GET FINISHED---THIS WAS JUST SHORTLY BEFORE SMITTY HAD HIS FATAL HEART ATTACK ON 2/11/01, AND I LOST THE BEST FRIEND I EVER HAD, AND THE MAN I FELT WAS MY UNRELATED BROTHER. WE HAD DOVE TOGETHER FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND RAN A DIVING BUSINESS TOGETHER ALSO.
I HAVE NOT GOTTEN OVER THE LOSS--I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IF YOU HAVE ONE TRUE FRIEND IN YOUR LIFE COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY. I HAD THE FRIEND--RON MILLER

[nemrod]

Hello, I was certified in 68 but actually took the course in 1966 when I was 12 or 13. Two older divers (all of their 20s I guess) took me and my childhood buddy on a dive adventure in Fla. It was circa Summer of 67. We dived the Blue Hole, the headspring and the river using scuba gear. It was uncrowded and unspoiled as I remember. The Blue Hole is still one of my most favored memories. It took some effort to penetrate the current but once through the shaft it was easy sailing until again entering a more resticted tunnel at about 60ish feet. If I recall correctly there were three tunnels branching off from the main cavern below the vertical shaft. We dived the Blue Hole several times while camped in the area. Yeah--I know---we were not correctly equipped---look--I was a kid and did not know better and my older guardians like many back then did not either. There was plenty of light and the current quickly spit you back out so it was not really possible to get lost. I cannot remember if 60 feet was the max depth we reached or if it was 90 feet. We also dived the river several times.
For vintage historical fact, on this dive, ( my buddy and I were on a swim team and went like fish) we had virtually identical gear. We both had Calypso J regs with reserve rods. We both had black oval masks, Healthways I think from Montgomery Wards. We had USD backplate and a USD CO2 vest--yellow. We used Voit Viking fins. We had an orange webbed weight belt with Healthways stamped lead weights( I had one three pound weight) and wire buckle release. We both had 3/16 wet suits but only wore the top piece with "racing" swimsuit. We had no boots or gloves. We both carried a knife on our legs and had no snorkel. The wet suit was smooth skin out. The depth guage was a Voit and the watches I think were Bulova and they flooded repeatedly but kept running until we got to the ocean---that was the end of them--lol. The "older" fellows who took us (after much arguing with our parents), one was a teacher at my Catholic school, used USD Mistral double hose regs, no CO2 vest, full suits and had UDT Duckfeet fins, knife on legs and USD guages with Rolex watches. I remember this all so well only because it was my first dive adventure.
I have tried on several occasions to dive the Blue Hole since that time and have failed--it is apparently no longer allowed. N