Cherokee
Sink Project
The Florida State University Academic
Diving Program, “Leadership Training Program” recently conducted a weekend search and recovery training session
with a dual purpose. One focus of the event was providing training for the staff and students of the Leadership training program.
The other was providing a necessary service to the Florida D.E.P., Wakulla Spring State
Park management staff, and the citizens of Florida
through identification and removal of trash and debris from the Cherokee Sink recreation area.
The director of the Leadership program
and also a veteran SCUBA instructor Jeff Bauer initiated the event last year with an eye towards annual training and long-term
maintenance of the area. Jeff also organized and directed participants in this year’s event. Twelve members of the program
including the staff and director of the Academic Diving Program participated in the event.
Cherokee sink is one of Florida’s numerous fresh water springs and sinks. It is located
in Wakulla County, adjacent to the counties
namesake Wakulla Spring, and included in the property of Edward
Ball Wakulla Springs
State Park. The sink emerges from the surrounding foliage as a nearly
circular, beautifully colored, jade green pool. The sides rise ominously all the way around the sink and can be anywhere from
three to thirty feet of vertical rock above the water. For generations locals have followed the footpaths and trails to the
waters edge to jump, dive, and swing from the surrounding trees and cliffs into the water. The depth increases rapidly from
the waters edge and most places do not even offer a foot hold before dropping to 40 feet in depth. The deepest area of the
sink reaches to 80 feet. The depths of the sink offer little in the way of visibility with the average being about 6 feet
near the bottom and dropping rapidly to zero as divers began the process of identifying debris. An extensive layer of silt
blankets the entire bottom of the sink. Shallower depths offered quite a different picture as large schools of minnows, brim
and small bass were plentiful and the water was significantly warmer where exposed to the sun. The depths of the sink offered
glimpses of life as well. Large fresh water eels could be seen moving in and out of the rocky edges and on occasion stirred
from the bottom layer of silt by a passing diver only to quickly fade into the fog of darkness and particulate.
The volunteers arrived at the sink
mid-morning and began preparations for the initial site survey and marking of debris. In accordance with ADP standard operating
procedures surface oxygen, first aid equipment, and a safety diver were positioned at the waters edge. An additional safety
measure used to aid in the control of separate dive teams as well as recovery of divers in the event of an emergency is a
diver recall system or hydro-phone allowing shore personnel to verbally relay information to all divers.
Six dive teams were deployed around
the sink each with an assigned area of responsibility to begin their site survey and obstacle marking. Divers immediately
identified several of the obstacles including an overturned automobile, a dirt bike, a fiberglass boat hull, and a tombstone
most likely stolen from an adjacent cemetery and discarded in the sink. All objects were marked with location, depth, description,
and weight estimations recorded and returned to the shore supervisor for assessment and analysis. Limited visibility and increasing
suspended particulate in the water combined to make photographing the objects ineffective. A grave markers position and description
was recorded for later use in a coordinated effort between family, park staff, and divers to recover and preserve the artifact.
The stone was left undisturbed by the divers and was unfortunately in a position that offered no view of the inscription.
Several of the items identified
were deemed outside the scope of recreational diving techniques and may be recovered at a later time if necessary utilizing
commercial diving equipment and procedures. The items selected for removal were identified and each dive team assigned specific
duties and responsibilities. One team at a time was deployed to recover each object. Teams used small lift bags and rigging
techniques learned in class to recover all the objects identified for removal. Recovery operations began mid-day and were
concluded by 3:00 p.m.
Recovered items included the following,
a 1982 Honda 125 dirt bike, a home stereo system, a large toolbox, a bicycle, assorted metal debris, a newspaper box, a metal
bench, and several lawn chairs. Additional volunteers collected various cans, bottle, and paint containers from the site.
The items recovered were recorded and loaded into park service vehicles for disposal.
The FSU ADP Leadership program allows
enrolled students who are already qualified divers the opportunity to receive advanced training and certification leading
ultimately to certification as a advanced open water SCUBA instructor. The program through volunteer efforts and the support
of the FSU ADP staff, facilities, and equipment is able to offer the advanced training to candidates at no cost other than
the registration fee the certifying agency charges from $12 to $25 for each card issued.
For more information on the ADP
or the Leadership program please visit www.adp.fsu.edu
Jeffrey M. Lane
Diving Technologist
Florida State University
