Bathtub Spring Cave System

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Bathtub Spring

Bathtub Spring is on private property on the north side of the Suwannee River downstream of Telford, Peacock and Cow springs. This cave system is sidemount only! Special permission from the owner of the property has to be obtained to dive this site. Several years ago, 2 boys entered the cave through Bathtub sink and dove upstream beyond a major restriction. Their friends remaining on the surface expected the boys to exit from the spring opening, which is only 100ft downstream from the sink that the boys entered. However, the boys went far enough from the sink opening that they were unable to exit the cave before they ran out of air. They were not certified cave divers and they were sharing a single tank between them. Although the depths are in the 20ft range, with their panic in not being able to fit back through the restriction, they both died.

Bathtub Spring Basin

Water levels were low this past summer at Bathtub Spring

Bathtub Slough

View of the slough running south
to the Suwannee River

Cave Opening

Harvey had to enter feet first facing
away from the opening. Entry is difficult
due to the spring basin being low. The
usual water level is several feet higher
above the opening making for a much easier
entrance to the cave.

Spring Basin

The rock on the lower right side of the
photo is attached to the roots of the oak
tree. As the tree has grown, the large
rock has been lifted off of the ground.

Northern View of the Spring

The cave opening is in the center of the
rocks. There appears to be another opening
to the left of the center rock, but it is
too small for a diver to squeeze through.
The rock that is attached to the tree
can be seen in the upper right corner.