Divers can explore a maze of caverns.

A year or so ago the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission introduced hybrid bass into this river system and others nearby. Wickham said he never thought much about them until one day he was preparing to dive down to the bottom cavern when he paused at the sunken tree just over the 40-foot cavern and looked around. Near the cavern he saw three nice hybrids. He said they were stacked just to the left of the opening as though waiting for something. It was late afternoon and had he not been quiet and looking directly at the fish, he said he would have missed what happened.

One of the eels slithered out of the cavern, and was struck so quickly by the hybrid that Wickham would have missed it if he’d have blinked. The fish moved off and in a moment another eel appeared and was struck just as quickly by the second hybrid. When Wickham swam on, the third one was still waiting for his supper. Apparently it hasn’t taken these fish long to learn where their supper comes from. Old-timers around the springs swear that at certain times schools of hungry striped bass invade this cavern hunting eels. How would you like being on a night dive in there when those big babies came in to tear up the eel population?

Divers planning to investigate either of the caverns head for the deepest one first. The outflow water is powerful enough that I always have a tough time entering while carrying a camera and large strobe in my left hand. I can’t explain to myself, let alone to you, how I pull myself through that current with one hand, but I somehow do. The trick is to fight your way through the opening and then crab down the inside of the cavern lip out of the current. Once inside the cavern, you won’t feel the current.

The spring source is down and to your left under a log at about ten o’clock from the entrance. Water enters from a bottom crevice. The flow blows fine limestone chips up into the water in about a 3-foot-tall fountain of flakes. Depth here, depending on the level of the pool, is about 93 feet. Wear a hood or you will end up with those limestone particles layered to your scalp. If you are photographing someone near this source, angle your strobe so it doesn’t bounce back at you and make your picture look like one of those glass Christmas spheres you shake to make a blizzard. Also, don’t disturb the debris cone of limestone chips around the source or the whole room will soon look like that blizzard.

Deep cavern divers may find a few catfish resting on rock ledges here. Some ambient light filters in from the opening, but a good hand light with a backup reserve is highly recommended. There are no side tunnels and no way to get into trouble. Most divers exit from the lower cavern and make their way up to investigate the 40-foot cavern on their left when going up. Last July when I eased in there to see if I could find an eel willing to pose for a photograph, I saw a shy one that looked as big around as my arm and easily as long as it. Size and distance is magnified by a third. He still looked big. But quite camera shy as he folded his long length back under the wall. Up top on the roof of the cavern are silver mirrored pools of air, one of them large enough to stick your head into. You can try for some good mirror images here with your strobe camera.

One of the most enjoyable ways for divers to enjoy Morrison Springs is to snorkel its perimeter. You will see mirror images of cypress roots, tree trunks, knees, fallen branches and other intriguing things that harbor fish or turtles of all kinds. Interestingly, the fish and turtles are so used to seeing divers that they never panic. Patient photographers will get some great shots of bass hanging around some picturesque gnarled roots here.

Divers using a surface-supplied air unit such as a Brownie’s Third Lung, made in Fort Lauderdale, get to enjoy both worlds without the encumbrance of scuba gear. Their air comes from a hose attached to their belt. They can dive to 40-foot depths or search the shallow depths for hours on end if they wish. Air from the linking hose is supplied by a small compressor and motor unit floating in its own flotation collar on the surface. It provides two or even three divers with hosed air through demand regulators so that they can enjoy their diving by themselves or with other friends or family members. One tank of fuel will allow two or three divers to dive for hours. Great for a family wanting the thrill of shallow-water diving without the prerequisite certification training required of all scuba divers.

On shore Morrison has covered picnic areas and the air fill station rents tanks and other scuba gear. No camping sites are available at the springs. Such can be found at nearby Vortex Springs north of Highway 90. Nearby Ponce de Leon has three motels and a couple of restaurants. More motels and restaurants are in nearby towns a few miles away. Fishermen will find a public ramp a few miles downriver. Locals can direct you there.

FS