On the left, I’ve projected a map of the conduits onto a grid of the local topography. By combining a 3-D model of the cave with a topographic grid, we can start to look for morphologic relationships.
The picture on the right shows a diver outfitted with the equipment necessary for a moderate penetration research dive. Woodville Karst Plain Divers and Global Underwater Explorer representatives are now using semi-closed rebreathers to increase their penetration ranges, mapping great expanses of several cave systems. Already these divers have extended Wakulla Springs well beyond distances previously considered possible and are currently mapping the cave nearly 18,000′ from the nearest air source in 300′ of water. These groups are also working with different sonar mapping devices to expand the accuracy of the suvey process and simplify the task of 3d modeling.
