United States » Double Keyhole

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Rated 2.4/5 stars (326 ratings) Thanks for rating this cave system!

Overview Location & Specifics Conditions Resources Nearby Systems  
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Latitude: 28.41524
Longitude: -82.6753
Zone:
Coordinate System:
Maximum Depth: 230'
 Cave Diving
 Cavern Diving
 Open Water Diving
Permit
Date Submitter Visbility Remarks
1/11/2009 Walter Pickel 2' Eric and I were going to map the resurgence of Double Keyhole from the western entrance. Visibility would not support surveying so Eric and Brett relined the resurgence passage. Be aware that there are now 2 guidelines in the system.
1/30/2007 Eric Deister 10'-20' This weeks mid week dive took us to Double Keyhole, Walter and I arrived about 5:30 at the site to find out that the 4th of our group was missing a important piece of gear – his wing. Making a quick call to the nearest local dive shop, he was told that they wouldn’t rent or even sell him a new wing since they were going to close in a few minutes. So now were down to a 3 man team. So after loading our gear in the boat we were off…Very slowly, with 3 guys and gear we had a couple of inches of clearance till we would swamp the boat, making it across the channel, we go out and walked/pulled the boat through the marsh. Making it to the open water again we cross to the far side near the cave. Standing in waist deep water we hauled all the tanks, stages and o2 to the edge of the spring, Walter also got the fish out of the boat that jumped in. Being Walters first dive here he ran a line from the top of the spring to the main line ( which starts in open water and the bottom ) Maestro went first followed by Walter. Dropping down in nice 74 degree water I’m greeted by big “chunky” silt and a nice flow since we were diving it just after low tide. Vis was a good 20 feet for the most part, I’m sure Maestro had it better leading in. Making our way up the main line we dropped stages at the deep section jump and keep going. The plan was for us to get to the super room and tie off and check out the top. The last time Maestro and I were in there the vis was 60 and were able to find a couple of leads dropping off. After tying off at 145 feet we ascended up, Walter had to do a deco stop that wasn’t planned. While he did that, Maestro and I headed up to 40 feet to the fresh water lens up in the top. Going into the fresh water we hit a thermocline that was a20 degrees colder. The vis up in the fresh water was good but not great, maybe 50-70 feet. Going back down quickly to avoid the cold, Walter was coming up since he just finished his deco stop, and had to turn around ( sorry about that ). Going back out was nice since the slit had pretty much cleared out. Maestro checked out a couple of leads but decided not to do anything with them tonight. Deco was nothing special till we hit 20 feet, I took the passage that lead to the other spring about 200ft from Double Keyhole. Vis in there was nice, maybe 30 feet. At the half way point I met up with Maestro coming in. Between the two of us the tight passage between the spring and the halfway point now had zero vis…Making it back I found Walter and some how got him to do the traverse in the zero vis. The trip back to the trucks wasn’t too bad since the tide had come in and we were able to ride the whole way back to the shore. After dinner at IHOP, a nice drive home and a quick shower, I was in bed a little after 1am..
1/30/2007 Walter Pickel 10'-15' Viz was pretty consistant throughout the system at about 10'. Flow was positive and manageable. We dove midway between low and high tides with the tide ebbing.

We tied in at the bottom of the big room (135') and did an excursion to the top of the room (40'). Didn't make it to the top as the water was frigid. Overall a GREAT dive. As Brett says, "this is a caver's cave". If you are looking for great viz you won't find it here. However, it is an awesome cave that reminds me of both Wayne's World and Little Salt Spring.
4/2/2006 Eric Deister 10 feet Vis was about 10 feet. My dive buddy was doing surveying work as we went up the main line to all most the big deep room. You can tell no one has been diving there in awhile.
9/9/2005 Steve Straatsma 8-10' Access via canoe only, run is extremely shallow at low tide. Flow extremely high (Manatee-like), with highly particulate visibility. Dove during a rising tide, conditions improve slightly if you dive at high tide or slightly after. Short penetration to 92 ft, thumbed it on poor conditions.
Click here if you would like to contribute any information or resources for this system.
Description Type Date Author Remarks
 Profile Map 2009 Karst Underwater Research
 System Map Map 2009 Karst Underwater Research
 System Map #2 Map 2005 Gary Lemme
Sslect Search Radius:
System Depth Cave Cavern OW Last Report Distance (mi)
 Overview Information Available for Eagles Nest  Eagle's Nest 315 True False False 3/14/2024 10.4
   Lost 40 165 True False False 7/15/2023 11.6
 Overview Information Available for Hospital Hole  Hospital Hole 143 False True True 4/30/2023 8.6
 Overview Information Available for Wards Sink  Ward's Sink 198 True True True 9/30/2022 7
 Overview Information Available for Hudson Grotto  Hudson Grotto 110 False True True 10/30/2021 5.1
   Arch Sink 197 True True False 7/18/2021 5.9
   Bulldozer Sink 60 False True True 3/22/2020 8.7
   Palm Sink 197 True True True 10/15/2019 4.4
   Rock Sink False False True 3/24/2019 9.4
 Overview Information Available for Diepolder III  Diepolder III 300 True False False 5/27/2017 11.6
 Overview Information Available for Salt Spring  Salt Spring 330 True False False 12/13/2014 8.8
 Overview Information Available for Waynes World  Wayne's World 280 True False False 8/16/2013 3.4
 Overview Information Available for Twin Dees  Twin Dees 335 True False False 8/3/2013 8.9
   Isabella Spring 110 True False False 5/22/2013 1.2
 Overview Information Available for Weeki Wachee Spring  Weeki Wachee Spring 407 True False True 4/28/2012 9.4
 Overview Information Available for Diepolder II  Diepolder II 360 True False False 12/23/2010 11.4
   Gator Spring 192 True False False 12/6/2009 10.8
   Free Ride Cave 120 True False False 10/10/2009 1.2
 Overview Information Available for Cedar Island Springs  Cedar Island Springs False False False 9/19/2009 3.1
 Overview Information Available for Horseshoe Spring  Horseshoe Spring True True False 1/10/2009 1.5
 Overview Information Available for Little Salt Spring  Little Salt Spring 240 True False False 9/23/2008 9.7
   Heart Spring 270 True True False 8/3/2008 6.2
 Overview Information Available for Bobhill Springs  Bobhill Springs False False False 12/29/2007 2.5
 Overview Information Available for Jewfish Sink  Jewfish Sink 200 True False False 9/2/2007 2.3
   The Jewel 315 True True False 6/2/2006 0.5
 Overview Information Available for Mud Spring  Mud Spring 210 True True False 11/20/2005 9.6
 Overview Information Available for Beacon Woods - Round Sink  Beacon Woods - Round Sink 150 True True False 9/25/2005 5.7
 Overview Information Available for Beacon Woods - Nexxus  Beacon Woods - Nexxus 150 True False False 5.4
 Overview Information Available for Beacon Woods - Smokehouse Pond  Beacon Woods - Smokehouse Pond 150 True False False 4.7
 Overview Information Available for Hospital Spring  Hospital Spring 40 False True False 8.5
   Wolf Sink False False False 9.5
   Snake Eyes False False False 10.7
   Star Sun Spring 120 True False False 1.2
   Snook Spring 120 True False False 1.2
 Overview Information Available for Joes Sink  Joe's Sink 60 True False True 11.3
 Overview Information Available for Beacon Woods - Golfball  Beacon Woods - Golfball 150 True False False 4.8
   Whiskey Spring True False False 8.6
   Nemesis Sink 250 True True True 6.7
   Nursery Sink 214 True False False 10.8
 Overview Information Available for Beacon Woods - Stratamax  Beacon Woods - Stratamax 150 True False False 5
 Overview Information Available for Jenkins Creek  Jenkins Creek 50 True False False 7.8
 Overview Information Available for Marys Sink  Mary's Sink 58 True False True 11.4
 Overview Information Available for Beacon Woods - Briar Sink  Beacon Woods - Briar Sink 150 True False False 4.9
   Gar Spring True False False 8.5
   Cauldron Spring 85 True False False 9.1
   Brett's Toilet Bowl 40 True False False 9.1
   Willow Sink True False False 9.2
   Garden World Sink 250 True False False 1.5
   Coffee Sink False False False 6.2