In October 2015 the team resumed exploration of the spring that had been previously pushed in 1999. Lots of line repair was needed in this system and weather shut it down before any further work could be accomplished. Dive times are now 6-7 hours in the chilly system.
On August 1, 2015, the OCDA partook in an ongoing exploration project in Lewis Cave of Ripley County, Missouri. The cave, one of the top 35 most biodiverse in Missouri, has a history of use by humans, but could only be accessed up to where the passage becomes fully submerged with water. Members Dirk Bennett and Ben Perkins led an initial exploration effort to cover over 4,000 feet in the cave, observing a part of the world that had never been seen by man before.
**See the full story covered by Wes Johnson of the Springfield News-Leader, here.
UPDATE: the second trip into the system on August 28, 2015 is covered here.
An impressive waterfall observed 4,000 feet back in the cave. Photo Credit: Dirk Bennett
Roubidoux Spring has line set and surveyed out to a distance of 11,256’. Depths vary from 265’ ending at a more modest 145′ depth. Ben and Dirk emerged at 12:30 am to an eager support team waiting to hear the good news while enjoying the frosty 22 degree weather. 12-08-2014