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Hello, newbie here.


17 replies to this topic

#1 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 11 November 2014 - 12:06 PM

Hello, Just stumbled on to the NANFA site, doing a search on freshwater creek snorkeling. I am really into snorkeling, exploring creeks, rivers, lakes, and Springs. I am an avid scuba diver and snorkeler. Love the underwater world, both salt and fresh, but my passion is freshwater aquatic ecology and conservation. I love to photograph the underwater world, the flora and fauna of a river, creek, spring is what I love to do in my spare time. Material things mean nothing to me, except for the gear I need to use to do what I do. Good to be here.

Edited by brannon, 11 November 2014 - 12:08 PM.


#2 mattknepley

mattknepley
  • NANFA Member
  • Smack-dab between the Savannah and the Saluda.

Posted 11 November 2014 - 01:41 PM

Howdy, Brannon!

You have some pretty good company here as regards the scuba, photography, and snorkeling scene. I'm sure you've already been finding your kindred spirits on here. Welcome aboard, look forward to hearing more from you.
Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."

#3 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 11 November 2014 - 01:56 PM

Hey Matt, thanks alot. Please feel free to talk, and also share your stories of diving and snorkeling also. I would love to hear from you and the others, about where you go, what you do, what you see, what equipment you use, etc....Just got back from Ponce De Leon Springs State park in Florida. Had an extensive snorkel/photo excursion in the spirng and spring run and creek. Stunning and beautiful. Hope to go to Crystal River late January.

#4 Isaac Szabo

Isaac Szabo
  • NANFA Member
  • Marble Falls, AR

Posted 12 November 2014 - 12:56 AM

Welcome Brannon. Sounds like you found the right place. We have a number of members who are into freshwater snorkeling/diving and taking underwater photos/videos. We also meet up and snorkel together from time to time, including at the annual conventions. Where are you located?

Ponce is one of my favorite springs in the panhandle. It usually has better diversity than the other nearby springs. What kinds of things did you see there? Crystal River in January should be an ideal time to snorkle with manatees. There's a neat mix of freshwater and saltwater fish there as well.

Feel free to share your underwater photos on the forum. I'm sure many here would enjoy seeing them.

#5 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 12 November 2014 - 09:07 AM

Hey, thank you for the kind words and welcome. Ponce is truly a GEM in the woods. Like you said, it does have a better diversity. I was amazed with the flora and fauna, and the sheer beauty topside and under the water. Used up a whole card in my camera, well almost. I know I spent almost 2 hours just noodling around the spring and up the spring run and sandy creek also is an interesting snorkel. Im in Mississippi, where we lack springs, except for this one lake about 2 hrs down the road, where I grew up snorkeling. Mississippi does lack alot of stuff for people like myself and alot of you on this forum. I love the diversity of Florida.

Oh yes, if you ever get a chance to go to Calfornia(NoCal) up around the Big Sur area, be sure to snorkel the Big Sur river. Its awesome....

Yes, cant wait for the Crystal River trip.

#6 Guest_don212_*

Guest_don212_*
  • Guests

Posted 12 November 2014 - 09:13 AM

if you come to citrus county make sure you drift dive the upper rainbow, all the dive shops run trips there, or you can run up to kp hole in dunnellon, and a boat captain named bill will drop you off about a mile upstream, crystal river has become a real mess except for 3 sisters spring which is the most popular manatee encounter area, they are also in homosassa which is also very crowded, and chasshowitzka, which is about 20 miles south , much less crowded , and a beautiful place to snorkel , send me a message before you come i might be able to show you around

#7 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 12 November 2014 - 09:15 AM

I love scuba, but I really dont do to much of that these days, unless its a spring or river, etc. I cant afford trips that cost any where from $2000.00(not including plane tickets) to $6000.00 or more. Way out of my budget. I just take little extended weekend trips mostly. Scuba is so expensive.... I mostly snorkel now. Its a much simplier life these days, Ha.

#8 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 12 November 2014 - 09:19 AM

Oh yes, the Rainbow River is gorgeous. I have dove it many times. Love it. I love the whole area. Been to Homosassa also.Havent been to the Chasshowitzka yet. Hey will do, thank you for the hospitality.

#9 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 12 November 2014 - 10:43 AM

Welcome Brannon... just to be the picky administrative guy... please put your general location (Mississippi and maybe a river drainage) in your profile... it will help people a lot. For instance, it you are in Missssssssswhatever, then I can tell you that you are not that far from some places to snorkel in North Alabama or North Georgia or Tennessee... I mean you could drive over for a weekend trip on the Conasauga next spring... you would really enjoy that.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#10 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 12 November 2014 - 11:18 AM

Yes, thats true. I do have Tennessee nearby, and Alabama,and Florida, Thank God. Ok, will do.....

#11 Guest_Kanus_*

Guest_Kanus_*
  • Guests

Posted 12 November 2014 - 11:17 PM

Welcome to the forum! I'm located in southwest Virginia and am a frequent snorkeler and photographer, both for work (nongame fisheries technician for our state wildlife agency) and recreationally on the weekends. Hope you stick around, join NANFA, and enjoy your stay with us!

#12 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 13 November 2014 - 08:58 AM

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. Yes, I do need to join NANFA dont I. I feel at home here.

#13 Isaac Szabo

Isaac Szabo
  • NANFA Member
  • Marble Falls, AR

Posted 13 November 2014 - 09:07 AM

What's the name of the spring-fed lake in MS? How's the clarity? I go through MS on my way to FL, but I have never known of any places to stop and snorkel there.

#14 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 13 November 2014 - 09:11 AM

Lake Waukaway, in Vossburg, MS. Its a beautiful spring fed lake. The water is clear, greenish clear, not crystal like in Florida, but still clear. Lots of fish, and underwater plants. Its beautiful. I grew up snorkeling here as a kid. It got me started in scuba and snorkeling and underwater photography. Fueled the fire so to speak. Got me interested in the freshwater underwater world.

#15 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 13 November 2014 - 09:13 AM

Mississippi does not have much in places clear enough to snorkel or dive, but we have a couple of spring fed lakes. We take what we can get I guess....Most of the time, Im on the road traveling to sites in Alabama, Florida, etc....

#16 Isaac Szabo

Isaac Szabo
  • NANFA Member
  • Marble Falls, AR

Posted 13 November 2014 - 09:50 AM

Thanks. I'm not sure there's public access. It seems to now be owned by a private resort.

#17 brannon67

brannon67
  • NANFA Guest
  • USA

Posted 13 November 2014 - 09:56 AM

It is now, buth they open up every 4th of July to the public. Although they are going to let me come photograph the underwater plants sometime soon, becasue Im doing a powepoint presentation for an Aquatic ecology class Im taking.....

#18 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
  • NANFA Member
  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 13 November 2014 - 04:38 PM

Welcome! I'm a huge diver too! I only do local freshwaters like quarries and lakes but I've started snorkeling in creeks recently as well (scuba gear won't fit underwater in creeks :) ).
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage



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