World Water Day & the Blue embrace

The chilly, yet welcome, embrace of Blue engulfed me; 

as I took the plunge, she cradled me in her arms. 

Without a wetsuit, the shock of the spring instantaneously awoke 

my sleepy mind, silencing stress and the morning symphony of birds. 

Bubbles, then reflective, blue silence, filled my eyes and ears 

as the underwater world painted the sky.

This reflective world is my escape; it is the place I go to relax, where I capture colors, feelings, and patterns in the invisible sky. The springs are my canvas and water is my obsession - what does water mean to you? Today, World Water Day, is the perfect time to take a break and share a few photos and musings on the subject of this seemingly ubiquitous, yet coveted, liquid gold - and encourage you to do the same.

One of the may things that fascinates me about water is that 97% of the liquid freshwater on our planet is found beneath our feet. Here in Florida, 92% of the population relies on this invisible water as their main source of drinking water, but because it's hidden in aquifers, it is often out of sight, out of mind. Do you ever wonder what it looks like in the aquifer? Here's a little glimpse:

Post by Jenny Adler.

Invisible water isn't just below ground - in fact, if all of the water vapor in the earth's atmosphere were in liquid form, it would cover the earth in about an inch of water. Anyway, these facts, stats, and thoughts are just a few of many water-related ideas that have been flowing through my mind over the past few weeks as I've been working on several stories that have to do with the aquifer and springs.

But I know that not everybody spends this much time obsessively thinking about water... So, one of my goals is to share views from underwater places that people may never get the chance to experience for themselves - and to share unique views from places people have visited... views that seem to bend reality and invite you to explore. In some small way, I hope these photos help people fall in love with our precious springs and become inspired to learn more, or perhaps decide to take the plunge and experience the underwater world for themselves.

Jacques Cousteau’s famous words “we protect what we love” are ringing in my head. If we can raise a generation that loves springs and cherishes our water and the creatures that live in it, we will have done something truly revolutionary and amazing... So don’t take water for granted - World Water Day should be every day - but at least for today, think about what water means to you and share it with others: inspire your friends and family, neighbors and coworkers, to better understand how important water is to them personally and our society as a whole.

Walking on water at Seven Sisters.

More water walking on the Ichetucknee.

As for recent adventures, Greg and I have been walking on water, exploring the Chaz and the Ichetucknee on our new inflatable standup paddle boards. I've been spending an equal amount of time in the caves (and much more time reading/on the computer/in classes) and am excited to share a cave diving story via a short video very soon.

Anyway, despite the alarming water headlines that have been dominating the news, from the opposite coast in California to right here in Florida, there is still a lot of beauty to cherish. Even if it is beauty in the breakdown. Realizing that there is still so much left that is worth protecting (and much more to explore!) gives us an even greater reason to seriously think about how our everyday actions affect our precious water. And of course the best place to reflect on these ideas is to dive in and experience the undeniable joy and connection we feel when we are embraced by blue...

Happy World Water Day! 

Guest blog post for UF PIE Center: Survey shows disconnect between water research, public

Post by Jennifer Adler Photography.

How to hide from the rain

The sky sounded hungry. 

A few half-hearted grumbles warned of thunder somewhere in the distance, but we were safe and ready to escape the rain. As if by magic, the dreary, grey sky gave way to blue, but the rain did not subside. Out of reach of the raindrops, I slowly submerged, feeling the first trickle of chilly spring water sneak through the zipper onto the back of my neck, sending chills down my spine.

The empty spring basin is reminiscent of a distant, watery planet in another galaxy. Bare limestone and fallen logs create a far away feeling as the sound of escaping bubbles fills my ears. In the empty silence between the each breath, I can barely make out the swishing sound of the raindrops in the dancing, shimmering sky overhead. Raindrops are plunging towards me, but they cannot reach me as my watery world wraps me up like a blanket.

I leave the dancing sky to enter the cavern, where the sky turns to limestone rock. Bubbles escaping to the surface are trapped in what appear to be upside down, reflective lakes. They create the illusion that the surface is not too far away. Which way is up?

#reflections in my favorite underwater world ✌️💙💧#Waterlust #bluemind #cavediving #cavedivergirl #underwater #aquifer #springaday #mermaidlife #Illusions #ikelite

A photo posted by Jenny Adler (@jmadler) on Jan 24, 2015 at 7:20pm PST

The dim light from the two openings to the cavern creates an evening ambiance. All of a sudden it feels like dusk, and there is just enough light to drift towards the back of the cavern with a few effortless fin kicks. I peer over the drop-off to see Harry gliding 30 feet below. He is a dark shadow hovering near the grate, moving small lights around to paint the once-black walls with vibrant shades of greens, blues, and yellows. There appear to be fireflies at the back of the cavern as he moves around the small lights to set up the shot. But with the flick of a switch, it’s no longer nighttime in the cavern – it’s as if the sun has just risen. The whole back wall is illuminated and the cavern comes alive.

We move the lights to another part of the cavern where the reflective pools on the ceiling act as mirrors. A back corner of the cavern that was hidden in the black abyss is now full of illusions and brilliant blues.

And as we turn off the lights and make our way towards the entrance, it once again appears to be the middle of the night. The driving rain can easily be mistaken for one of the most beautiful arrays of stars I have ever seen, twinkling in a moonlit sky.

But when we surface, the sky is again grey and although the sun has not set, it is invisible, along with the stars that glowed in the sky only moments ago.

Beacon of hope for our springs?

Photos from our dive: "To escape the rain..." by Jennifer Adler Photography

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This unforgettable afternoon of diving in the rain was absolutely gorgeous, but midway through writing this post, I shared a few of my photos on Ginnie Spring's Facebook page and found this historic photo. One of the biggest fears held by the people who experienced the springs in their former glory (and even people who can see some of the more pristine springs today) is that future generations will not understand or get to appreciate what a healthy spring is supposed to look like. (In fact, some people would argue it's already too late and that all springs have degraded). This idea is embraced in biology and ecology as "shifting baselines." These two photos, 44 years apart, will give you an idea of what I mean...

The entrance to the Ginnie Ballroom in 1971 - photo by Greg Fight. Ginnie Springs posted this on their Facebook page for "Flashback Friday" on 1/22/15.

...and 44 years later, the white box in the photo below, once filled with lush, green, native submerged aquatic vegetation, is a gorgeous blue void with no trace of the past:

The entrance to the Ginnie Ballroom in January 2015. The white box is the approximate location of the 1971 photo by Greg Fight. It's safe to say I didn't miss the vegetation by cropping my photo...
Is it too late to save our springs? And what is this saying about our groundwater (aka drinking water supply)?

Somewhere over the rainbow

It was the coldest boiling water I had ever felt. One hundred and forty degrees colder, to be exact. The water boiled like witches brew in a giant cauldron as I hovered overhead, confused by the sight of boiling juxtaposed with the water that surrounded me like an icy blue blanket.

A photo posted by Jenny Adler (@jmadler) on Nov 11, 2014 at 1:07pm PST

Can you guess where I am? I am dressed in a suit and feel as though I’m flying, yet I’m not in outer space. Here, sunfish can fly and sand ripples appear to reflect overhead, as the wind etches patterns in the sky. It feels as though I’m on another planet, lost in a deep, blue slumber.

Wind and sand created beautiful #textures above and below 💦 #Illusions #underwater #blackandwhite #reflections #rainbowsprings #springaday #relaxing

A photo posted by Jenny Adler (@jmadler) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:36am PST

The need for air pulls me to the surface, reminding me that I am not dreaming. I am in fact on earth, and despite how crazy it sounds, it would also be accurate to say that I’m somewhere over the Rainbow.

Over Rainbow Springs, that is.

But for an hour, I let reality blend with dreams. As they become one in the same, we soar with the shad and explore the 72-degree boiling water that animates the sandy bottom. Water re-emerges from its underground lair, perhaps to start its journey back towards the sea, while drops careen from above, joining the journey.

We are in the middle where the waters meet. We play in the aquarium-like world, and when the boiling water becomes too cold to bear, we hesitantly morph from mermaids to mere mortals.

#mermaid invasion ✌️💙💧 #happyplace #mermaidlife #springaday #splash #waterlust #rainbowsprings #Florida

A photo posted by Jenny Adler (@jmadler) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:40pm PST

Another Illusion

Thanks to David, I'm officially on Google maps! While my Illusions exhibit was on display at Santa Fe College last month, David worked his photo magic and made a 360 degree virtual tour of the exhibit that is now publicly viewable on Google.

Sneak peak of @divindave working some magic at the #Illusions exhibit - stay tuned!! So excited to see the final product @tridentglobalimaging 💙 And super excited that @thehammer49er could make it amidst his Olympic campaign world travels 🇺🇸 #Waterlust #art #flsprings #nikon

A photo posted by Jenny Adler (@jmadler) on Oct 10, 2014 at 4:57am PDT

So if you didn't get a chance to check it out in person, click the photo below to take a 'walk' around!

Also, David and his company Trident Global Imaging have some other amazing photospheres in the springs, including the natural well at Silver Glen and the swim area at Rainbow Spring state park. Check out his google page to explore his awesome work!

Spreading the springs love

November is the forgotten month - it does have Thanksgiving, but it's squished between Halloween and Christmas, and every year, the canned cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and cornbread mix display at the grocery store seems to shrink as it's encroached upon by stuffed Santas, Christmas lights, and candy canes. 

I shared this Christmas manatee last year after an awesome early-morning adventure with Bird's Underwater. November is "Manatee Awareness Month," so I'm reminding you with this baby Santa manatee. But don't be fooled (by this or the grocery store displays) - it's still November and Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet... there are still many springs adventures left before Christmas!

Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas and I'm definitely guilty of wishing away the end of November ... Christmasy things become acceptable on December 1st and classes end soon thereafter. But this year, November has been exciting and full of springs! The late fall and early winter months usually mark the beginning of our "spring season" (aka springs-hopping during the non-tourist season), and this November has included the added excitement of my springs photos being shared with the diving community via Scubaba's "Photographer of the Month" series. A huge thank you and shoutout to them and SeaLife Underwater Cameras for sponsoring the series... it has been so much fun to re-live the adventure that goes along with each photo as they share one photo per day through their social media outlets. You can find Scubaba on Facebook, Instagram, g+, and Twitter - check them out to book a dive vacation and/or see 13 more of my springs photos posted for the rest of the month. I hope that this helps, even if it's just a tiny bit, raise awareness about Florida's springs and bring these amazing and threatened ecosystems into people's minds (and hearts) :)

Check out Scubaba's blog for the full interview :)

Thank you so much for the kind words, Scubaba! And thank you for featuring the beautiful springs - I feel lucky to have such gorgeous playgrounds in my backyard. Get out and enjoy the springs, Floridians!!

Chills

Halloween is a time for ghosts, ghouls, scares, and screams, and although I'm easily frightened by guts and gore, the chills I had running down my spine the morning after Halloween were not from fright.

Hours after dozens of trick-or-treaters braved the chilly nighttime temperatures in their little costumes, the windows rattled and the wind whipped through the trees. Maybe the night was haunted, but a better guess is that chillier temperatures and a cold front are finally hitting north Florida. This is the time of year when us 'winter warriors' rise early from under the cozy covers and speed to the springs, only to find we have the entire parking lot to ourselves. When it's 47 and windy, apparently there is no competition for parking spots or a refreshing spring swim...

But winter is the perfect time to take a dip in the steaming water. Yesterday the water temperature was almost 30 degrees warmer than the air, so it's surprising more people don't flock to the springs during the cooler months. We've been waiting all year for this... springs season is just getting started.

Liquid light 💙 (as a side note, what you cannot tell from this photo is that it's 47 degrees F and windy... Lips are still purple 3 hours post swim... 110% worth it ❄️💧🐟) #BlueMind #LiquidLight #SpringsEternal #springaday #Waterlust #iphone #reflections #water

A photo posted by Jenny Adler (@jmadler) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:18am PDT

Bundled in jackets and sweatpants, we explored a bit above water first, fooling ourselves into thinking it would somehow warm up a few degrees before we submerged. We checked out Catfish Hotel and watched the duckweed slowly swirl at the surface of the sinkhole, creating mesmerizing patterns that we examined like cloud formations in the sky.

Thinking warm thoughts, we finally made the switch, trading cozy clothes for suits (wetsuits or swim suits, depending on who you're talking to in our group...). Touching our toes to the water, it was surprisingly warm compared to the air, but our already-goosbumped skin was not very happy about being wet. But the water was calling, so we took the plunge.

Algae and a lone sunfish shine in the morning sunlight.

The visibility in the spring has significantly decreased since I was here with Harry and a group of open water students 3 months ago. At that time, the spring had just re-emerged from a flood - tannic river water had covered the spring vent and entire basin and cut off sunlight for photosynthesis for long enough to kill off most of the benthic algae. The karst formations were, for a short while, free from flowing green and brown algae. But yesterday the carpet was back and as thick as ever, swirling in the strong flow of the vent below.

As I glided out the spring run, I drifted with long ribbons of algae. The green and brown colors took over, and to add to the eerie feeling, I swear I saw a lion - do you see the face??

Reflections form a ceiling overhead and rays of light illuminate the algae-filled basin and stairs.

It goes without saying that crystal clear water is gorgeous - and I will admit, it's still my favorite - for both aesthetic and ecosystem health-related reasons. But there is also something eerie and beautiful about water that has less-than-perfect visibility. Perhaps it was fitting for the Halloween spirit and also a little reminder that there is often beauty in the breakdown.

Sunlight beams down light spotlights as I gaze into the depths of the spring.

Bass loom in the algae-filled shadows in the shallows along the edges of the spring run.

Looking up or down?

Shivering on the inside and hands frozen to the camera, we made the last minute decision to sprint over to Catfish Hotel. By the time, we reached the sinkhole, the once-warmish water in our wetsuits had turned cold and the wind not-so-subtly reminded us of its presence... but I simply couldn't give up a chance to take photos in the magical, duckweed-covered sinkhole.

From the surface, it almost looks like a grassy field. But once you're under the green, you realize that it's so much more.

Fall in the springs.
Although it looks like a slimy algae from a distance, duckweed is actually a tiny flowering plant - it's not slimy at all! (Although it does get very easily caught in your hair, stuck on your wetsuit, etc.) It is a subfamily (Lemnoideae) of the aroid family (Araceae) - there are several different genera of duckweed found in Florida, but Lemna is one of the most common. A few different species can live together and can be difficult to tell apart - some species that look practically identical to native species are actually invasive in Florida. No matter what species is present, it creates amazing scenery from below the surface as islands of duckweed swirl and migrate at the surface.

Greg playing with his GoPro in the sunlight and duckweed-filled waters. 

Searching for the sky.

Taking the plunge.

Eyeing the exit - has the above water world disappeared?

Morning light.

So don't be afraid to venture beneath the surface - even if it appears to be covered in a thin layer of green. What lies beneath will surprise you and surpass all of your wildest dreams. As you lay cozy in bed on Saturday morning in north Florida, just remember what you now know lies nestled in the woods not far from your doorstep.

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If you're interested in a winter springs adventure, Go Native Adventures is hosting "Freedive SpringFest2014" at Troy Spring on December 6 - check out their page for details... I will be the event photographer and am excited to meet many new winter springs-hopping, freediving friends - hope to see you there!