DUI is a Proud Sponsor of the WKPP - Woodville Karst Plain Project
Established in 1990, The WKPP is a non-profit 501c3 scientific research and exploration project.The mission of the WKPP is to explore, survey, connect and protect the flooded underwater cave systems of North Florida's Woodville Karst Plain. To this end, the WKPP promotes public awareness, education and scientific discovery through exploration and research support within these flooded underground cave systems. Through partnerships with state, federal and private landowners, the WKPP is uniquely positioned to facilitate scientific research and the gathering of valuable data. In turn, researchers, resource managers, policy makers and landowners can formulate necessary and responsible land use decisions to protect these unique and treasured resources for future generations.
Project Highlights
Officially Established: 1990
17 years as an official project, 22 years total
Total # current, volunteer team members: 75
Avg. # volunteer team members per event: 25
Investment
7,500+ dives since 1990
300,000+ hours since 1990
Amount of equipment moved per event: 15,000lbs
Longest exploration dive: 26.5 hours
Average exploration dive: 15 hours
Direct expenses per exploration dive: est. $10,000
Total direct expenses since 1990: est. $3 million
Equipment cost per exploration diver: est. $85,000
Equipment cost (total team): est. $1.5 million
Results
Total distance explored/mapped: 20+ miles
Maximum depth—325ft / Average depth—285ft
Largest tunnel diameter—100ft x 150ft
Smallest tunnel diameter—5ft x 5ft
Connected Leon Sinks and Wakulla Cave Systems—2007
Research
Groundwater tracing support—2003-07
Hydraulic meter installation & support—2003-07
Well installation support & documentation—2003-04
Cave Radio Location deployment & support—2003-07
Education and Outreach
Wakulla Springs Working Group Member—1992-2007
Wakulla Springs Earth Day exhibitor—1995-2007
Wakulla County Town Hall meeting—2004
Leon County Town Hall meeting—2004
Wakulla Springs Workshop—2005
WKPP Cave Diving Records
World Record— longest traverse between two openings into a
flooded cave system—Big Dismal Sink to Cheryl Sink
Traverse 1999—13,000ft
World Record – longest penetration into a flooded cave system –
23,810 ft. Wakulla Springs, June 23, 2007
World Record – longest penetration into a flooded cave system –
20,100 ft. Wakulla Springs, May 19, 2006
World Record—longest penetration into a flooded cave system-
19,000ft. Wakulla Springs, July, 2000.
Wakulla-Leon Sinks Cave System
Ranks #1 in the US—longest underwater cave system
Ranks #4 in the world—longest underwater cave system
Ranks #64 in the world—longest cave system wet or dry
Click the links below to learn more about the recent efforts, team procedures and a history of exploration within the Woodville Karst Plain of North Florida.
Woodville Karst Plain Project information sheet
www.gue.com
www.wkpp.org
