Ryan Despain

A Message from the GSEP Project Director

It has been brought to the attention of the GSEP directors that the subject of diving at Goodenough Springs has become a topic of discussion on one or more of the diving forums. As the Director of the Goodenough Springs Exploration Project I would like to outline our position with regards to public diving at the site.

First of all the GSEP supports the right of qualified divers to visit and dive at Goodenough Springs, but we assume no responsibility for the actions of such divers. The information we provide on our website (www.goodenoughsprings.org) or through private communication is provided only as a public service and is not to be construed as any sort of “guidance”. You assume all risk for your activities there.

The dive site lies within the boundaries of a federally owned recreation area and falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the United States Government. The US Park Service is known for using a “heavy hand” in situations where they feel the public is at elevated risk. In fact, they have already enacted and currently enforce a legal prohibition on diving at the Rough Canyon Dam site due to a singular diving accident there.

The Goodenough Springs Exploration Project is a voluntary and non-profit research and exploration effort that is entering its 22nd year of continual operation. Since the installation of the first permanent mooring system in 2000 we have collectively spent a substantial amount of money in our efforts to protect, explore, and study this distinctive resource. This is an active and ongoing project, and any effort to usurp our work will be met with strong opposition. The current mooring exists and the site is only accessible due to the hard work and expenditures noted above. While anyone is welcome to dive at Goodenough Springs we respectfully request that they do not disturb anything in the cave nor make attempts at extending any previously explored passage.

Potential divers should note that this cave system requires special techniques and qualifications beyond being Full-Cave certified by a recognized training agency. Due to the extreme normal depths of the system, divers entering into the cave without the use of Trimix breathing mixtures are in violation of their certification parameters. Additionally, we do not believe that Full-Cave and Trimix certifications alone qualify divers to dive in the extreme environment they may encounter. It is not the responsibility of the GSEP to monitor nor police divers at the site, but we fully support safe diving practices as outlined by the NSS-CDS and the NACD.

It is not within the scope of the GSEP to publish any advice or guidance regarding diving at Goodenough Springs but feel free to contact us at gsep@goodenoughsprings.org with any questions or concerns.

Best regards,

Chuck Noe
Project Director, Goodenough Springs Exploration Project

 

https://goodenoughsprings.org/gsep-wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/GE-Springs-dive-logs-July-1996.pdf

A Note about the use of the word "Springs"

Traditionally, most rock-sourced natural flowing water have been called "springs", with an "s" on the end.  Consequently, Goodenough Springs is also addressed that way.  However, at the current time, there is only one outlet that we know about, so, technically, Goodenough is a single spring.  Prior to inundation, Goodenough may have sported more than one outlet -- and it certainly would have been easier to spot amongst dry scrub, rock and dirt -- but even the historical photos appear to show only a single emergence.

The book "Springs of Texas" by Gunnar Brune states, "The Goodenough Springs, also called Hinojosa Springs, are now submerged by Amistad Reservoir on the Rio Grande west of Del Rio in Val Verde County (at 29°32' N, 101°15' W). Before 1968, when they were inundated by Amistad, they were the third largest group of springs in Texas, with an average annual flow of 3,900 liters per second. In the early 1900s the springs powered a waterwheel used to raise irrigation water to the top of the adjacent high bluff. The springs rise from limestone under artesian pressure but are now on the northeast side of the lake at a point normally beneath forty-six meters of water; this submergence has considerably reduced the springs' flow. In winter, when the springwater is warmer than the lake water, it rises to the surface and produces a smooth area."

(Reference: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/GG/rpg2.html)

Chuck Noe, GSEP director, states, ""throughout the 7+ years of extensive exploration by GSEP members, no outflow other than the primary spring tunnel has been detected in this system. While there is some evidence of past substrate dissolution, there is no longer any detectable flow in these areas".

So although Goodenough is most certainly a singular spring, for the sake of tradition and in deference to Gunnar Brune's use, the term "springs" will be used throughout this website.