Fall in Love with Florida: A day on the Chassahowitzka River

[@backroadsgypsytraveler]

I love Florida for this very reason! All of the great Springs and Rivers!!! I grew up in Orlando and was always on the St Johns River or on both the east coast and the west coast almost every weekend!!!!

[@TheMegstone]

Beautiful! I love your music choice also...perfect! Thanks for such an amazing video of a magical place so close to home.

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Thank you!

[@tashatorrid]

This place is such a treasure. I spent a lot of time up there last summer. Nice video. Thanks!

[@curtiswhitwam1]

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrJimmyp39]

I was there this winter and took similar video diving in the caves. I must have sat my camera on the side of the truck when loading up and lost it along with the video. It is a spectacular place.

[@curtiswhitwam1]

It really is. Every time we go there, we have great stories to tell. Sorry you lost your camera!

[@canaanwhitman5556]

Wow!! great video, i really enjoyed it! the music was perfect too! God bless!

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Thank you so much!

[@nu50stv27]

Great video. Just visited yesterday. I'm pretty sure my wedding ring is at the bottom of the first cave you show.

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Oh no!

[@justynjonn]

The music is just as divine as this river!

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Thank you!

[@travelingwithrick]

I hope no one goes here. Keep it a secret. The more people aware of the nature coast of Florida unmatched beauty the more it will get overrun. Shhhhhhhhhh.

[@deepdiversfrequentflyers6667]

Traveling with Rick I wish everyone could really appreciate it by seeing it in person tho. It’s really the only way places like this will help stay protected. No one cares wat is lost if they have never experienced it for themselves.

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Truth

[@blazentoo4904]

Loved swimming through there when I was a kid use to camp there all the time

[@koof1776]

Gators, snakes common?

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Yes there are snakes and gators there but it’s easy to scope out the area prior to swimming. This particular spot gets crowded typically so usually gators will steer clear of the crowds.

[@rnesmith1959]

Superb...it doesn't get any better than this. ☺

[@curtiswhitwam1]

+Richard NeSmith That's for sure! One of our favorite spots.

[@hikewithmike4673]

I love the Chazz, it has been a long time since I have been there and it is a half an hour away! Shame on me!

[@curtiswhitwam1]

+Hike with Mike its beautiful!

[@snorekp25]

I’m here now in the camp sight figure I should look it up

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Have fun!

[@jeffgainey2397]

Im going to visit this weekend. I want to explore all of these awesome holes. Any recommendations?

[@lazloholyfeild]

hole explorer

[@curtiswhitwam1]

+Arron Geatches haha! Yep.

[@manglermedia9730]

Awesome videos. Magical.

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Thank you!

[@TrebleHook]

Those are Mangrove Snapper primarily a saltwater species able to tolerate brackish water. Surprised to see them hanging so close to the spring. I imagine it's the saltwater intrusion that will cap it off in the future. Too much future development already in the growth plans to prevent further degradation. Thanks for documenting so we can compare 10-20 years from now.

[@curtiswhitwam1]

+Treble Hook yep. There's definitely salt in the springs there. Such a shame to see it happen.

[@divebuddies1915]

yeah it's something to see both fresh and salt water species in the same environment. also saw javk crevelle and about 30 inch snook.

[@curtiswhitwam1]

+neo libe it's definitely saltwater intrusion at the Chaz as well as other springs around Florida. It is well documented that they are over pumping there which is causing this to happen. Check out Florida Wildlife Corridor's film "The Forgotten Coast" where they go into this.

[@Cheyla]

Such a cool place! I went yesterday!

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Yes it is!

[@absandoval1409]

Did you have to paddle further into seven sisters? We went there and didn’t see theses caves unless I just didn’t dive into the right ones, anyway great vid! Uploading a few videos of the Chaz real soon

[@curtiswhitwam1]

There's two kind of separate sections in Seven Sisters. The one you probably saw is the larger hole with just the one swim through comprised of one pretty big opening leading to a smaller opening. This one is at the "top" of the run. The other 5 holes are actually right there where you paddle in. Sometimes they are herder to see especially if it's crowded and silted up.

[@backroadsgypsytraveler]

Great video! Are you using a GoPro camera?

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Thank you! It's a Song Action Cam. Similar to a go pro.

[@Nitrox4me]

The Florida springs are some of the few places where you can drop to 120' while a friend, that doesn't scuba, can watch you from the surface

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Stu Rhodes it's incredible. Most people, even Floridians have no idea.

[@thiagoavelar2839]

that beautiful river, i want to go to know!! brazil here , say hi !

[@curtiswhitwam1]

+Thiago Avelar Obrigado!

[@thiagoavelar2839]

+Curtis Whitwam denada-your welcome

[@bi-ni-guatu928]

So Nestle is about to start selling this water.Wickedness.

[@curtiswhitwam1]

I know. We are fighting this. The Florida Springs Council is in full legal battle over this.

[@colo2824]

I live right in one of the houses right on the river

[@curtiswhitwam1]

That's awesome!

[@tycojewel7979]

Nice video of a great place!

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Thanks!

[@joylynnclark8847]

We are on our way now ... Im so hyped💘✔

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Excellent. Have fun!

[@thecrowshow6260]

Great video, nice edit👍

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Thanks!

[@eye-of-Ishtar]

I gotta go there!

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Just gorgeous. Take all day to explore all of the tributaries. It's wild Florida at its best.

[@expertlink2291]

salt water or fresh water??

[@curtiswhitwam1]

+Expert Link this is fresh water. It interesting you ask though because saltwater is intruding upstream into this spring system due to overpumping of the ground water.

[@travelingwithrick]

its an estuary so both.

[@rjg514]

Its both it leads out to saltwater

[@sophiasam28]

Anything on alligators ?? When I think of Florida I think of alligators

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Sophia A I've seen a couple of gators here piton the river but in general at the Chaz they aren't very common. Not sure why. Check out our Hillsborough River paddle vid. Lots of gators there!!

[@curtiswhitwam1]

Sophia A here's that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYnTYXl7maumoM0

[@jl4759]

Im pretty sure her ass ain’t tryna see one😂

[@cheyenne8204]

Actually ALOT of gators but they have this HUGE spot about an hour from where they are the gators don’t leave it and mind there own Business even if you go in it they don’t bother you

[@gotnnin4410]

Can u drink the water?

[@curtiswhitwam1]

This spring has a little salinity to it due to salt water encroachment. This encroachment happens there because of over pumping of the fresh water. This spring is also contaminated with bacteria. You “can” drink it but it should be filtered and treated first.

[@rjg514]

No you cant drink it. It has saltwater in it it leads out to gulf of Mexico

[@mizu919personal7]

That's really cool

[@curtiswhitwam1]

TheAquaticHub thank you!

[@airfluds2512]

hello