Jacob’s Well – America’s Stunning-Yet-Deadly Diving Spot

Jacob 's Well , in Wimberley , Texas , is one of the most dangerous places on Earth . Named after the biblical references , which also claimed the lives of more than eight divers, but judging by the large number of thrill seekers who choose to socialize it , afraid not many people .

On the surface , looking at Jacob's Well as a harmless spring that feeds Cypress Creek . Mouth only four meters wide , and looks calm body of water , showing very few dangers that lurk within . Also has four chambers extending several feet below the surface . Owner Don Local dive shop make perfect pit puts it : " This is the horror side of it . " The first room is a straight drop of about 30 feet , after which it angles down to 55 feet. This room is getting enough sunlight , so it is understandable and populated with algae and wild life .

The second room is 80 feet deep , and contains the wrong chimney looks for a way out as well , but in fact various traps . Richard Patton , a student at Southwest Texas State University lost his life in the chimney in 1983 . A restricted opening leading from the second chamber to the third , which is a small room with no solid rock . Be careful not to dislodge the stones to navigate it successfully divers chambers .

The entrance to the fourth room is a tight passage. Very few divers have never seen it : They call it a ' virgin cave ' . It is said to have incredible limestone formations . Chamber under a layer of very fine chop . Kicking up can completely obscure the vision of divers. The deeper levels of the cave is so dangerous that even experienced divers have been able to make it out alive. The last known victim was great Wayne Wood Russell , an Austin mail carrier . He is a skilled diver in open water and on the deck Caves , but completely unprepared for cave diving .

Despite the risks, the better is always lured divers intto its depths. In the 1930s, the young man from Wimberley and San Marcos will attempt to explore the cave. They wore homemade diving suit made ​​to cut off the water heater to isinglass peepholes. Old auto tire pumps already forced through a rubber hose to the diver below. But they got the deepest is 25 feet.

Interestingly, there was also the time when Jacob is not dangerous at all. According to 79-year-old historian Dorothy Wimberley Kerbow, "I have a photo to 3 years old at Jacob's well in the family album. My dad would throw me well. You can not sink down because spring you would just bubble up with such force. "those are the times when it is impossible to get off the well. Local historians speculate that in the past century, the spring lather between 10 and 30 feet above the ground. Kerbow said he and his friends go down well in the 1950s, and jump into it without care. It is impossible to go more than two feet below the surface.

Well, a risk Jacob divers, is at risk itself. The spring completely dried up for the first time in history in the year 2000. David Baker, a local landowner who is donating his own property into its custody, said, "When the spring stopped flowing, it is a wake-up call for everyone. we do not want it to be Jacob's Cave.

That is also an inspiration to scientists, divers and artists. "Well Jacob is the essence of life, the creation of water every day for thousands of years," said Baker. "But it is also a great mystery, and that, too is a part of its legend. Some are frightened by that, and some are drawn here."


Sources: Visit Wimberley, Daily Mail