Indian Washtub
Location: Jackson County, Florida, United States
Though modest in overall length, the system features two distinct openings and requires technical entry procedures due to a significant restriction immediately inside the primary entrance.
The explored and mapped portion of the cave currently measures approximately 450 feet of passage.
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Indian Washtub Spring can be reached by kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from the Hunter Fish Camp boat launch in Marianna, Florida. Depending on water levels and current conditions, paddlers can access the spring by following Merritt’s Mill Pond north. During warmer months, be attentive to motorized traffic on the pond.
Look for the second dock among cypress trees and not attached to the bank. That is the Twin Cave dock. Indian Washtub is closer to the west bank near a private residential dock. The spring is located in the floor of the pond and can be easily identified by its square shaped opening. The route is generally suitable for recreational paddlers, though conditions may vary throughout the year.
Paddlers may encounter limestone formations, submerged vents, native wildlife, and the clear blue water commonly associated with Florida’s spring systems. The spring provides a unique opportunity to observe the connection between Florida’s surface waterways and the hidden groundwater network flowing beneath the landscape.
Geological Context
The system lies within the karst limestone underlying Merritt’s Mill Pond. Two openings are present: an upstream opening and a downstream opening.
The upstream opening provides diver access to the mapped passage. The downstream opening is considerably smaller and does not allow diver penetration. Its orientation and position suggest the possibility of hydrological connection to the nearby Hole in the Wall system, although no confirmed physical connection has been established.
Flow characteristics in the area are subtle compared to the major spring systems of the pond.
Structure & Layout
Entry into the explored portion of Indian Washtub is made through the upstream opening. Immediately inside, a significant restriction requires removal of one sidemount cylinder and pushing it ahead to gain access.
Beyond the restriction, the cave continues into a vertical fissure approximately sixty feet tall. At the bottom of the fissure, the cave opens into a modest passage. The passage remains relatively small in scale, with limited expansion areas.
The downstream opening is too small for diver entry but may represent a secondary vent or potential hydrological linkage.
Hydrological Characteristics
Flow within Indian Washtub is moderate relative to other pond systems. Because the entrance restriction narrows the passage significantly, current may concentrate at the opening depending on pond conditions. Interior flow remains manageable once beyond the initial restriction.
Exploration History
Indian Washtub was explored in the late 2000s by Marius Frei, who extended line approximately 250 feet from the opening.
In 2015, additional exploration identified a continuation passage beyond the previously known terminus. This discovery nearly doubled the mapped length of the cave to its current documented extent of approximately 450 feet.
These efforts clarified the layout of the upstream branch and confirmed the limited accessibility of the downstream opening.
Portions of this cave system were explored and surveyed during cave dives conducted by Rob Neto while documenting Florida’s underwater cave systems for the book The Hidden Rivers of Florida.
Cave Data
Indian Washtub is an advanced bottle off sidemount entry. It’s not quite as small as the opening to Devil’s Hole, but it requires pushing through and turning while still in the smaller part of the passage. There isn’t much room to maneuver once inside to get your cylinders back in place.
Once you’re situated, the cave continues down a narrow fissure that drops to 80 feet of depth. At the bottom, you’ll be in a small, silty room that continues ahead. There’s a line intersection a few feet in. Both passages are low and silty. The one to the right gets small enough that even the slowest movement will disturb the fine sediment on the floor and push it ahead so you will be penetrating in zero visibility for about thirty feet.
Current Status
Indian Washtub remains a compact but structurally distinct cave system within Merritt’s Mill Pond.
- Pond-floor dual openings
- Sidemount-only upstream entrance
- Approximately 450 feet of surveyed passage
- Potential but unconfirmed hydrological proximity to nearby systems
This system is discussed in The Hidden Rivers of Florida because of its importance to cave exploration and ground water research.
Learn about the bookFrequently Asked Questions
The spring is located near Twin Cave in Merritt’s Mill Pond in Marianna, Florida.
Yes. Launch at the Hunter Fish Camp boat launch and paddle about 1.75 miles upstream until you find the second dock nestled among cypress trees and not touching the bank. Indian Washtub is about 50 feet east of the west bank in the floor of Merritt’s Mill Pond.
The spring opening is about 7 feet below the surface of the water. The cave reaches a maximum depth of 80 feet.
While it hasn’t been confirmed, the proximity of Indian Washtub to one of the passages in Hole in the Wall suggests that the 2 systems may be connected.
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