That might not sound like a lot, but the same danger that draws divers to the sinkhole also keeps many more (perhaps more sensible) divers out. He took part in the expedition to find the bodies of the two drowned explorers from the tragedy in 1979. Thankfully for Adame, his dive training kicked in and he managed to remain calm and focused. They discovered a magical fountain of beautifully clear water, 12 feet in diameter, sometimes spouting four or five feet above the surface. So here's Jacobs Well in Wimberly Texas. They named it Jacob’s Well because of its Biblical magnificence. According to Heather Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, at least a dozen divers have died attempting to explore the cave system, which can be accessed about 100 feet down the sink hole. Dibble himself has witnessed exactly what happens when divers reach for that forbidden fruit. It might be an interesting tourist location, but they don't come to splash around near the safety of the surface. It's about 45 minutes from Austin. The well and cave system are fed by an artesian spring, which is confusing speak for "fancy water," that keeps the water at a perfect 68 degrees, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Such caves make karstic springs like the one at Jacob’s Well Natural Area rather interesting, albeit danger… Explaining why so many people have risked their lives at Jacob's Well, Dibble said, "It was the forbidden fruit, the allure of doing something dangerous." These divers want the opportunity to beat Jacob's Well's deadly reputation and reach the surface with a small piece of glory, or else die trying. ", In deeper caverns, tight spaces combined with gravel and silt flooring can make visibility a major issue, particularly if the divers aren't careful not to stir up the loose material. Alexander spoke to Don Dibble, a diver local to Hays County, who has assisted in searches for missing explorers in the cave system. Jacob's Well remains a mysterious wonder that continues to baffle scientists the world over, and is still believed to be sacred ground. Divers also sneak in. According to Hays County, Jacob's Well isn't really a well at all. Well, that and the metal grate that rests 40 feet into the hole. The second chamber has what's known as a "false chimney," which is basically a partial tunnel that looks like it goes to the surface but only goes to the last location of many divers' deaths: the end of the line. Jacob’s Well — one of the most dangerous diving spots in the world A natural wonder where many Texas come to literally chill during the scorching summer heat. Follow the latest news for Jacobs Well in Surrey, England, UK - Local news and information in your area. Or as Patrick Swayze's Bodhi put it in Point Break, "If you want the ultimate, you gotta be willing to pay the ultimate price." In Hays County, Texas (about an hour southwest of Austin) sits a popular natural swimming spot: Jacob’s Well. Outside the town of Sychar, “Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well” (John 4:6). According to reports, it has claimed the lives of nine (9) divers. With his adrenaline surging and his lungs screaming for oxygen Adame made the decision to leave the lost piece of equipment and try to surface with just one flipper. Jacob’s Well is what’s known as a karstic spring: one that’s found at the end of an underground cave system, making it a prime opening to enter these underwater caves. Jacob's well was the setting in John 4 for Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman. Neither man resurfaced. Enter your postcode to see news and information near you. Why was it important? It might be better to stay out of the water. But during the dive, he, too, almost fell victim to the well. The well is popular with divers who want to explore the caves. The well and cave system are fed by an artesian spring, which is confusing speak for "fancy water," that keeps the water at a perfect 68 degrees, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A pair of divers broke through the grate in 1980 and left a note saying, "You can't keep us out." About the Author Travis has been an entrepreneur since the mid-90′s, with a background centered around information technology and engineering. Eight, to be exact. Rescue divers, including Don Dibble, spent weeks attempting to recover their bodies, but were unable to traverse the treacherous passage that had kept the men trapped at the bottom of Jacob's Well. Beauty and escaping the Texas heat are not the only reasons divers and visitors from around the world come to visit Jacob’s Well. Jacob’s Well, then, is so dangerous that even professional divers are at risk in its caverns. It's hard to tell which direction you're facing in relation to the surface unless it's clearly in sight. (In all honesty, human beings' lack of gills doesn't help.) Jacobs Well ( John 4:5 John 4:6).This is one of the few sites in Palestine about which there is no dispute. The spring is located on the property of Jacob's Well Natural Area (JWNA), managed by the Hays County Parks Department. If the temptation of dangerous "forbidden fruit" is what draws people to this spot, what about the well is so hazardous that it claims the lives of even experienced divers? They want the risk that has claimed the lives of many fellow explorers. It was dug by Jacob, and hence its name, in the "parcel of ground" which he purchased from the sons of Hamor ( Genesis 33:19).It still exists, but although after copious rains it contains a little water, it is now usually quite dry. This natural spring has claimed the lives of many divers ... water—stat. The underwater cave system poses rare technical diving challenges that have claimed the lives of even the most thoroughly experienced divers. Divers need a special permit to get through it, and not many take on the challenge. Its cool waters have benefited many a hot and tired traveler for over a hundreds of years. It's also a dangerous … Jacob’s Well is a natural spring that goes down for 120 feet, gushing water from the Trinity Aquifer. They'd completely taken the grate apart. Jacob's Well in Wimberley, Texas is one of the most dangerous places to dive on Earth, having claimed the lives of more than eight divers. Adame was doing a free dive (I.E., diving without supplemental oxygen) and had descended to around 100 feet when one of his flippers came off, greatly reducing his mobility. But after it stopped flowing water in 2000, restrictions were made on human activity at Jacob’s Well to help preserve it. The limited capacity of tanks isn't a big deal when you can dive down to where you want to go and come straight up in the event of an emergency. He surfaced just as his body began to run out of oxygen and avoided becoming another casualty of Jacob's Well. However, when he made a subsequent dive to check on the barrier several months later the grate had been removed and a note left that read "You can't keep us out.". Jacob's Well Is a Dangerous Natural Wonder. It is a big deal, however, when you're lost inside a long, twisting, confusing underwater cave system. In the 1900’s, it would actually push water up into the air- as high as 6 feet! Description. The cave system below is extremely dangerous to explore which has led to several recreational SCUBA casualties in past history due to inexperience. They want the risk that has claimed the lives of many fellow explorers. According to the Houston Chronicle, at least 12 people have met their end in the spring waters of Jacob's Well. Things look bucolic on the surface, but if you dive deep into the sinkhole, you'll find an underwater cave system whose siren song has led multiple divers to their deaths. You had nothing to fall back on except your training. Oxygen tanks don't last forever. 8 or 9 – the exact figure is difficult to judge – people have perished in them as well. The location attracts all sorts of people because of its beauty and plentiful activities, from taking pictures of the big hole filled with water to swimming in the big hole filled with water. Jacob's Well in Texas Hill Country is a perennial karstic spring located on the bed of Cypress Creek in Wimberley. Sounds like a pretty pleasant place to spend a nice afternoon if you happen to find yourself in the middle of Texas. The well is located in a larger nature area that attracts fans of normal nature area things. As he later told Madalyn Mendoza of My San Antonio, "I thought of death and myself dying that day.". In a 2001 article on Visit Wimberley, author Louie Bond lays out the various difficulties of navigating the cave system. "Jacob's Well definitely has a national reputation of being one of the most dangerous places to dive." The site also has a reputation as one of the most deadly diving locations on the planet. Outdoor Craziness / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) / Wikipedia. We were rather relieved to get out. However, whatever the motive, swimming in Jacob’s Well can be dangerous. In a Houston Chronicle article about the incident it was reported that one of the divers who witnessed the two disappear into the chamber noted that the men didn't have backup lights or a safety line. Maupin, at least, was an experienced diver who had been at it since he was 12 and was already a certified dive instructor. It was almost midnight, but as the group set up their tents two of them, 20 year old Kent Maupin and 21 year old Mark Brashier, decided they wanted to squeeze in a quick dive before bed.