Jacob's Well

A Dangerous Cave Dive in Wimberley, Texas

A few miles north of Wimberley, Texas, there is a remarkable ecological resource—a spring flowing from the Trinity Aquifer and forming part of the headwaters of Cypress Creek. Jacob's Well.

Below its inviting surface lies an extensive underwater cave system. Modern exploration has mapped approximately 6,000 feet of submerged passages, reaching a maximum depth of about 137 feet.

For years, Jacob's Well attracted curious scuba divers.

When I dove there in the late 1970s,

I was an experienced, certified scuba diver. I was accompanied by four other experienced divers, and we had the necessary scuba equipment for the dive. Each of us also carried two underwater spotlights. Once below the surface, we descended into total darkness with jagged limestone walls surrounding us. We followed a lightweight steel guideline leading downward into the cave.

We held tightly to that safety line, I can tell you!

Our spotlights illuminated the passage ahead as we descended. It was fascinating. It was exciting. And it was very dangerous.

Jacob's Well has claimed the lives of divers over the years. Today, recreational SCUBA diving there is prohibited; authorized, specially trained cave divers continue exploration and research of the system. I descended to approximately 110 feet before eventually making my way back up.

Later, safely on the surface with my diving buddies, we made a promise to one another:

“Never again!”

Scuba diving can be a wonderful sport when approached with proper training, equipment and respect for its risks. Enrolling in a certified scuba course before venturing underwater is simply smart.

Cave diving?

Well, that's another story! — Melton Carr

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