Dispersion of heavy particles from the core of a turbulent vortex with nonzero axial flow is investigated using an axisymmetric computational model, in which the coherent turbulent structures are modeled as periodic vortex rings wrapped around a columnar vortex. Two regimes of particle dispersion are distinguished, which are mapped in the space of two dimensionless parameters; the ratioL/Rof vortex ring spacing to ring radius and the ratio&Ggr;R/&Ggr;Cof ring strength to columnar vortex strength. In one regime, the outward particle drift is arrested by the ring vortices and the particles become trapped on a single wavy surface enclosing the columnar vortex core. In the other regime, the particles continue to move radially past the vortex rings and the particle dispersion is enhanced by the ring-induced velocity. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.