Crystal river

[mccoy]

I may be in crystal river for thanksgiving weekend. Are there any must see caves in the area? I'm basic cave and sidemount if that makes a difference.

[MichaelAngelo]

Good time to swim with the Manatee

[Slüdge]

Will they be in the river by then? Our shop ran a trip several years ago in December and it hadn't gotten cold yet, so they were still out in the gulf.

[FW]

King Springs is in Crystal river, but is mostly a cavern. Manatee Spring isn't far, and has everything from cavern to scootering.

[mccoy]

I'm sure they will want to check that out if they have come inland by then.

[mccoy]

King Springs is in Crystal river, but is mostly a cavern. Manatee Spring isn't far, and has everything from cavern to scootering.
Thanks FW!
I have found information online about a few caves being sidemount and smaller but Im not interested in that. Manatee springs sounds like a good option and maybe catch something farther north on the way into or out of town.

[FW]

Thanks FW!
I have found information online about a few caves being sidemount and smaller but Im not interested in that. Manatee springs sounds like a good option and maybe catch something farther north on the way into or out of town.
Like Jackson Blue? :-) There isn't a lot on the west side of the state that is easy to get into.

[Superlyte27]

There were manatee in the river last week. It's warmed up since then, but I expect they are still there

[mccoy]

Like Jackson Blue? :-) There isn't a lot on the west side of the state that is easy to get into.

Get into as in underwater or on land?

[FW]

Get into as in underwater or on land?
Some of both actually.

[mccoy]

Well, I was thinking Ginnie......thats not too far out of the way and I haven't been there yet.
I dove some Leon sinks a couple of weekends ago which required a little hike but well worth it!


Some of both actually.

[FW]

Well, I was thinking Ginnie......thats not too far out of the way and I haven't been there yet.
I dove some Leon sinks a couple of weekends ago which required a little hike but well worth it!

Ginnie (Devil's Eye) is certainally worth going a little out of your way. :-)

[cavemark]

Go to Bird's Underwater for the Manatee Swim, the manatee are coming back in. They find them all summer anyway, just in smaller numbers and sometimes crappy vis.

Manatee Springs at the Intro level won't be as much fun as some of the others, although it is definitely the closest - less than an hour:
Ginnie - 1.33 hr
Little River - 1.75 hr
Peacock - 2 hr
Orange Grove - 2 hr

That should keep you busy

[giles45shop]

Just an FYI, right now the flow in Manatee is very high and the visibility isn't great for your likely point of entry (Catfish). We were there 1.5 wks ago and the flow was really kicking.

May want to check conditions reports closer to T-day.

Contrary to some people's beliefs, there's nothing wrong w/ swimming Manatee, just realize at the Basic Level you won't get a lot of penetration with that kind of flow.

John

[mccoy]

So the flow is up at manatee and the vis is not too great.
We should be leaving town Saturday so I might just try to dive on Saturday. I will be headed north so most of the caves listed won't be out of the way too far.

[MichaelAngelo]

Go to Bird's Underwater for the Manatee Swim, the manatee are coming back in. They find them all summer anyway, just in smaller numbers and sometimes crappy vis.

Manatee Springs at the Intro level won't be as much fun as some of the others, although it is definitely the closest - less than an hour:
Ginnie - 1.33 hr
Little River - 1.75 hr
Peacock - 2 hr
Orange Grove - 2 hr
That should keep you busy

It has always taken me alittle longer then 1 1/2 hours to get to Birds frm my place (Chateau H2O) over 2 hours the couple of times I went to Bird's. I remember meeting the Dreher's at 4 am to be at Bird's by 6:30Am. At the time no direct Hwy to get there. But that was a number of years ago.

[cavemark]

It has always taken me alittle longer then 1 1/2 hours to get to Birds frm my place (Chateau H2O) over 2 hours the couple of times I went to Bird's. I remember meeting the Dreher's at 4 am to be at Bird's by 6:30Am. At the time no direct Hwy to get there. But that was a number of years ago.

About an hour and 20 -25 minutes. 47 South to 129 South then NW30th Ave South (to avoid Chiefland) to 19 South. As long as you don't get stuck behind a tractor that's all it should take. I made the trip twice in the past week.

[MichaelAngelo]

About an hour and 20 -25 minutes. 47 South to 129 South then NW30th Ave South (to avoid Chiefland) to 19 South. As long as you don't get stuck behind a tractor that's all it should take. I made the trip twice in the past week.
Like I said been a few years but then I drive slower

[mccoy]

We made the manatee trip with birds underwater. Due to the warm weather we were only able to see a few but they were playful.
Our last stop was at kings spring which all stirred up from some ow students but I was still able to free dive to around 20ft to check it out a little.
On my way back north I stopped to check out manatee spring which wasn't very clear but I wasn't planning on diving it anyway.
Ended up meeting some friends in Marianna to dive.