Manatee Springs- Friedman
We put in at friedman today and headed downstream to the jump for the bypass and the sewer. We were the only group in the park and putting in so far upstream vis was quite nice in the trunk tunnel. Its only 300 ft or so down from friedmean to make the jump so we were there in no time. After installing a reel for a short jump we headed in. After what I thought was carefully studying the map I thought the line would run down the sewer with a jump to the left being the chalky bypass, but it was the opposite with the main line running through the bypass. We looked at the jump to the sewer and read the slate warning of brittle line and decided to head down the bypass tunnel. At this point vis had diminished significantly and I was not real impressed with the dive, but all was about to change. As we made our way around some turns and slopes the cave quickly began to improve with regards to vis and formations. Some of the exposed clay banks are as pretty as I have seen. Lots of white exposed to bounce your light around as well as ups and downs makes this a little hidden treasure of a dive. We turned the dive before completing the circuit as the other side is pretty small. Didn't want to be plowing. We made it with a little pulling back upstream to friedman and decoed out staring at a walmart tarp on the ceiling labeled HABI-TARP. What the hell is this thing for? All in all a great half a day diving. :clapper
