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going to manatee on friday morning, the website didnt have cave diving info and no one answers the phone. do i have to have a reservation to dive there? can i just show up with my buddy? we are both full cave. anything else i should know before i go? thanks
They won't take reservations, but do limit the number of teams.
You can just show up, but they only allow a limited number of dive teams per day per entrance to the system (I don't remember the number). I would guess that if you get there fairly early on Fri. that you will have no problem.
just show up. you'll need your c-card to leave with the ranger while you're diving.
Was there a few weeks ago. Cavern divers are pooled with the open water group, which is 30 something I think. And I believe they said they limit cave divers to 9 in the water? Was advised to go early, but I don't think you will have a problem for a friday, we went as cavern divers on a Saturday and maybe saw 1, or 2 at the max, teams the entire day.
I believe it's 8 teams in Catfish and a lesser number 4? in Friedman's. Check for ticks afterwards. As other's said it's first come/ first serve but probably not an issue on a Friday. You can try calling again, I've usually been able to talk to someone.
Have fun & dive safe,
John
I have been stopped from entering there before because of the limitQuote:
Originally Posted by Sam2000001
dont think you don't need to get there early
My buddy and I headed over to Manatee yesterday after a great day of diving Peacock on Saturday (I finally made it over to Olsen).
While my buddy had been in the basin at Catfish and the main spring run, neither of us had been in the cave system.
In response to the original posters questions (and any other divers new to Manatee), you have to check in with th park ranger upon entering the park. The ranger keeps you C-Card till you exit the park and gives you a group number (we were group 3 last Sunday - the first and only Cave Divers at the point). When you leave, you go back to the ranger station and let them know your group (names of individual divers if you all are not leaving at the same time) is leaving and they return you card.
Our plan was to enter at Catfish Hotel, go into the flow toward Sue's Sink and then exit back at Catfish (covered with some of the thickest duckweed matting I had ever seen). The good -the dive went as planned and we easily found the gold/main line. Once out of the cavern zone this cave got very dark with pretty iffy vis when compared to Peacock or Ginnie. On entry, we typically could not even seen across the wide cave opening as it was totally black ant the vis was limited due to lots of particulate in the water. We made it about 75% of the way to Sue's before we turned the dive. Coming out we stayed a bit higher in the water column and this helped a lot in getting a better perspective of the cave.
Now for the stupid diver activity of the trip. I was leading on the way out when we came upon two divers about 300' into the system. God was really shining on these two morons with their single ALU 80's, no back up regs/tanks and just a couple of yellow beam open water lights to guide them in the dark. Chris got them turned around and they exited most likely with no air to spare (they did not do a safety stop as they were out of the water before Chris and I even hit the cavern zone). Why would somebody pass by two signs that expound upon the dangers of cave diving without proper training is beyond me.
Upon surfacing at Catfish for an in water SI, I told Chris "that was one spooky cave". We have been told it really clears up after Sue's, but I am in no hurry to go back without a local guide or diver experienced with this system - we were certainly underwhelmed as we expected better visibility.
Chris has posted his reflections on our "interface" with the OW divers in the Cave zone in a separate post.
bring a scooter....