Manatee Springs

Ginnie has been pretty busy this week. Still crystal blue. Some tannic water over ear, but not deeper than 15 feet or so (and mixed at that). Prob really need a traffic light at the ear this weekend though.

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Originally Posted by JCGoodwin

Manatee is still open to diving though is it not?
Rain down there, snow and ice up here!
I would think that Ginnie has a few divers there now days.
Spring breakers will only make it more active.

JCG

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Two different people have reported that the rangers said Manatee is closed to diving.

Just out of mild curiosity, what was the basis for closing Manatee? I mean, the Rangers don't dive those holes, so they don't know the condition of the system, and I have it on good authority that Freeman and Catfish (under the duckweed) were both clear today! Just wondering.
John

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Originally Posted by Shocky

Just out of mild curiosity, what was the basis for closing Manatee? I mean, the Rangers don't dive those holes, so they don't know the condition of the system, and I have it on good authority that Freeman and Catfish (under the duckweed) were both clear today! Just wondering.
John

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Reports state that it is starting to siphon slightly.

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Originally Posted by JamesK

Reports state that it is starting to siphon slightly.

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I wonder who made that report and was it valid?

I called the park today to make sure that diving was still open as I had plans to dive there this weekend and made a camping reservation. The ranger told me that the park was CLOSED to all diving and water events. I even asked if it was for cave divers also and he said ALL. I asked him for how long and he said at least Monday an but not sure as it is up to the STATE to close and open the parks. He said to call next week and find out before showing up because it was out of their hands. I asked why and he said he could not speculate as to why other then unsafe conditions.

I called about a different site today also and found out it was closed for Health reasons by the Dept of Health and sewer had backed up in the springs from the flooding. Per haps its something of that nature.

This is not a joke as some of us were joking bout not going to Ginnie so the place would be dead...
Feel free to call the park (352) 493-6072 if you need.

I wonder who made that report and was it valid?

Good point. I thought minimum vis was the main criteria. Consider Peacocks P3 with slight syphon and usual poor vis and yet open to cave diving.

Now this is starting to get interesting.
At what capacity does Ginnie start to limit diving?
GRRRRRRR!

JCG

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Originally Posted by aquadog196

I wonder who made that report and was it valid?

Good point. I thought minimum vis was the main criteria. Consider Peacocks P3 with slight syphon and usual poor vis and yet open to cave diving.

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That is very different. P3 is syphoning relatively clear water. Manatee would be syphoning black river water. A Friedman to Catfish traverse with no line to open water would be pretty scary if the black water was past where the upstream line starts in Catfish.

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Originally Posted by FW

That is very different. P3 is syphoning relatively clear water. Manatee would be syphoning black river water. A Friedman to Catfish traverse with no line to open water would be pretty scary if the black water was past where the upstream line starts in Catfish.

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Wholeheartedly agree...especially to the concept of "IF the black water was past where the upstream line starts in Catfish."
Can't help but wonder if this was indeed the case and how the rangers were made aware of it.