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I learned this past week that in order to be able to enter Manatee from Friedman sink, you have to go one time with someone who has dove that sink before. Then you're able to take others there. Just curious - can someone explain this reasoning and purpose?
I understand doing that at some "special" systems, but this one seems strange to me.
Probably has something to do with the entrance occasionally being zero visibility and pretty snug until you pop into the cave.Quote:
Originally Posted by chilldive
I was told a few years ago that you had to swim up to it from Catfish as well as go with someone that has entered there before. (And be full cave of course.)
I remember my first time going down that small entrance with the visibility being almost nil and then all of a sudden seeing the cave below you. What a great feeling and I still enjoy it!
Also, on a historical note -- Sheck found the remains of an old Spanish water jug there dating to the 1500s I believe. Maybe it was left there as part of Desoto’s trek north looking for gold but I always think about that when I dive there.
I would guess that it is because the entrance is more advanced than Catfish and they feel more comfortable if someone who has dived it before is involved.
Why did they stop at Friedman's to fill water jugs? Why not just go down to Manatee's headspring and get water from the bathhouse? Concession stand may have been open too. Not sure the concession stand attendee's would have accepted peseta's though. . . We are talking about upper-middle Florida.Quote:
Originally Posted by WEPIV
When a man's thirsty, he's thirsty...Quote:
Originally Posted by aw
They wouldn't have "stopped at Friedman's". They probably came in from the river, up the run. They found Friedman's in the woods, and thought it might be the fountain of youth :roll:
I've read in another thread that the notion of having to swim to Friedman is a myth or was a joke or something to that end. I was there on Friday and talked to the park personnel who check you in. They're the one's who informed of the protocol of having to dive with someone who has already done it once.Quote:
Originally Posted by WEPIV
Apparently, it's a long hike to be able to enter at Friedman's. It's long enough for this lazy boy to just put in at Catfish. I'll just add an extra stage when I want to go farther. We made 2100' past Friedman on backgas. Great dive even though the vis was a little low. Vis after Friedman got better. 50 min scootering in and 60 min swimming out - we took our time and really enjoyed checking out all the cave we could see.
What about having to swim to confirm a route (and line placement) before doing a basic trust me dive following a line that you only know where it should end and not definitely, (as having not seen it with your own eyes).
I'm not saying I've done it correctly every time but I know it is safer to...
Quote:
Originally Posted by chilldive
I think I'm more focused on the word "swim". Swimming from Catfish to Friedman is not something I would want to do when I can just grab a scooter and go. I've only dove there twice and each time the flow was pretty strong. I've swam Ginnie before - ugh. Now, I only swim out to enjoy the sights and the ride - yippee.Quote:
Originally Posted by WEPIV
Wrong SpaniardQuote:
Originally Posted by FW
What's wrong swimming to Friedman's?
Oh wait , I don't scooter. :D
Actually , we swam to Friedman's about 5 times this last year. THEN we went in at Friedman's.
But that's just me , you see.
Got to know the ol' Gold Line in there really well :D
Da Beano Baggins
P.S. As was said earlier , one of the most beautiful sites is dropping thru Friedmans , and then at about 40-50 feet ... POOF ... this HUGE cave opens up below you. Just Awesome :D
If you are doing a 1st time in Friedman's, please take note that it is a bit of a 'careful-as-you go' entrance. A mite steep & tight, but worth the effort. On a side note here, beware that large nests of 'tick's are everywhere, & you will see this on trees, bushes, & fallen logs everywhere you step-! Best to have a buddy who is familar with this entry to help you along the way.
Have a good dive.
j.
The park ranger indicated it was quite a walk to Freidmans. She thought it was like a mile. What's the scoop? How far is it? How do people typically get their gear back that far, especially scooters (or do people take scooters in at Freidmans)? It took me 3 trips just to get stages, scooter, then me geared up, to Catfish!
Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to learn.
You were given incorrect info.. I don't know the exact distance, but less than a quarter mile would be my estimate - shorter walk, downhill, than to Catfish. We usually use handcarts for SM tanks, but I have just carried them. Its not a big deal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chilldive
It does help to have 2 vehicles, so you can leave one at Catfish, to drive back to get the one at Friedman's. You could walk too. It is a lot closer than Orange Grove to Peacock :-)
Both times I've gone in at Friedman I carted my tanks back to the sink. The first time there were some trees sort of low over the path that you had to duck under (not good my back wearing tanks). The last time I thought I was careful not to stray from the path and still ended up picking about 5 ticks off on the drive home. I found one that was just starting to attach while scratching an itch in an area where we guys occasionally scratch itches. I must have picked them up while I was carting gear back and forth to the sink.
There is a setup stand back at the sink. There were tons of mosquitos the last time (April 2008 ), worse than I've seen them at Peacock, but not as bad as the Everglades.
Really, really cool entry.
Mark
The next time I think we'll take my mountain bike to go back to Friedman for the car.
I doubt that it's much more than 100 yards... just make sure you know exactly where it is before you gear up...Quote:
Originally Posted by chilldive
I think maybe the ranger was trying to make sure I wasn't going to go looking for the sink without following proper protocol. She made it sound like a lot of extra effort to dive Freidman. I was curious to see the sink, but they wouldn't even tell me how to get to it. Oh well, maybe next trip down.
Does anyone know who Friedman of sink and cave fame is or was?
Vol 1-15 of UWS is available from the CDS. It's good reading.
Andy
You, wasn't it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rexco
Bob Friedman, cave diver from the late 60's thru the 80's. I've got a photo of him and Sheck at a workshop in the late 70's. Good guy, I believe he was from the Tallahasee area.
Sue's Sink (between Catfish and Friedman) is named for his wife, I believe.
I was told a long time ago Sheck altered the entrance of the sink to be able to get in. This was done at the time of original exploration. Mr.Friedman was one of the team members. They had to identify the sink that leads into the cave and then break the limestone (talk about a conservation bla-bla). Could anyone confirm this?
It is not the only sink there nearby. If you walk thru the forest following the mapped cave there will be a dozen of sinks. They always feed my fantasy that there is a more side passage. The forest is infested with deer tick. There is no restrooms nearby, and parking can take up to 3 cars. When the water level is low the diver in a hole makes a nice picture - it looks like it sticks half way up right out of the ground.
in caverns measureless it says they had to dig it outQuote:
Originally Posted by ARY
No Shirley it was cuz Bob and I was wondering what happened to him. I know he was writing articles up until the late 90'sQuote:
Originally Posted by sskasser
I believe Bob passed away some time (7-8 years?) ago.
My apologies if this is incorrect.