Full NO VACANCY

[shellmoundal]

I went to Catfish this morning and my team was met at the gate with unbeliveable news. At 8:30 AM , Sunday, the spring was at its max divers , 35, and the park was closed to divers. 33 were open water , certification class, and 2 were cave divers. At 35 total divers they close the spring to divers.
Once they hit the 35 mark they close the springs for the entire day to divers. I asked if we could hang out until some had left and go this for an answer; "NO." It sems to me that Manatee is more interested in open water lessons than cave divers. We have lost the right to dive with DPV's and seem to be losing the priviledge to cave dive there.
I had a team with me so we tucked our tails and headed home.

[JamesK]

Welcome to the world of Manatee. You h e to get there way before opening on most days. It sucks.


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[WEPIV]

Yes, nothing really new here. If you dive there on the weekend you get there early (as in before they open) or take the risk of not getting in.
It has been an open water training spot for decades.
Last time we were there, we barely made it with three divers and only because we were getting in at Friedman's.

[JamesK]

Last time we were there, we barely made it with three divers and only because we were getting in at Friedman's.

Yes, but it was such a beautiful dive!!!!


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[Kelly Jessop]

That is the carrying capacity of Manatee,and unfortunately OW divers count into that quantity. The same thing occurs at Ichetucknee Springs with tubers,because they will have cars lined up at 7am and still have people turned away at 8am because they met their capacity. I will let you in on a secret,Peacock has a carrying capacity,but the NFSA has worked with the park to have a capacity that you will never notice.

[JamesK]

If all caves had a low capacity, I would never dive as slow as my dive buddies are in the morning. LoL.


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[Kelly Jessop]

If all caves had a low capacity, I would never dive as slow as my dive buddies are in the morning. LoL.


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Too bad. During the summer we will start at 7am to avoid the heat

[JamesK]

Too bad. During the summer we will start at 7am to avoid the heat

Yeah, that's my plan. Not theirs. LOL. It's more like "Heck, we all have Ginnie Annual Passes, let's wait for the sun to go down!"

Although at Ginnie, that is usually the best time. Weeknights starting the dive around 1900 and finishing a few hours later. Very relaxing.


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[Sludge]

That is the carrying capacity of Manatee,and unfortunately OW divers count into that quantity.

Further indication that MSSP is run by idiots.

[Kelly Jessop]

Further indication that MSSP is run by idiots.

Can't blame MSSP,they are following the rules that they are given. I see the unit management plan expires Sept 1st,2014,and the process to start the next unit management plan will start well before that. If people have a complaint about the access policies etc,then make sure you are available for the public process. Come to the meeting with well thought rationale for a change. Very simply,the cave and OW basin need their own carrying capacities,because we know that cave divers will not spend a prolonged time in the basin.