Manatee Springs-- When's the next public meeting?

[jj1987]

I heard recently that there will be a meeting early next year to discuss the management plan of Manatee Springs and hopefully discussion of possible revision to current diving rules. Does anyone know if the date has been set? I was hoping to block this time off my calendar far in advance.

[FW]

I heard recently that there will be a meeting early next year to discuss the management plan of Manatee Springs and hopefully discussion of possible revision to current diving rules. Does anyone know if the date has been set? I was hoping to block this time off my calendar far in advance.

Send Mark Long a PM. Hopefully it will get to him by email, he doesn't log in very often.

[Walter Pickel]

I have no idea; I am sure Mark and/or Annette Long would know.

[Kelly Jessop]

Too far off to have a meeting announced. The UMP is at park planning presently,and they more likely haven't set a date. I talked to Mark last night,and I am sure once this information is know it will be announced here.

[jj1987]

Too far off to have a meeting announced. The UMP is at park planning presently,and they more likely haven't set a date. I talked to Mark last night,and I am sure once this information is know it will be announced here.

Thanks Kelly, I messaged Mark off forum.

[ARY]

"Governor Scott Recommends Historic $100 Million in Funding for VISIT FLORIDA"

How nice. How much funding is required to ban scooters at Manatee so that I don't go there any more

http://www.flgov.com/2014/01/10/gove...-visit-florida

[ehoffman81]

Just out of curiosity (and I hope I don't open a box of worms) but any inclination of what changes as far as diving rules for MS are being tossed around?

[jj1987]

Just out of curiosity (and I hope I don't open a box of worms) but any inclination of what changes as far as diving rules for MS are being tossed around?

They banned scootering in Manatee Springs. From what I've been told, a member of park staff did a cavern dive and saw what they believed to be scooter prop shroud, but some cave divers seem to think it's more likely a stage bottle drag.

Since that time, many of us have quit diving Manatee Springs and would like to present our point of view to the park staff and officials at the first appropriate opportunity.

[CaveDiverSteve]

We dove Friedman this morning. While putting away our gear a ranger sneaked in on us asking what we were doing, he apparently saw us driving back to our parked truck at Friedman. He said seeing another truck driving in sparked his attention. After explaining ourselves he was cool with the situation. What was interesting though, he informed us that only four cave divers are allowed in at Friedman at one time, and only twelve cave divers are allowed in the entire system at one time. Are these rules listed somewhere public or just word of mouth from the staff? And, how often do they change?

[firemedic1015]

What was interesting though, he informed us that only four cave divers are allowed in at Friedman at one time, and only twelve cave divers are allowed in the entire system at one time. Are these rules listed somewhere public or just word of mouth from the staff? And, how often do they change?

That's the way it's been since they banned scooters. What's crazy is that they only allow 12 divers PER DAY! If a team does a morning dive and leaves they won't allow another team to take their place.