gap in Manatee Springs

[wallacm]

I dove Manatee springs cave system the other day and noticed a 20 ft gap about 200 ft downstream of Catfish. Was wondering how long that tunnel is and if there are any other offshoots in it?

[Jay]

I don't recall a gap except at the end by the spring. There is, however a jump to the left, but don't go there.

don't go there

In case you didn't hear Jay, don't go there. I was dared to go there about six years ago. Very, very low (for backmount), and the thickest clay silt for a floor.

I won't go back.

[Shadowjack]

Gap or Glory markers?

Eric

[Angie Reim]

don't go there

In case you didn't hear Jay, don't go there. I was dared to go there about six years ago. Very, very low (for backmount), and the thickest clay silt for a floor.

I won't go back.

Thick clay silt or silt monster? Silt monsters are those that move from the pressure wave that the diver creates just moving into the area. Like ripples on a waterbed. I don't like silt monsters. No control over it. Thick clay silt doesn't move unless a diver touches it or kicks too near to it (but the silt won't clear). It matters being sidemount and all ya' know....really....I'd like to know. Sounds nasty/challenging either way...

Angie

[wallacm]

cool thanks guys. just saw it there, and wondered what it was like, and couldn't wait until i went back to find out, but it sounds like I don't want to find out. thanks again

[Angie Reim]

I don't recall a gap except at the end by the spring. There is, however a jump to the left, but don't go there.

All I remember is that the flow is soooo strong it would blow your butt out of the spring. It must of been high tide somewhere. Anyway, I got scared (afraid that I'd get 'brained' by the tree trunk across the exit -- again no control due to high flow) and turned which took like 2-3 times longer to get back out at Catfish.

Them siphons are not something to play around with unless well planned.

Angie

[Moonfuzzy]

That area is a big silt monster. Gary & I went in there a few years ago - the vis was blown on the way out just from our bubbles on the ceiling. The silt mound was so soft that I drug my hand in it and didn't notice, until my hand started feeling warm from the insulation!
(yes, kick me.. I deserve it for touching the silt by mistake!!)

[Angie Reim]

That area is a big silt monster. Gary & I went in there a few years ago - the vis was blown on the way out just from our bubbles on the ceiling. The silt mound was so soft that I drug my hand in it and didn't notice, until my hand started feeling warm from the insulation!
(yes, kick me.. I deserve it for touching the silt by mistake!!)

Yep. Silt monster. You can't feel the silt. Just see it move on the floor. When I'm in an exploration mood - fine. Lots of extra gas and in the plan - fine. Otherwise, forget it. Silt monsters are a drag at best and deadly at worst. You might as well be solo because there is no communication between 'buds' during an entire exit. No point. Both are blind anyway.

[Gary]

The silt mound was so soft that I drug my hand in it and didn't notice, until my hand started feeling warm from the insulation!

Ya the silt there was more of a liquid then a solid. I don't really even know how deep it is. I still have shivers wondering how far you'd sink if you had a BC failure there. Plus that'd be the end of vis in that passage even if you were able to get back top - it would just harmogonize into brown soup.

It goes for quite a ways. We followed it for 400-500' maybe and it split at least once and kept going. There was a room also and places where the silt wasn't so bad. We were at the end of another dive then but never went back later to check it out with full tanks.