Manatee Springs

[jj1987]

JJ enjoyed the dive Saturday! Appreciate it. Ready to come see it again!

Nice diving with you, thanks for coming by and introducing yourself.

[Scubastud16]

That picture is absolutely hysterical!

[atedeschi]

so can you guys give me some logistics of this site, parking, entrance fee, good places to enter, where r the lines located. wanting to dive here but never been before.

[jj1987]

so can you guys give me some logistics of this site, parking, entrance fee, good places to enter, where r the lines located. wanting to dive here but never been before.

Entrance fee is free if you have the state park pass, I highly recommend it, esp once peacock opens. I get the $80 one because of the itch. river, we always get a group to go down and it saves a lot of money, but if you go by yourself often, you can get one for $40.

Parking is about 1/8th mile from catfish and manatee springs. Not a horrible walk, but I'd take a handcart if you have one.

Catfish has a siphon side that leads to manatee, and a spring side that leads to freedman sink (I think that's the name). Manatee is a pain in the butt to get into, VERY high flow through a small hole. I have no idea what's past that other than a large room that ends the cavern very fast (and hence is why I have no idea what's past that). The gold line on the siphon side is right behind the cave warning sign. I don't remember exactly where the gold line is on the spring side, for some reason I'm wanting to say it's behind the warning sign as well.

Catfish's walls are VERY dark and love to eat your light.

That's about all the help I can give. Hopefully in the near future I'll be of more assistance.

[FW]

I would add that if you have never been there, you can't enter at Freidman's sink.

Before you get brave, and go into the syphon, you should make the dive from the main spring upstream to Catfish.

jj1987 is right, the upstream line is beyond the sign, about 50 feet.

[stairman]

I dove Manatee years ago as an ow diver.At that time I didnt have the skills or gear to dive catfish.I still havent dove it but will this year for sure.Its my understanding that if you enter at catfish and go right,youll go upstream towards Friedmans sink.If I go left with the flow,Ill end up popping out into the Manatee basin.I would probably do that dive first.[left]Any restrictions or surprises on the way?I think its 4oo ft.so it should be a quick one.Maybe the Friedman tunnel should be dove first since its a longer trip.Id like to go with someone whos been before.Thats always easiest.Forrest said to start in the Manatee basin,it seems to be more enjoyable riding the flow out.Any input on this might help.

[NaterGator]

Hola! Just thought I'd register up and throw a report in here for you guys.

Just dove Manatee and Catfish for the first time today. (I'm just an AOW + EANx diver trying to get some more dives logged on my Suunto) Met a nice chap finishing a dive at Catfish who tipped us off about what to look for and said that a few divers before him had stirred up the bottom and to watch out for low viz below ~40ft.

Turns out the vis was actually pretty darn good (w/o lights we could see probably 60 ft, vertically it was easy to see into the overhang from the surface). Flow into the siphon was weak IMO (however, I've never dove catfish before as I said). We were advised that we would feel the suction and know when to back off, but I swam right up to the sign and didn't think the siphon was strong at all. The flowing coming from the cave to the right seemed a bit stronger. Particulate near both was very low.

The outflow at manatee seemed impressive and it was crystal clear. Also not busy at all (being a monday) there were probably 10 total cars in the lot and we had both dive sites to ourselves when we were diving.


I quite wish I was certified to dive the caves but I need to log a few more OW dives first

[FW]

Forrest said to start in the Manatee basin,it seems to be more enjoyable riding the flow out.Any input on this might help.

It is absolutly easier to swim downstream, but the line doesn't go all the way to the exit. I am saying, to be safe, go upstream first.

[ajimmythekid]

Manatee is a pain in the butt to get into, VERY high flow through a small hole. I have no idea what's past that other than a large room that ends the cavern very fast (and hence is why I have no idea what's past that). .

So no one has taught you the secret yet...................... A.) Become totally negative B) Get behind the log and out of the flow C) Remove one fin and secure it D) crawl over log and pull with your hands and push with the finless foot. / At the bottom of the rocks move over to the right and your out of the flow

[FW]

So no one has taught you the secret yet...................... A.) Become totally negative B) Get behind the log and out of the flow C) Remove one fin and secure it D) crawl over log and pull with your hands and push with the finless foot. / At the bottom of the rocks move over to the right and your out of the flow

It is great fun doing all that, *and* running a reel. Sheck made his students run a reel into the head spring to pass his course.