Manatee - Friedman's 05/25/2009

[jeandiver]

Got to Friedman's around 9:30 this morning. Bugs weren't that bad (SURPRISE). Lots of water in da hole. 3 person team. Tried to go upstream (swimming) but after the 1st duck-under the flow kinda ripped into us. Turned around and had a very nice drift downstream. However , the vis hasn't improved that much downstream of Friedman's from last week (10-20 feet at best). However , at least this time , I saw a little light coming in at Sue's. (lots of leaves on the floor...And shells too). Got to Catfish , and the vis was better than last Sunday (20-30 feet). There were a couple of OWies down in the cavern (cave snorkel) and with lights too. I was farting around with a reel (for downstream) and all of a sudden , I notices a BIG swirl of leaves and lots of silt start to flying. The two OWies were right above us , kicking up a storm (EEK). We made SURE they did NOT follow us into the downstream section and exited at Manatee. Vis in the basin at Manatee was about 20-40 feet.

Did our deco and answered the usual "what's down there" questions ( LOL ).

Bottom line: The vis was a little better than last week but still kind of , er , VERY GOTHIC. Kept a very good eye on the gold line the whole way out.

The Rotor-rooters made me nervous until we knew for SURE they weren't trying to follow us. It's still hard to see light coming in from Manatee and if they would have gotten down in there (EEK).

And I know some people would say WHY didn't we just get out at Catfish if that was the case. (sigh)

I'll leave that to wiser minds than myself.

Thanks!
Beano

P.S. And YES , we left information about the OWers with lights at the Ranger Station. Not that anything will come of it. They weren't in the water at Catfish when we finished. (PHEW)

[stairman]

Pesky openwaterers with their stashed lights and stirrin it up to boot.

[jeandiver]

Pesky openwaterers with their stashed lights and stirrin it up to boot.

ROFL !!!!
Ya , that was about it. (smile)

Jean