chrystal river,fl.manatee,Weeki Wachee Spring

[dlevering]

Last week I had he good luck to leave the COLD Ohio weather behind and go to visit Fl. I was able to do some diving while there. I went to Chrystal River to find the manatee,and yes they were there. But,the river anything but chrystal. The vis was about 20 ft. if I strech it. There were many Manatee there though so it was not a complete loss. I did have have the good fortune to dive at Weeki Wachee Spring. The vis was unlimited. The spring in 72 degrees all year. At the spring there is a underwater viewing area where my wife could watch me dive.(She dosn't dive). The spring is 46 ft deep at the deepest. There are suppose to be mermaids at the spring,(They have a mermaid show there)but all I seen were bald, old men like me.Oh well can't have everything. Being new to diving any time under is great and I now have three more dives in the log book.
Dave

 

[D.J.Splyce]

Crystal river is usually fairly clear, we train our open water students there. It is a river though with many sediments and particulats in the water while it is spring fed, Weki wachee is a spring. Most of the springs here have a vis of 100-200 ft. While they afford great diving you must take care not to venture into any overhead environments without proper training, this of course doesn't apply to Weki Wachee. There are facinating caves with incredable caverns absolutly marvalous diving. However, again do not enter such environments without proper training. The reason I now live in Fl. is because of the diverse diving sites available. I work in the Bahamas on a liveaboard, which is also full of wonderful diving. An inexpensive vacation is the Blackbeard cruise, only about $800 for a week. I don't work there but for a no frills trip it's pretty good, but, I do mean no frills!