Manatee is VERY much open for camping. The sink is clear and twice its normal surface area. The water is only four steps from flowing over the TOP platform where the benches and "CERTIFED DIVERS ONLY" sign is. The fiberglass manatee is two inches belly deep in water. The main spring is closed to swimming and diving, and its water is at the base of the concessions stand catwalk. The reasons for Manatee being the final choice are this...
Easy to find, camping availability, not far from other dive sites, pavillion rental is cheaper AND still available. I also like the fact that the 16 bucks it costs to get ONE person into Ginnie gets EIGHT people into Manatee! Yes diving is limited, yes it is not in the center of all the springs, or have the most exciting dive spots, but one thing it IS right now, is definite.
Every other spring I called or emailed, is either closed, or has no idea whether they will soon be diveable. If Ginnie were to say... "We're open for camping, but not for swimming or diving, OK, I can deal with that. I can't deal with making a ton of plans, all based on last minute possibilities. I am not one to leave these things to chance. I want to know where I will be, how much I will be paying, and after the last negotiating fiasco, that what is PROMISED is STILL there! Today I rented the pavillion at the sink, which IS diveable. The first people there, are the first divers. Limit of 35/day total, NOT rolling total. We knew this, but better to have SOME place to have this party than NO place.
It's far enough South to allow Ginnie (if they are open), or the Devil's Den/Blue Grotto dives. It is also North enough to allow for anything near Telford.
Having the flooding hit was not exactly something we could have planned for. During next fall/winter season, I will be planning on Halloween Weekend at some place like Crystal River, or even trying another East Coast dive if you guys can clear up the water and keep the waves down. I really want to see some shipreefs if possible someday. Next year, my family's financial situation will allow pretty much anywhere as location for the parties. I will probably start looking into sites like Crystal River and along the Santa Fe for real estate purchases. This way we have a guaranteed campsite at least.
Unfortunately for now, we are reduced to what we can find open, and to what is feasible for the majority. I will also try to plan ahead for next year so if we need a fall back from storms/hurricanes, it will be Crystal River. Even if we have to organize a hotel takeover!
For those who have confirmed they are coming in late, I will contact you with the passcode for the gate as soon as I get it Friday morning. So far I have SuperBugMan as the only one coming in late. If anyone else is coming in after about 6-7 pm, let me know so I can call you as well. I found us a large area that can accomodate about 10-15 tents. I'm looking at 3-4 site rez, which will accomodate 24-32 people. At this point it looks like there will be plenty of surrounding camping. I will keep you updated.
). Put that together with paying up the roof and underestimated chimney chase repair 
