stangd1909
Contributor
Does anyone know if Manatee springs is open to diving next week? I checked the web site but couldn't find anything out. Thanks
Manatee springs
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cyberfed
Contributor
I believe 'Catfish Hotel' part of manatee springs is open all the time since manatee's cannot go in there.
jhayes75
Contributor
I dove there 2 weeks ago. The ranger told me they hardly ever close the spring to diving due to manatees. They very seldom come into the spring swimming area.
LBHeyman
Contributor
Is it worth a dive? Is there limitations for bringing lights etc...? Is AOW adequate?
giles45shop
Contributor
Open water divers can dive in either the main spring head or Catfish Hotel. The main spring is a large bowl, about 25' deep, lots of fish, etc. Cafish hotel is a karst window/sink about 500' away from the main spring. It's covered in Duckweed, but goes to about 85' deep. No lights allowed for OW divers in Catfish. Purpose is to keep them from going into the cave system, which connects Catfish to the main spring and goes back upstream from there a long ways to several other sinks.
Manatee is a high flow cave, so there's a significant siphon in Catfish, another reason for OW divers to be careful and not get past the grim reaper signs into the cave system.
It's a decent dive and at $10 a good bargain. There are limits on the number of divers, but it's usually not crowded. Call thepark office to get info on the limits. One issue is that there's no fills anywhere close, so you'll have to bring multiple tanks if you want to make multiple dives.
Also, be prepared for the duckweed, it gets into everything. Make sure you purge your back-up reg once you are under the duckweed to blow out any that may get in your reg. You don't want to have an air share and end up getting a mouthfull of duckweed on your first breath!
I've dove the cave system once, both upstream and downstream from Catfish, but didn't spend much time in the OW section so I can't offer a lot of insight on that. I did snorkel in the main springs, which was pretty neat.
Have fun and dive safe,
John
Manatee is a high flow cave, so there's a significant siphon in Catfish, another reason for OW divers to be careful and not get past the grim reaper signs into the cave system.
It's a decent dive and at $10 a good bargain. There are limits on the number of divers, but it's usually not crowded. Call thepark office to get info on the limits. One issue is that there's no fills anywhere close, so you'll have to bring multiple tanks if you want to make multiple dives.
Also, be prepared for the duckweed, it gets into everything. Make sure you purge your back-up reg once you are under the duckweed to blow out any that may get in your reg. You don't want to have an air share and end up getting a mouthfull of duckweed on your first breath!
I've dove the cave system once, both upstream and downstream from Catfish, but didn't spend much time in the OW section so I can't offer a lot of insight on that. I did snorkel in the main springs, which was pretty neat.
Have fun and dive safe,
John
CaptEsteban
Contributor
Above info is good, but water is lower right now. You must have a C card, dive buddy, no lights are needed, or recommended. [ keeps you out of trouble ] No air refills are available, so bring enough tanks. There is a shower outside of Catfish, where you can rinse duckweed off your gear & yourself. $10 fee is a bargain for diving & the use of the nice park. Bring your food & drink. No alcohol.
giles45shop
Contributor
One more thing I forgot is that it is 100-150 yds from the parking lot to either Catfish or the main spring. So if you have heavy or a lot of gear it may be helpful to have a hand truck or small cart. It's not mandatory, just makes things easier. There are picnic tables and raised platforms to rest your tanks on by Catfish.
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