Please describe this whole site.

[redrover]

Ok, I’ve been thinking caves held little interest for me. The comments about Manatee Springs in Diver deceased at Manatee Springs, 2/19 are changing this.
Initially I thought I had a vague (mental) picture.
But now I’m completely unable to image a darn thing about the siphon, cavern, cave, ining and outing, strong flowing, sucking, daylight and dark going on together.
Would someone please explain that site, describe the ‘whole picture’?
Mahalo

 

[H2Andy]

i'll try .... keep in mind that the cavern in question is Catfish Hotel ... Manatee SPrings is the outflow cave that leads to a shallow (25 feet?) sandy bowl.

when you get in the water using the steps, and face out, the cave entrance will be to your left

turn to your left (towards the bank) and descend ... you will descend roughly in the middle of the cavern entrance

the cavern entrace runs from your left to your right

on your extreme left is the syphon ... it is inside the cavern and rather dark due to the dark coloration of the rock

towards the middle of the cavern opening is a bunch of trees and such stretching on the bottom to the right, where the entrance to the spring cave is

if you go forward from the trees, you will enter a large cavern with a silty bottom
(syphon is still to your left, spring to your right). the cavern is roughly 100 feet long?
perhaps 40 feet to the back wall?

if you turn around at this point, you can see the entire cavern opening illuminated by daylight. it is quite a lovely sight

here's a map from Johnny Richard's site:

http://www.cavediving.com/where/florida/manatee1.htm

 

[drbill]

Geez, you might want to specify more in your thread title... I thought you wanted someone to explain the entire ScubaBoard web site.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Geez, you might want to specify more in your thread title... I thought you wanted someone to explain the entire ScubaBoard web site.

That's how I read it...

 

[SteveC]

me too

 

[ShallowDiverDave]

Ok, first lets start with Structure. Posts are within threads, threads are within forums, and ...Ah forget it!

 

[redrover]

Thank you Andy. As I said I thought I had a vague idea of what ‘cave’ and ‘diving’ used together in a sentence meant. I read quite a bit about cave diving considering, as a diver, it did not appeal to me a year or so ago.
I did some more reading tonight and have concluded I need some education to begin to approach having a vague idea.
Is there a book available along the lines of Understanding the Hydrologic and Geologic Terminology Used Regarding Florida Cave Diving for Dummies? Preferably one with pictures, lines, arrows and diagrams?

 

[redrover]

What is wrong with you people? Just today a co-worker was unable to read my mind, now you too!