Manatee Springs State Park

DUCK WEED! My first encounter. It is like large green grits floating on the surface. Looking at it from the banks you figure it is pond scum and will be nasty. It is just gritty.  That is what we found on Catfish hotel a sink hole depression-pond at Manatee Springs State Park. 

Once below the duck weed it was clear, but you had duck weed stuck everywhere. It is called catfish hotel for a reason there supposed to be a bunch of catfish in here. I found two or three small ones but the guys told me there where many of them on back on the shelves and holes in the walls. What was nice as our expelled air rose to the suface during the dive it created a large clear spot with no duck weed when we where exiting. I should say unless you where the last one, which I was, it did not take long for the duck weed to drift back an cover the nearly the entire surface again.

 Even after a quick rinse at the shower provided by the park, the duck weed still sticks.  We walk the short distance across the park to Manatee Spring. There where no manatee this far up the spring this morning, which is good because we could not go diving if they where. Some folks who where out enjoying the park said there where several manatee hanging out where the spring joins the Suwanee River a short distance away.

All of the springs we dove this week are several feet (4-5 feet) below normal. Some locals say it is lack of rainfall, others believe too much water is being pumped and diverted out of the aquifer into the aqueduct system for drinking water. All of which are a concern as well making entery and exiting for diving an interesting challenge, if not comical, in some locations. Most of the dive sites have either a ladder, stairs or platforms to help getting in and out of the water. These aids where where build for the springs normal water level. You take away 4-5 feet of water in some cases the ladders or stairs are just about or completely out of the water. So now there is a drop into very shallow water to get in and an awkward, and as I had made them, comical, exits trying to get back out. I can tell you some of my exits where not pretty.  I hope it is lack of rainfall and the area recovers with the next rainy season. I would like to go back and dive all of these site when they are near to at there normal fill and flow.

Manatee Spring is another high flow spring with a cavern-cave. The flow was sufficient that none of us attempted to enter the cavern. The silt area in front of the spring was filled with shells of all sizes and types. We spent most of the dive sifting through them. Everyone was looking for the elusive sharks teeth that are occasionally found. We had no such luck this trip.  Beyond the silt bowl shape created by the flow of the spring there was lush grass that filled the spring bed and lots of fish. We had seen more fish here then anywhere else beside Rainbow springs. 

We spent the rest of the day hanging out at the park. Had our picnic lunch, then we wandered around checking out the boardwalk that goes out over the swampy areas that runs parallel to the spring then out over the river. Where the river and spring meet there was indeed manatee sleeping on the bottom.

It was a great day.

Ginnie Springs

Ginnie Springs since early on when I first started diving the comments where "Have you been to Ginnie Springs, you need to go."  Simply if you haven't dove Ginnie Springs you must. Even with the water as low as it is all over the Northeast District of Florida Ginnie Springs is worth the trip.

Check in at the gate, next head to their Dive Shop-Outdoor Store and Camp Grocery. Sign your releases watch a intro video that explains the dive site and dangers of the caverns and caves. Then go diving.

There are two springs Ginnie and Devil plus the Santa Fe river to dive at Ginnie Springs. We started at Devil Spring. Devil Spring is a four-foot-wide fracture at the head of the spring system. It is 50 feet long and almost as deep. You who descend to the bottom of the crack the look up a to a great view as you look skyward.

You ascend from Devil Spring and drift down the run toward the Santa Fe River. Just before the confluence there are two more spring feeds, Devil's eye and Devil's ear.

Devil's Eye is a round opening, that is about 20 feet across and all most as deep. At the bottom is the entrance to a small cavern. Shaun was my dive buddy on this dive we explored this then when Tige, James and Mike arrived we watch Tige put James through his rescue diver training with Mike acting as "the victim"

Devil's Ear is a canyon-like opening located right where Devil Spring run joins the Santa Fe River.  The ear his a high flow spring. Trying to get to peak in at the bottom of the canyon is a challenge. The flow is so strong it can take your mask off if you look the wrong way or depending on how sensitive you regular is, the force of the flow can depress your purge button on your second stage.  The water from the spring and the water for the Santa Fe on this day had a definite demarcation point. The spring was crystal clear the river brown and muddy. A row of grass seem to frame the two flows that touch but did not seem to mix, it was a very cool to see. The spring is moving but calm, the river moving about 1 knot or so was rushing by.

Topside I found that many of the springs where diver can dive, beside picnic tables and pavilions they have gear assembly benches.  A place with a waist high bench and back where you can place and secure you cylinder, assemble your gear, the slip right into it when you are ready to go.  If you have ever been boat diving it is like assembling your kit on a boat but standing. Very convenient. 

Ginnie Spring is a large-bowl like depression that is about 15 to 20 ft deep and has a short run to out to meet the Santa Fe river. Here I spent the afternoon working with my divemaster candidate on some of the skills and workshops that will assist him to achieve his divemaster certification.  It was great to do this part of the divemater course in warm clear water. Once we where done, we assisted soon to be a Rescue Diver James with more of his surface scenarios need to completed his certification.

Later in the afternoon we cooked up some burgers and dogs on one of the grills waiting for nightfall. The we geared up for our night dive of the Ginnie Cavern and "the Ballroom". You enter the cavern into what is known as the upper room, it is large room it has can hold several divers, the limestone wall are almost polished from the flow of the water. You continue to the back of the room around a small out cropping and you are in a massive space called "The Ballroom". There where six of us on this dive and we could have easily fit another 10 to 12 divers before you felt a bit crowded.  There is a high flow spring feed at the bottom of the room, depth about 50 feet, the spring opening is gated off so you can not go further. As is typical of high flow springs that I have now seen and is noticeable in this room is the sediment the comes along with the flow creates and amphitheater silt sloping up and away from the flow. Lots of cool formations of rocks and limestone. While I am told the sunlight does pentrate into the the ballroom during the day, it is very dark at night. At one point during the dive we where all together we hooded our lights. it was dark.  There is a guide rope strung along the roof of the ball room that runs into the upper room so there is no doubt which way is out. Which is a nice touch.

This is on my list to do again.

Crystal River Manatee Snorkel

Went over to Crystal River this morning to Crystal River Lodge Dive Center and rented a pontoon boat.  
We watch the required video to make sure we did not interact inappropriately with the manatee. Florida's Fish and Wildlife (FWC) patrol the shores and water ways near the manatee protected areas in Crystal River. There is $100 fine which they can write on the spot (i.e. you are in the water they paddle up to you or they call you to shore) and hand the ticket to you in a zip lock type baggie so the ticket stays dry. The other fine is 1 year in jail and $100,000 if you enter a manatee protected area. Yes we watched the video.

Chilly in the moring. Great ride out to one of the locations where the manatee hang out. The protected areas are marked off with ropes and floats. In the middle of this area they have a small swim area where snorkelers can interact with the manatee.  The tide was very low, plus the area is way behind on rain fall so the water was silted up and cloudy. You could not see more then 4-5 feet.  Then all of the sudden these huge manatee swim over to check you out.

You can single hand scratch them, they like this and it helps remove the algae that grows on their skin while they winter in the springs.  They are smart and they have a trick. Once you start scratching their back they roll over to let you scratch their belly, when you don't expect it they trap your hand between there flipper and body and start swimming a way with you. The problem is they head for the protected areas (yes the 1 year $100,000 fine area) they don't know they just want to take you home to keep scratching them. FWC is just waiting for you to cross the line. 

Plus there is a self appointed manatee watch group that paddles around the area on kayaks to remind you of the rules and point out the slightest infraction, they are kind of a bummer. I understand their enthusiasm but they are sort of a kill joy. They stopped by, did their due diligence and moved on.

The water was warm, waist deep at any point and lot of fun to see the manatee. 

Devil's Den

Finished our two dives at Blue Grotto, packed up and headed just up the road to Devil's Den. Had heard of Devils Den but had no idea what it was. 

Tige was telling me about his previous visits and I was still not getting what he was saying. Pulled on to the property, looks like it was once a horse farm, in this part of Florida there are lots of them. See signs for tent camping signs for RV camping. Then there is one little sign that says office.

There is a board walk through this wall of bamboo. Pass the bamboo the boardwalk turns left to a building. Through the door to a one room dive shop. Small and efficient operation, the guy behind the counter had said they had not had a diver all day, he was thinking of closing early.  After the filling out the usual dive releases,  we exit to the right, there is another door that leads outside on to a porch, walk along the porch, down the steps to this wonderful garden area. Picnic tables, pavilions, a fire ring and a cavern entrance. The entire area is dominated by a massive beautiful southern live oak covered in Spanish moss. You could almost forget you where there to go diving.

We kit up head down the cavern entrance steps, then down the stairs to the platform. I will still like to how they installed those stairs.  Devils Den is a sink hole that the roof collapsed in on ages ago. The platform rest on the rubble of the roof of the cavern. Sunlight streams in lighting the cavern and stabbing though the water creating amazing colors and patterns on walls below the water line.

The cavern is a bowl with a cone of rubble in the middle so you dive around the cone and check out all the cracks and crevasses along the outer wall. A couple of places are marked to let divers go no further in to the cavern system; other places are barred off so divers won't be tempted, get stuck and create problems for others.

Great dive, had lots of fun exploring this cavern.

Blue Grotto

Headed to west central Florida to continue training for my divemaster student. Traditionally the last week of January is cold, by Floridian standards, and this week has been no different. For us it is like diving in late September, early October back home. Nights in the 30s-40s, day high 60s low to mid 70s. But it was in the 80s last week here. No complaints, back home the morning temps have been around 9 degrees. Glad to miss that.

Blue Grotto is said to be the largest clear water cavern in the Florida springs area, they have great facilities top side. Easy entry, warm, clear 72 degree water and wide open cavern to 50 ft. There is a swim through that takes you down to 100 ft, it is awesome, they have a line run the whole distance. Keep a hand on the line you can't get lost or loose your way.  

 

Talking about Diving to a BSA Round Table.

This evening I will be speaking at the NCAC Bull Run District Round Table about Scouting and Diving.

Here is the presenation :

BSA and DIVING  (this is a 15Mb download Power Point Show)

If you need a power point viewer here is the microsofts link

Here are links to files you may need to get your troop/crew into diving.

Snorkel BSA
SCUBA BSA

PADI Dive Adventure Scholorship 

If you have any qustions or need any additional information please contact me

Let's GO DIVING!!!