Manatee Springs & Blue Grotto Manatee Springs & Blue Grotto Dive Trip November 2006Dive Trip November 2006

Here are some pictures of our latest Here are some pictures of our latest dive excursion to Manatee Springs and dive excursion to Manatee Springs and

Blue Grotto in Florida. We hope you Blue Grotto in Florida. We hope you like them.like them.

Our humble tent campOur humble tent camp

We had two armadillos chasing each We had two armadillos chasing each other at night. And three raccoons other at night. And three raccoons

invaded as well – they were hilarious, invaded as well – they were hilarious, sneaking up behind our camp – sneaking up behind our camp –

completely calm and calculating like a completely calm and calculating like a trained military strike force. They trained military strike force. They

managed to eat all the cheese from the managed to eat all the cheese from the cooler. Very clever.cooler. Very clever.

Suwannee RiverSuwannee River

Of Stephen Foster fame. At least that’s Of Stephen Foster fame. At least that’s the consensus in this area. There is a the consensus in this area. There is a Stephen Foster Cultural Center near Stephen Foster Cultural Center near by. Per locals that proves this is ‘the by. Per locals that proves this is ‘the one”. Who are we to question that one”. Who are we to question that

logic?logic?

ManateesManatees

Lurking below the surface were Lurking below the surface were manatee snouts. One would manatee snouts. One would

come up every few minutes for air.come up every few minutes for air.

Walk this way, nothing to Walk this way, nothing to fear…fear…

Dozens and dozens of black vultures Dozens and dozens of black vultures were around the river. They lined up on were around the river. They lined up on

the dock. We wondered, if a row of the dock. We wondered, if a row of crows is called a murder, is a row of crows is called a murder, is a row of

vultures called a homicide?vultures called a homicide?

Manatee SpringsManatee SpringsFirst magnitude spring – First magnitude spring – hugehuge

discharge. You can “fly” in the current, discharge. You can “fly” in the current, and when you let go it shoots you out and when you let go it shoots you out

like a bullet. There is a swim-thru like a bullet. There is a swim-thru Quinn (our guide from American Pro Quinn (our guide from American Pro

Dive) did several times. We could Dive) did several times. We could hardly even enter it ourselves, the hardly even enter it ourselves, the

current would just push you out and current would just push you out and whip up gravel and shells on the whip up gravel and shells on the bottom in popcorn like torrents. bottom in popcorn like torrents.

Visibility was 100’ +, water constant 72 Visibility was 100’ +, water constant 72 deg. Saw some flounder and a turtle in deg. Saw some flounder and a turtle in the river as we drift dove it after playing the river as we drift dove it after playing

in the head of the springs.in the head of the springs.

Catfish HotelCatfish Hotel

““We are supposed to dive in THAT?” came to We are supposed to dive in THAT?” came to mind as we approached this site. Duck weed mind as we approached this site. Duck weed

covers the surface of this 60’ sink hole. It covers the surface of this 60’ sink hole. It pushes away easily, your bubbles can pushes away easily, your bubbles can

penetrate through letting beams of light pierce penetrate through letting beams of light pierce down into the sink. Amazingly good visibility down into the sink. Amazingly good visibility

once inside. Dropped down to large side entry once inside. Dropped down to large side entry cavern descending to about 60’. This site cavern descending to about 60’. This site actually connects to the head of Manatee actually connects to the head of Manatee

Springs via a 150’ +/- tunnel, which of course Springs via a 150’ +/- tunnel, which of course is for certified cave divers only. Lots of fish in is for certified cave divers only. Lots of fish in the upper section of sink with catfish hiding in the upper section of sink with catfish hiding in

the back of the cavern. Very unique site. the back of the cavern. Very unique site. Diving in a salad bowl.Diving in a salad bowl.

Blue GrottoBlue Grottohttp://www.divebluegrotto.com/http://www.divebluegrotto.com/

Very cool cavern dive. It descends to 100’, but we Very cool cavern dive. It descends to 100’, but we only dove the upper 70’ – after that descending only dove the upper 70’ – after that descending

holes drop into the bottom and you can do a swim holes drop into the bottom and you can do a swim thru. Absolutely beautiful looking up at the thru. Absolutely beautiful looking up at the

entrance from 70’ – vibrant turquoise blue water. entrance from 70’ – vibrant turquoise blue water. We lucked out completely—though normally a We lucked out completely—though normally a

very busy site there were never more than 2 other very busy site there were never more than 2 other divers in the entire cavern with us. The first dive divers in the entire cavern with us. The first dive the vis was close to 100’; practically no sediment the vis was close to 100’; practically no sediment had been disturbed. Made two dives here, one had been disturbed. Made two dives here, one

Nitrox and one air. Saw a few catfish, but the most Nitrox and one air. Saw a few catfish, but the most interesting thing at this site is the geologic interesting thing at this site is the geologic

formations in the cavern itself – small ledges and formations in the cavern itself – small ledges and holes you can shine your light into, very cool. holes you can shine your light into, very cool.

There is an air bell at 30’ you can surface and talk There is an air bell at 30’ you can surface and talk in and an underwater light system provides in and an underwater light system provides

excellent illumination of the top section of the excellent illumination of the top section of the cavern. cavern.

Not us – just some pics from the Blue Grotto web site.

Happy diversHappy divers

No underwater pics this time, but No underwater pics this time, but here are some of us on land. Had here are some of us on land. Had two days of great diving, excellent two days of great diving, excellent

conditions and no crowds. We conditions and no crowds. We both now have the number of both now have the number of

dives which qualify us to be able dives which qualify us to be able to take the advanced course!to take the advanced course!

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