Manatee Springs - Chiefland FL

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Manatee Springs is a shore accessible fresh water dive site, located at 11650 N.W. 115th Street, Chiefland, FL 32626. This dive site has an average rating of 3.83 out of 5 from 42 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 61-70ft/19-21m. The average visibility is 101-110ft/31-34m.

This site has three dives. Catfish Hole, the Main Spring head or the Cavern that runs between the two. Catfish Hole being completely coverd with duck weed dosent look very inviting at first. But once beneath that the water is crystal clear and is an amazing dive. From there you walk across the way and dive the spring head which is also crystal clear. There you can play in the surge coming from the cavern its a real blast. Also I have seen water bandits swiming in there a couple times. For the more adventureous and properly certified, you can begin your dive in Catfish hole travel thru the cavern and exit in the main spring head. Its worth the $10.00 pp.

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Comments

randomlyon - 11/22/2023 2:48 PM

Rating Added: 4
Just dove here yesterday (weekday, 11/21/23). It was $4 to drive in alone, $6 if multiple people in the car. There’s a scuba sign-in sheet but nothing was really checked. Only two other divers were gearing up in the lot but we never saw them underwater. Park was nice with sitting areas and a playground. There were campers in a different area nearby. The walk from the lot to the scuba entrance is short. We dove both Catfish Hole and the Main Spring head. The Duckweed in catfish isn’t an issue. You just clear the area with a fin before you submerge, and take a fin off underwater to clear it away before you break the surface. Just waving at it is enough. The water underneath is very clear and the dive was entertaining if you like checking out the ecology and playing with mini catfish. We didn’t have much current sucking into the cavern, but there was a cave-death stop sign and another sign that mentions a girl’s death there in Nov 2019. The current is tidal and gets stronger a few times a day. The cavern goes to maybe 68’ but you can’t use lights unless cave trained and equipped, so you see what your eyes adjust to. The other side with the spring head is a fun half hour dive if you have an extra 500 PSI to screw around. We had an otter for company but no manatee yet. Swimming up to the spring is fun. The visibility is great. Their facilities are pretty good. I will definitely visit again.

EAustin494 - 6/22/2017 10:42 PM

I got my ow cert here. Fun dive very clear. I have returned three times always a good dive.

SantaFeSandy - 2/08/2017 8:07 PM

I went scuba diving here on 2/7/2017. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Tues. Feb. 7, 2017. Today Gene, Guy and I dove from Friedman Sink to Catfish, and then on to Manatee via the syphon. Water levels were high, flow was way low, and visibility ~50 ft. Awesome dive.

hellhound - 1/22/2017 2:48 PM

floridastateparks.org/park/Manatee-Springs

this is a good link to the site.

mangoman1 - 8/30/2016 9:24 PM

I went scuba diving here on 8/29/2016. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

mangoman1 - 8/17/2016 8:09 PM

I went scuba diving here on 8/12/2016. Average viz: 31-35ft/9-11m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Flow was very high due to recent rains and viz was reduced quite a bit.

mangoman1 - 8/04/2016 9:39 PM

I went scuba diving here on 7/26/2016. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

mangoman1 - 6/05/2016 1:37 AM

I went scuba diving here on 6/3/2016. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

mangoman1 - 5/12/2016 9:47 PM

I went scuba diving here on 5/12/2016. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

mangoman1 - 5/07/2016 1:03 PM

I went scuba diving here on 5/6/2016. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

SantaFeSandy - 4/29/2016 8:06 AM

I went scuba diving here on 4/28/2016. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Thurs. April 28, 2016 - Another beautiful day of diving with new buddy, Samuel Piper. This was Sam’s first time diving the holes at Manatee, and we had a lovely time exploring all the nooks and crannies inside Catfish.

Sam makes for a great little model too, and Manatee yielded some nice shots as well. We even saw a baby gator in the water with us, until he darted into the Cypress, where he might have had a momma waiting???

Esvee650 - 4/28/2016 10:25 PM

I went scuba diving here on 4/28/2016. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

mangoman1 - 3/13/2016 11:33 PM

I went scuba diving here on 3/13/2016. Average viz: 61-70ft/19-21m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.
Sad to see how much the algae has taken over the spring. We saw very few fish and no crayfish whatsoever.

MermaidAshley15 - 3/13/2016 8:48 PM

I went scuba diving here on 3/13/2016. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Peak Performance Buoyancy class! We had a lot of fun! And I feel really comfortable underwater with my buoyancy :)

MermaidAshley15 - 3/12/2016 5:04 PM

I went scuba diving here on 3/11/2016. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

mangoman1 - 2/27/2016 6:15 PM

I went scuba diving here on 2/23/2016. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.

mangoman1 - 1/19/2016 9:35 PM

I went scuba diving here on 1/18/2016. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.

mangoman1 - 12/30/2015 7:26 PM

I went scuba diving here on 4/3/2015. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.

SantaFeSandy - 12/29/2015 7:39 AM

I went scuba diving here on 12/28/2015. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Monday Dec. 28, 2015. After 5 months out of diving commission, post leg surgery, Lamar’s newest cave student to be, is back.

Today we are enjoying a relaxing day together inside Catfish and Manatee, as Mauricio gives his leg a test drive.

mangoman1 - 12/16/2015 8:20 AM

I went scuba diving here on 12/14/2015. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

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