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Catfish Hotel @ Manatee Springs State Park - Chiefland FL


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Catfish Hotel @ Manatee Springs State Park 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 3.62 out of 5 from 16 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 61-70ft/19-21m. The average visibility is 36-40ft/11-12m.

Catfish Hotel is located in Manatee Springs state park, in Chiefland Florida.
This is 3 tiered dive site offering Open Water, Cavern and Full Cave dives with distinct entrances at Catfish Hotel Spring and Exiting at Manatee Spring.

The water is Clear in Catfish Hotel and visibility is about 35-45 feet with high flow from the cave exit.

Schools of Catfish are common and ever present.

Note this spring is unique in that unlike Manatee springs a short 700 feet away whose water is clear, Catfish hotel is covered in a thin layer of duckweed. This aquatic plant will get all over you as you exit catfish hotel. Note that the layer of Duckweed will disperse thanks to the bubbles generated by divers below thus allowing more light to enter the Spring.


The water condition under the water is somewhat murky although still mostly clear.

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Comments
Bmax - 12/17/2019 9:39 PM
Dove Manatee Springs today, 12/17/2019. Catfish Hotel was closed because new stairs were being built. The cave between the Catfish and Manatee basins could not be accessed. The depth in Manatee is only 30 feet at most. The temperature was 68 degrees F. and the vis was maybe 50 feet the size of the basin. Make sure you call the Park office before going out there to see if all dive sites are open.
SantaFeSandy - 1/11/2020 7:04 PM
Hi BJ. Just wanted to correct your comment about the depth of Catfish Hotel. Max depth is over 60 feet depending on water levels from the river. Plus, unless a diver is full cave certified, the syphon, as well as the upstream cave are off limits to open water divers. Not sure if you know, but around Thanksgiving, a young lady from China, fully certified in diving full cave, lost her life in the syphon. The state may be closing it off, but not sure. Max depth in Manatee is between 27 to 30+ feet depending on river waters.
Bmax - 1/12/2020 9:23 AM
Hi Sandy, If you read my message, I did not give the depth of Catfish Hotel, I said it was closed. At the time of our dive in Manatee the max depth was only 30 feet at best. Yes I was aware of the woman who lost her life diving in the syphon. It is tragic, no matter what your skill level, accidents happen. Stay safe Sandy.
BillParker - 8/07/2017 10:38 PM
I went scuba diving here on 8/7/2017. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
A few fish to see. Very nice park.
MermaidAshley15 - 11/28/2016 9:24 AM
I went scuba diving here on 10/1/2016. Average viz: 11-15ft/3-5m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
mangoman1 - 8/30/2016 9:26 PM
I went scuba diving here on 8/29/2016. Average viz: 31-35ft/9-11m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
mangoman1 - 8/17/2016 8:11 PM
I went scuba diving here on 8/12/2016. Average viz: 31-35ft/9-11m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Cavern dive and the siphon flow was stronger than normal due to recent rains.
mangoman1 - 8/04/2016 9:38 PM
I went scuba diving here on 7/26/2016. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
mangoman1 - 6/05/2016 1:39 AM
I went scuba diving here on 6/3/2016. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
mangoman1 - 5/12/2016 9:48 PM
I went scuba diving here on 5/12/2016. Average viz: 31-35ft/9-11m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
mangoman1 - 5/07/2016 1:04 PM
I went scuba diving here on 5/6/2016. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
SantaFeSandy - 4/29/2016 8:04 AM
I went scuba diving here on 4/28/2016. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. 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.
Esvee650 - 4/28/2016 10:24 PM
I went scuba diving here on 4/28/2016. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
mangoman1 - 3/13/2016 11:30 PM
I went scuba diving here on 3/13/2016. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.
Duckweed combined with leaves reduced the area for ambient light to penetrate down to the "stop" signs. We saw what appeared to be a 7ft diamondback snake in about 25ft of water on the eastern side of the sink, just before the chimney leading over to Friedman’s Sink. Thought it might have been a banded water snake, but the head was triangular and very big!
MermaidAshley15 - 3/12/2016 5:05 PM
I went scuba diving here on 3/11/2016. Average viz: 26-30ft/8-9m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
mangoman1 - 2/27/2016 6:16 PM
I went scuba diving here on 2/23/2016. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.
mangoman1 - 1/19/2016 9:34 PM
I went scuba diving here on 1/18/2016. Average viz: 31-35ft/9-11m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.
mangoman1 - 12/30/2015 7:28 PM
I went scuba diving here on 4/3/2015. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.
SantaFeSandy - 12/29/2015 7:38 AM
I went scuba diving here on 12/28/2015. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m. 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 8:17 AM
I went scuba diving here on 12/14/2015. Average viz: 31-35ft/9-11m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
MermaidAshley15 - 10/29/2015 9:51 AM
I went scuba diving here on 10/28/2015. Average viz: 5-10ft/2-3m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
ram04769 - 10/29/2015 10:54 AM
Glad to hear that things worked out for you on this attempt.
SantaFeSandy - 10/27/2015 9:42 PM
I went scuba diving here on 10/26/2015. Average viz: 5-10ft/2-3m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.
Monday Oct. 26, 2015. Shots inside the cavern zones of Catfish Hotel!

When asked about the clarity of the water inside Catfish on this day, my response was, "Horrible. The water levels were down, the flow by the syphon and inside the cave was butt kicking, and the viz was totally cloudy and filled with particulate.

"Not fun. However, the small cavern zone on the far side of the sink, that leads to a jump in the main system, was indeed fun and full of photographic opportunity despite the particulate mess!!!"

All divers wanting shots of themselves like the ones I got of my buddy, I’m for hire and I’ll give you a great deal of 20 images for $400. plus tax.