Last chance to dive Blue Springs.

[kronek67]

Winter is comming and so are the manatees. That means that Blue Springs (Orange City) will be closeing to all swimmers and divers.:rcard So, I'm trying to get one last group of Freedivers together this Sunday, Nov. 12th. I know it is a little short notice and I apologieze. I will be doing some dives at other Florida springs in the coming weeks and will post them as soon as I know the dates. I can tell you that I will be around Troy Springs and Ginnie Springs area during Thanksgiving. I'll let you know when and were in a few days.

Back to Blue. If you are interested in diving at Blue springs before they close, we will be there on Sunday, Nov. 12th. I will get there at 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning and stay most of the day. Depending on who shows up, we may make a trip out to Alexzander Springs Sunday afternoon. Then again I may just stay at Blue until the run me out. As long as I have someone to dive with, I'll stay. Also, it looks like I may be diving with Conner at 8:00 Saterday morning in case you are interested. I will be there until about 11:00 or 12:00.

I hope to see you at Blue,
Brian

 

[jimdoe2you]

Brian,

Just before you posted the post above I had called Blue Springs to find out what the agenda is for closing. I was told that at this time they do not have any plans for closing the spring this season. Both of us should be weary because it wouldn't suprise me if one hand doesn't know the other hands intensions, and we find out that it is indeed closed.

Jim

 

[kronek67]

Jim,
Thanks for your reply. It seams that not everyone that works at the park really knows what is going on at the park. Last week one of my dive buddies called to see if they were open for swiming before he left the house. Somebody at the park told him that they were closed for all swiming due to manatees. At the same time, I was swimming, along with 20 other people. When we check with the rangers, they did not know what he was talking about. I hope that they due not close down this year, but last time I talked to the rangers they were. I know the rangers there, so I'll go check with them tommarrow and find out what they are planning. I'll let you know what I find out. Either way, I would hate to skip this weekend, just to find out that it was the last. So I'll be there either way. I'll post an update tommarrow.

Brian

 

[kronek67]

Update,

I went by Blue Springs on Wed. to see if they will be closing this winter for divers and swimmers. One person told me imediatly that management has made no official decision on that matter. They would not tell me anything more about it. I was then told by another ranger, that I know, they are getting 10 manatees a day, and that there is no official decision, but they are talking about closing as early as next week. That means that this very well be the last chance to dive Blue Springs this year. I'll let you know when they do officialy close, and then when they reopen.

We are still planning on diving Blue Sunday. I will be there at about 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning and stay most of the day. Also, if anyone is interested, Scott, Conner, and I will be at the Blue springs Saterday morning at 8:00.

I hope to see you there,
Brian

 

[cdavis]

As you can tell, the Blue Springs/Manatee thing is a messy flux and nobody really knows what is going to happen. I talked to three park employes last monday. One said no problem, no closure of the boil, the second was defensive and evasive and I had to dig info out of him, it looked like closure. The third was an administrator who helped put things in context, looked like closure sometimes. As I understand it, the swimming area normally closes during manatee season, that leaves the diving area open. If there are many manatees in the diving/boil area, that area will close. Early in the season, that will probably be a day to day decision, so call ahead. Later in the season, its not clear; they might close until the manatees are gone.

The park people reported many more manatees and more people coming to see them Some goofballs were trying to dive with and feed them. Closure looked to me like the reaction of government employes caught between a law not well designed for Blue Springs and increasing preasure. If there are many manatees at the boil, say 15 or more, I can see their point. Its a very small area. If it is just a few manatees, I hope they stay open. I've seen that situation and don't see any problem with it. Might help if some of us expressed an opinion.

Connor

 

[kronek67]

Conner,
Most of the park employees have been a bit evasive on the subject. Almost like there not aloud to talk about it. The one that told me about possible closer next week, waited until I was away from every one to tell me. This is also right after they heard another employee tell me that there was no decision. They also acted like they were tired of getting that question. So i'm sure they are aware of the interest. It may help to try and get a meeting with management, to work out an agreement that would benafite everyone. It may be too late this year, but maybe for next year. I would have no problem with them closing the swim area and run for the entire winter season. I would even support it, so long as they made an effort to keep the boil open when possible. I have never seen more than 5 manatees in the boil at a time. And usaly that is first thing in the morning or later in the evening. I would even support them keeping the boil closed first thing in the morning, until the manatees move down the run, which is usaly by 9:00 or 10:00. Or even if 5 or more manatees enter the boil and stay for a period of time. Usaly they only stay for about 15-20 min. If they nade an effort to make the boil accesable, I would have no problem with temparay closer. I remember diving there in the years before with out any problems. The manatees did there thing and we did ours. Last year on the other hand, there was alot of problems with tourist messing with the manatees. And if you did not have a badge, they would not listen when you told them to keep there distence. I acutaly almost got arrested when I was the one to call for the rangers. There were people climing on the manatees and trying to ride them. They even pinned two up against the bank. And none of them would listen to anyone. So I looked all over the park for a state officer. When I could not find one, I hade the concesion stand call for one. I then returned to the spring were my friends were. Shortly afterwards, a state officer should up and was fixing to arrest me because someone told him that two guys in a black hood was messing with the manatees and I was the only one with a hood. I had to explain to him that I was the one who called for him. So they kicked everyone out of the water and the next week, they were closed. So, because of the tourist, the rest of use have to suffer.

So far, I'm hearing that they will be closing next week. Weither it is temparary closures or complete closer for the winter I don''t know. I'm just going to dive this weekend like it is the last.

Brian

 

[cdavis]

Thanks Jeff, good article. I could not agree more. This type of idiot closure simply turns people against manatees. VERY counter productive.

Connor