Orlando

"Lee Bell" wrote

>> Not the case anymore, have reports the eco-terrorists have won, divers
>> now chased out when the damn things are present. They seek the contact,
>> divers get penalized.
>
> You still might see them. You can still walk the trail along the run.
>
> Chasing divers out should not surprise me, but it doesn't sound right
> anyway. Are you sure or is this something being considered? Is it just
> divers, or divers and all the swimmers, canoes, etc.?

Divers were the last to get it, last time I was there we were allowed in
while swimmers had to wait, because they knew we were headed to where the
manatees didn't go. We did, of course, avoid them to the very best of our
ability. Since then, a friend and regular there reported they started
making divers wait too (for the upper run to be clear, not just an opening
where we could pass). Don't have first-hand knowledge of the extent, just a
reliable report things had been tightened.

Curtis

"Lee Bell" wrote

>> Not the case anymore, have reports the eco-terrorists have won, divers
>> now chased out when the damn things are present. They seek the contact,
>> divers get penalized.
>
> You still might see them. You can still walk the trail along the run.
>
> Chasing divers out should not surprise me, but it doesn't sound right
> anyway. Are you sure or is this something being considered? Is it just
> divers, or divers and all the swimmers, canoes, etc.?

Divers were the last to get it, last time I was there we were allowed in
while swimmers had to wait, because they knew we were headed to where the
manatees didn't go. We did, of course, avoid them to the very best of our
ability. Since then, a friend and regular there reported they started
making divers wait too (for the upper run to be clear, not just an opening
where we could pass). Don't have first-hand knowledge of the extent, just a
reliable report things had been tightened.

Curtis

"Gary Owens" <gowens1@cfl.rr.com> wrote

> No, you can still dive the cave, you just can't swim or float down the
> run. And if you harass the manatees you get tossed.

That's what it used to be, hear that's changed, maybe for just the peak
weekends? I haven't made the trip since tipped off may not be able to get
in. Have you been there in the past month?

> But in all fairness the rangers watch very closely and they know sometime
> the manatees will approach you without you knowing it. It can be a suprise
> to come nose to nose with an 800 lb gray blob.

In all fairness, most of the rangers have been very realistic about the
situation, and their diving rules enforcement in general has been strict but
fair. I've always found them very pleasant.

Curtis

"Gary Owens" <gowens1@cfl.rr.com> wrote

> No, you can still dive the cave, you just can't swim or float down the
> run. And if you harass the manatees you get tossed.

That's what it used to be, hear that's changed, maybe for just the peak
weekends? I haven't made the trip since tipped off may not be able to get
in. Have you been there in the past month?

> But in all fairness the rangers watch very closely and they know sometime
> the manatees will approach you without you knowing it. It can be a suprise
> to come nose to nose with an 800 lb gray blob.

In all fairness, most of the rangers have been very realistic about the
situation, and their diving rules enforcement in general has been strict but
fair. I've always found them very pleasant.

Curtis

"Gary Owens" wrote

> No, you can still dive the cave, you just can't swim or float down the
> run. And if you harass the manatees you get tossed.
> But in all fairness the rangers watch very closely and they know sometime
> the manatees will approach you without you knowing it. It can be a suprise
> to come nose to nose with an 800 lb gray blob.

Interesting. Frankly, I find this all a bit silly. I've never known a
diver that, without mechanical assistance, could sucessfully harass a
manatee for long that didn't want to be bothered. They swim a lot better
than anyone I know. Of course you can, briefly bother them, but heck,
learning that not all men are completely safe is probably a pro survival
lesson.

Coming nose to nose with a manatee, in clear water, is the kind of surprise
I like.

Lee

"Gary Owens" wrote

> No, you can still dive the cave, you just can't swim or float down the
> run. And if you harass the manatees you get tossed.
> But in all fairness the rangers watch very closely and they know sometime
> the manatees will approach you without you knowing it. It can be a suprise
> to come nose to nose with an 800 lb gray blob.

Interesting. Frankly, I find this all a bit silly. I've never known a
diver that, without mechanical assistance, could sucessfully harass a
manatee for long that didn't want to be bothered. They swim a lot better
than anyone I know. Of course you can, briefly bother them, but heck,
learning that not all men are completely safe is probably a pro survival
lesson.

Coming nose to nose with a manatee, in clear water, is the kind of surprise
I like.

Lee

""Magilla"" <cavey_curtis@$$ yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:SQIHf.382149$qk4.80541@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "Lee Bell" wrote
>
>>> Not the case anymore, have reports the eco-terrorists have won,
>>> divers now chased out when the damn things are present. They seek the
>>> contact, divers get penalized.
>>
>> You still might see them. You can still walk the trail along the run.
>>
>> Chasing divers out should not surprise me, but it doesn't sound right
>> anyway. Are you sure or is this something being considered? Is it just
>> divers, or divers and all the swimmers, canoes, etc.?
>
> Divers were the last to get it, last time I was there we were allowed
> in while swimmers had to wait, because they knew we were headed to where
> the manatees didn't go. We did, of course, avoid them to the very best of
> our ability. Since then, a friend and regular there reported they started
> making divers wait too (for the upper run to be clear, not just an opening
> where we could pass). Don't have first-hand knowledge of the extent, just
> a reliable report things had been tightened.
>
> Curtis

Ah well. Another case of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Lee

""Magilla"" <cavey_curtis@$$ yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:SQIHf.382149$qk4.80541@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "Lee Bell" wrote
>
>>> Not the case anymore, have reports the eco-terrorists have won,
>>> divers now chased out when the damn things are present. They seek the
>>> contact, divers get penalized.
>>
>> You still might see them. You can still walk the trail along the run.
>>
>> Chasing divers out should not surprise me, but it doesn't sound right
>> anyway. Are you sure or is this something being considered? Is it just
>> divers, or divers and all the swimmers, canoes, etc.?
>
> Divers were the last to get it, last time I was there we were allowed
> in while swimmers had to wait, because they knew we were headed to where
> the manatees didn't go. We did, of course, avoid them to the very best of
> our ability. Since then, a friend and regular there reported they started
> making divers wait too (for the upper run to be clear, not just an opening
> where we could pass). Don't have first-hand knowledge of the extent, just
> a reliable report things had been tightened.
>
> Curtis

Ah well. Another case of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Lee

"Lee Bell" wrote

> Ah well. Another case of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Well said.

I have no problems with the diver protection rules, they make sense even
if seem strict to some. Just seems to me the manatee protection rules go
beyond what's necisary.

Curtis

"Lee Bell" wrote

> Ah well. Another case of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Well said.

I have no problems with the diver protection rules, they make sense even
if seem strict to some. Just seems to me the manatee protection rules go
beyond what's necisary.

Curtis