Cave Diving
Manatee Spring is the profound end to an extensive underwater Cave system, of which approximately 26,300 feet have been surveyed and mapped over the years. Early exploration of this underwater cave began in 1961, when NSS divers connected the Manatee Spring entrance to nearby Catfish Hotel Sinkhole, a fantastic underwater traverse of 467 feet.
In 1969 Bob and Sue Friedman explored upstream from Catfish Hotel 915 feet to the entrance of Sue Sink. At that time exploration continued 510 feet upstream from Sue Sink. It wasn't until 1973 that Court Smith and Lewis Holtzendorff went another 360 feet further upstream from Sue Sink. Others continued to explore upstream of Sue Sink, including the notable underwater cave explorer, Sheck Exley. One day, this same group of explorers decided to investigate a lead, based on directional headings taken while in the cave, of a possible opening. They fanned out in the dense woods and started checking every depression they came across, for the sign of clear water.
Eventually they found one, and named if after Bob and Sue Friedman. Friedmans sink. This was to become the last known opening in upstream Manatee Spring, and since that time many experienced explorers have plumbed it's dark depths.