I will be in Destin starting next week for 12 days and was thinking about checking out one of the springs. I am a snorkel-only diver. This could be especially important to me if oil should happen to occur and prevent snorkeling in the Gulf. Any recommendation from you guys as to which would be best? On-line searches and Deloach's book mention Vortex, Morrison, and Ponce de Leon. I looked at photos, and topside Vortex does not seem very appealing nor is it a natural setting. Morrison looks much prettier with nice cypress trees and has more of the Shangra-La look I would like from a spring, although I read somewhere there aren't many fish there. Are there runs from any of these springs that would be interesting for snorkeling and good snorkeling photography?
Best spring(s) in the Panhandle for snorkeling
- Thread starter Dave C
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SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
Cypress by far is the best IMO, for snorkeling or OW scuba.
Shangri La in Merrits Mill Pond would be my 2nd choice. Infact, the entirety of Merritts Mill Pond is snorkelable, especially the northernmost few miles.
Morrison and the spring run will yield lots of fish shots, especially in the run itself(albeit visibility will suffer the further you get from the basin).
Ponce De Leon is worth a look, but it gets crowded quick and the spring run is dammed, then shallow, so you're pretty much looking at the basin. Beat the crowds, and you can have a good time for a little while.
How far east are you willing to go? Stuff worth looking at near Tallahassee as well, mostly sinkholes, but places like the Wacissa River would be good as well.
Shangri La in Merrits Mill Pond would be my 2nd choice. Infact, the entirety of Merritts Mill Pond is snorkelable, especially the northernmost few miles.
Morrison and the spring run will yield lots of fish shots, especially in the run itself(albeit visibility will suffer the further you get from the basin).
Ponce De Leon is worth a look, but it gets crowded quick and the spring run is dammed, then shallow, so you're pretty much looking at the basin. Beat the crowds, and you can have a good time for a little while.
How far east are you willing to go? Stuff worth looking at near Tallahassee as well, mostly sinkholes, but places like the Wacissa River would be good as well.
wjefferis
Contributor
I second everything that bugman said. I would add that there is alot of diversity in Merritt's Mill Pond. Don't let the name fool you, the "pond" is more like a spring fed lake and is quite large. The pond is not as susceptible to flooding as most spring since the levels are controlled by a dam so it is usually the safest bet regardless of rainfall. There are several cave systems feeding into the pond.
Mill Pond
Cypress Springs
Mill Pond
Cypress Springs
wjefferis
Contributor
Directions for Jackson Blue
Jackson Blue Springs is about 5 miles east of the city limits of Marianna in the northeast end of Merritts Mill Pond. From Marianna, drive 1 mile east on U.S. Hwy 90, 1.1 miles north on State Hwy 71, and 3.3 miles east on State Hwy 164. The spring is centered on the recreational park.
Cypress
http://www.thiswaytothe.net/springs/pages/cypress-springs-washington.html
Jackson Blue Springs is about 5 miles east of the city limits of Marianna in the northeast end of Merritts Mill Pond. From Marianna, drive 1 mile east on U.S. Hwy 90, 1.1 miles north on State Hwy 71, and 3.3 miles east on State Hwy 164. The spring is centered on the recreational park.
Cypress
http://www.thiswaytothe.net/springs/pages/cypress-springs-washington.html
SeaYoda
Contributor
Of the closest springs I vote for Cypress - need to canoe to get there but best for snorkel / pictures IMHO.
Morrison is nice in the shallows around the basin and down the run. The basin itself rarely has much life for pictures (due to divers going in and out), especially when snorkeling.
Morrison is nice in the shallows around the basin and down the run. The basin itself rarely has much life for pictures (due to divers going in and out), especially when snorkeling.
Cypress, hands down.
wess7777
Registered
My buddy and I dive often at Morison Springs & Vortex. We are looking for some new springs to dive that are not too far away. Would you say that Mill’s Pond is comparable with these other two dive spots? Thanks –Wess-
SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
If you plan on going into them... don't. The caves on the Mill Pond are quite a bit messier than the caves at Vortex or the cavern at Morrison. You'd want to get the training and the gear, and likely more experience.
None of the Mill Pond caves have basins as large as Vortex and Morrison for OW diving and any great depth, but if you can be entertained in the shallows, the entire pond can be fun.
None of the Mill Pond caves have basins as large as Vortex and Morrison for OW diving and any great depth, but if you can be entertained in the shallows, the entire pond can be fun.
Like Mat said, Mill Pond is nothing like Vortex or Morrison. The maximum depth in OW is about 12'. It's a great area for snorkeling or very shallow diving. The caverns/caves are not "OW friendly" like some like to call other caverns. They are definitely advanced dives that require training. In fact, almost every time I bring students into one of the caverns, it starts to silt. It's great for no visibility training!
wess7777
Registered
I have no interest to cave dive at this time. I do enjoy going in to the caverns, we are just looking for some where new to dive that has characteristics like Vortex or Morrison springs that is not to faraway. We go to Vortex or Morison’s springs about every week, want to see something different. Thanks for your input, doesn’t sound like Mill’s Pond is the place for us.
Thanks Again Mat & Rob,
Wess
Thanks Again Mat & Rob,
Wess
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