Devil's Den vs. Blue Grotto

[Randy g]

Why underwhelming? Are there better spots, or are you just not a fan of caverns/caves?

I've done the Den and diving it once is all I care to do. To me its so small, its boring. One dive and you can see everything.......twice.

I was just certified in Cavern and taking full cave the start of next year. To me they just dont cut it. I'd rather beach dive Venice, BHB or LBTS than dive either of these two places.

Good to do once, just to experience them.

 

[tajkd]

Devil's Den! But the Blue Grotto is worth diving once as well. Devil's Den has a bunch of swim throughs and more interesting underwater topography. But Blue Grotto is also a fun dive. I think they are only 20 minutes apart so you might be able to hit both on one day. Both sites have really good vis unless a bunch of students are being trained and then they can get silted up a bit.

I agree completely. Don't choose - do both.

 

[Glenn08]

Blue Grotto. I dove Blue Grotto, but only visited Devil's Den. Devil's Den would probably not have allowed my twin 50's, while a single 100 would be okay. The entrance to Devil's Den is a narrow, steep, staircase - I found it claustrophobic. And Blue Grotto is open with lots of light. Devil's Den has a 'skylight' opening with much less sunlight.

 

[kelemvor]

If you go to blue grotto, bring an uninflated beach ball. You can blow it up and play with it in the bell

 

[SanDiegoSidemount]

If you go to blue grotto, bring an uninflated beach ball. You can blow it up and play with it in the bell

Ooh, my son would love that. He actually made a dive video for school about Boyle's law.

 

[Pedro Burrito]

The entrance to Devil's Den is a narrow, steep, staircase - I found it claustrophobic. And Blue Grotto is open with lots of light. Devil's Den has a 'skylight' opening with much less sunlight.

Here's the opening:



Here's the view of the skylight from below:

 

[acteg]

Why underwhelming? Are there better spots, or are you just not a fan of caverns/caves?

Devil's Den ($32):

There really is nothing to look at except for the rock formations, and you can only go through the swim thru's so many times before you bore of that. Last time I was there I had more fun watching the new divers getting certified than anything else. If you have never been though, it is really cool the first time. I just don't see going back unless it's to accompany a friend.

Blue Grotto($40):
It's about as exciting as going into a swimming pool, swimming to the bottom of the deep end, and then swimming back to the surface. Even if you do the dive at a snails pace you have seen everything there is to see in about 15 minutes.

I know that sounds negative, but driving to these sites takes as long (for me) as driving to the east coast of florida and doing a shore dive or a boat dive. Since the cost of gas is the same that cost is moot. The shore dive cost me nothing but air and I can see beautiful reef, marine life, and maybe even bag dinner. If I go on a boat dive I get 2 dives in and I'm out $50 for the dive and $10 for tip, and I'm usually diving big ledges and interacting with large marine life (once again there is the option of bringing home dinner too).

They are still worth doing if you've never done them, I just don't see myself actively deciding to dive those sites again.

 

[C P]

With a Jr Diver, (even without) I'd go to Devil's Den. To do anything at Blue Grotto would require going deeper. Blue Grotto just kind of teased my girls when they had depth limits as Jr. Divers, where Devil's Den didn't make them feel like something had been denied to them. Devil's Den is just much more interesting to see, and a much cooler sight/location for kids, and better diving for the Jr. Diver. Either way, you see them both in a couple of short dives. Your only about an hour from Ginnie Springs to the north, and Crystal River with the manatees to the south east. The Rainbow River with a drift dive is a short drive from Crystal River also. With a Jr. Diver nitrox isn't an issue, but if you need rental gear, call ahead and make sure either has what you need. Blue Grotto's shop is better.

 

[bilsant]

Both are worth diving,,, if only to say you did it at least once. Of the two, I preferred Devil's Den.

It's definitely an advanced dive and not for basic OW, but I prefer Paradise Springs - 35 miles further southeast in Ocala - to either of the others.

Advice on any of the three is get there early before too many divers are in the water.

 

[tajkd]

With a Jr Diver, (even without) I'd go to Devil's Den. To do anything at Blue Grotto would require going deeper. Blue Grotto just kind of teased my girls when they had depth limits as Jr. Divers, where Devil's Den didn't make them feel like something had been denied to them. Devil's Den is just much more interesting to see, and a much cooler sight/location for kids, and better diving for the Jr. Diver. Either way, you see them both in a couple of short dives. Your only about an hour from Ginnie Springs to the north, and Crystal River with the manatees to the south east. The Rainbow River with a drift dive is a short drive from Crystal River also. With a Jr. Diver nitrox isn't an issue, but if you need rental gear, call ahead and make sure either has what you need. Blue Grotto's shop is better.

I did both with my 12 year old son who had just finished his OW certification. You can go safely to the bottom of Blue Grotto. We took a DM with us and had a blast.