First visit to Vortex Spring was.......

[DiverDurf]

......Fan-Freakin-Tastic! Until now I have only dove in the Blue Grotto and Ginnie Springs here in FL and thought I was having a lot of fun with those. Well, I was, but diving at Vortex was a blast in comparison. There are so many fish to see- especially if you bring a bottle of Easy Cheese with! There are very large carp, blue gill, and water eels that are just as curious about you as you are of them, and once that cheese comes out it's a free-for-all. There were so many at one point I was reaching out and touching them.

The dive staff have really done a great job in setting up a fun diving environment. There are man-made 40' tunnels to swim through and various obstacles to toodle around. There is a diver's bell around the 35-40' mark, but they don't pump fresh air into it. The spring head is around 53-55' and has a neat cavern entrance where the eels like to hang out. Some of them jokers are as long as your leg and about the circumference of a male bicep! They are surprisingly curious about diver lights too. ;-)

There are a couple of cave entrances, or so we were told, but we never ventured over to them since we weren't cave certified. There are plenty of tables around the water's edge to set your gear on, and there are a LOT of regular swim areas for snorkelers and swimmers in general. There's even a springboard diving board, a rope swing, and several diving platforms! This place also boasts camping and canoe/kayak rentals, PLUS, they have on-site lodging!

For me, it was a 4-hr drive there, three dives, then a 4-hr drive back......but it was WELL worth it and I'll repeat the trip again soon! If you haven't been and want something new to check out in around the panhandle of FL, go to Vortex Spring: a Florida Treasure.

 

[divinginn]

springfest is coming up in april at vortex,we have a big scubaboard party twice a year there,spring and fall,it is always a hoot,come join in.

 

[diver 85]

You'll think you've died & gone to heaven when you get to the Caribbean....glad you had a good time @ V...

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Morrison's which is across town will be open this week. It's free (for now) and has a nice basin and cavern. I can't wait to get down there for Spring-SpringFest II in April!
Vortex is a fun place and the crew that run it, headed by Shane, are awesome!

Carolyn:shark2:

 

[k ellis]

Wow sounds like you had a blast. Vortex is an awesome dive and I loved it when I went. Im glad you had an excellent dive!

 

[ScubaDocER]

Morrison's which is across town will be open this week. It's free (for now) and has a nice basin and cavern. I can't wait to get down there for Spring-SpringFest II in April!
Vortex is a fun place and the crew that run it, headed by Shane, are awesome!

Carolyn:shark2:

Is there an exact date for the opening of Morrisons? I would love to take some students there to do their check out dives but cannot get an accurate opening date. Is there a web site that lists current information about Morrison?

 

[KY_BOB]

Thanks for the review. Vortex is on my "must do" list.

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Is there an exact date for the opening of Morrisons? I would love to take some students there to do their check out dives but cannot get an accurate opening date. Is there a web site that lists current information about Morrison?

This was posted in the Morrison thread in the DDD Forum.

morrison springs park set to re-open feb. 26, 11:00 a.m.
Ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled to celebrate over $1 million in renovations to popular dive spot and natural attraction

walton county, fl morrison springs park is scheduled to re-open thursday, february 26, 11:00 a.m. Following a year of renovations. Walton county commissioner scott brannon will lead a ribbon cutting ceremony with other local and state leaders who worked to secure the necessary funding for the million-dollar renovation project. The public is invited to attend.

Morrison springs is one of the most popular diving spots in northwest florida and well-known throughout the southeast. This 161-acre park was acquired by the state in 2004 and has been leased to the county to maintain and preserve. The highlight of the park is a 250-foot diameter spring pool that produces an estimated 48 million gallons of crystal clear water each day and has been recorded to produce up to 70 million gallons a day. 3 cavities allow morrisonÃÔ frigid waters to surface from the underground aquifer. The deepest of these cavities, at approximately 300 foot in depth, eventually terminates in an underground chamber of unknown dimensions.

The new morrison springs park includes large boardwalks overlooking the springs, a diving dock and a new boat ramp away from the diving location. Handicap parking makes accessibility to the boardwalks and beach area easier, and bus parking enables large groups to explore and enjoy the new park amenities. Restrooms with outdoor showers now make visiting the park more convenient and welcoming to residents and visitors. A new education center is being planned as part of ongoing park improvements. In addition to thousands of dollars in volunteer time by cliff knauer, p.e. Of preble-rish, inc. And county staff resources, $500,000 in funds to renovate the park is from a northwest florida water management district grant. The florida boating improvement program funded an additional $300,000 for construction of a new boat ramp, including paved boat ramp parking and access road. The florida department of environmental protectionÃÔ springs initiative provided a $39,864 grant for the advanced septic treatment system and chlorinated well system.

ÅÕhis newly renovated park not only enhances the safety of the divers that come to explore the beautiful underwater caves, says district 1 commissioner scott brannon, ÅÃut it enhances the preservation of one of the most beautiful sites in all of northwest florida. We hope everyone will come and see the new park on february 26 and will join us for this historic event.ÆûBR>
directions: From the walton county courthouse: Head east on highway 90 for approximately 11.3 miles. Bear right onto highway 181-a for 3.3 miles. The highway eventually becomes 181. Continue for another 1.6 miles. Turn left onto morrison springs road and follow to its end.

From freeport: Highway 20 east, north on highway 81. Right onto highway 181. Right onto morrison springs road and follow to its end.


Christopher mitchell
walton county public information officer
post office box 1355
defuniak springs, florida 32435
850/892-8155



Carolyn:shark2:

 

[hankidic]

Ditch the cheese whiz, it's not good for the eels at Vortex even though they love the hell out of it the can not digest it.

 

[jmorriss]

In relation to the entrance, where is the Grim Reaper sign for both Morrison and Vortex? Right there, or a little ways in? I seem to recall reading that vortex has the Christmas tree lights leading up to the cave gate and that the conditions can be deceptively more dangerous there in respect to the Ballroom?