Ginnie Springs ???

[vapovick]

Hello, I am soon to be an AOW, and want to go check out the springs, I know I cant dive the caves/caverns. But still want to go to see the springs. Am I kidding myslef, or would this still be worth the trip... (not being able to cave/cavern) but able to dive some of the basins...



./thanks

 

[scubafool]

That all depends on what you like. If you want to see a large variety of colorful fish, fantastic coral, historic shipwrecks, etc, I wouldn't recommend it.

If you might like kinda drab freshwater fish, deep rock crevasses, & most importantly, the endless wonder of millions of gallons of water pumping out from the deep, you might like it. If you might like thousands of light waves sparkling through the incredibly clear water across the white sand bottom. If you might like finally catching a glimpse of a "fresh water flounder", (an expert in camoflauge, by the way) making an escape, only to be invisible as soon as they stop, then you might like the springs.

Yep, I am kinda weird, but I like the springs

 

[vapovick]

That all sounds really great. Something that would intrest me. Thanks for the help. I just did not want to make the trip down there, if there was not much to do, not being cave cert'd.. Thanks again..

 

[Bobby]

There is plenty of diving that you can do with out a cavern or higher cert. When you go to ginnie they will give you an orientation video on the rules and ginnie cavern can be entered by OW divers. devils ear and eye have a lot to offer as well though you can not enter the systems you can look in from outside. You also may want to consider a trip to Crystal River and a Mannatee tour combined with a tour of Kings Cavern. Birds Under Water is an excellent operation and the owner has years of experience as a cave and technical instructor as well as a great person (and a very good friend) There is also Blue Grotto and Devils Den which is between Ginnie and Crystal River. All very fun and exciting dive sights. A little off the track from them is also Paradise Springs. Last but not least is Mannatte Springs state park. You will need a guide to dive Catfish Hotel but do not need one for Mannatee, good luck have fun and keep it safe.

 

[CameronMartz]

Don't go unless you have a lot of money to spend on subsequent cave training and dive gear. <g> One look at the caverns was all it took for me to start down that path.

A neat trick to do if you're there at night and want to see nature in action. Hang out in the very shallow section leading from Ginnie cavern to the river- you don't even need dive gear- just a mask and a dive light. Pick out a single minnow and follow it with your light. It will only take about two seconds for a bass to swallow it down. You can do this again and again and again. The bass won't stop until you do, but it would be just plain mean to do this more than a few times.

Cameron

 

[vapovick]

yeah, I was thinking about hitting more of the spring locations while I was there. Thanks for all the information. I will let you all know how it goes, and once I get the trip planned I might hit this tread again to search for a buddy... my g/f still has not got her cert yet...

 

[divewriter]

two more that are worth checking out if you have the time are the Rainbow River, which cn be drifted with tank or just with snorkel - and Weeki Wachee, which is cool mosly for the history and the Mermaid Show.

yeah, I was thinking about hitting more of the spring locations while I was there. Thanks for all the information. I will let you all know how it goes, and once I get the trip planned I might hit this tread again to search for a buddy... my g/f still has not got her cert yet...

 

[GrierHPharmD]

There is plenty of diving that you can do with out a cavern or higher cert. When you go to ginnie they will give you an orientation video on the rules and ginnie cavern can be entered by OW divers. devils ear and eye have a lot to offer as well though you can not enter the systems you can look in from outside. You also may want to consider a trip to Crystal River and a Mannatee tour combined with a tour of Kings Cavern. Birds Under Water is an excellent operation and the owner has years of experience as a cave and technical instructor as well as a great person (and a very good friend) There is also Blue Grotto and Devils Den which is between Ginnie and Crystal River. All very fun and exciting dive sights. A little off the track from them is also Paradise Springs. Last but not least is Mannatte Springs state park. You will need a guide to dive Catfish Hotel but do not need one for Mannatee, good luck have fun and keep it safe.

Couldn't agree with you more, Bobby.

For what it's worth, I love diving the springs. It's not a coral reef or a historical wreck, but the clarity and ease of diving are great, as are the fossils and limestone formations. I'd add Rainbow River to the list above - it's a great little freshwater drift dive that starts at KP Hole park, near Dunellon, FL. Fossil beds, great river wildlife, a couple of small caverns, and enough current to propel you all the way back to the exit point make it a special dive.

Here's a link to some great cavern/spring sites. Most of them have linked maps and websites.

Good luck and safe ascents,
Grier

 

[vapovick]

GrierHPharmD , I dont see the link

 

[haneym]

i have dove ginnie a few times and it has a few cool things (crystal clear water) but overall i find it rather boring. its cool to do once in a while but not a whole lot to see. i am doing blue grotto and rainbow river for the first time this weekend so i will be able to give a report and a few pics on monday.

grier - i would be interested in that site too, you forgot the link.