Need some springs info

[cfcstl]

I did a lot of spring diving back in the early 80's and I am planning on returning this March with my son to explore Florida during his spring break. I would like to take one day to show him the springs around northern or central Florida.
I would like some recommendations on the springs that might be worth a visit. I have noticed that many springs are now state parks and there is an entrance fee and some cases a diving fee. Here are a few questions I have:

Are there any springs that are accessible without an entrance fee or diving fee?
I'm looking for some places with a nice basin and good cavern but not interested in cave diving.
I was thinking about Peacock springs, but I'm not sure of the procedures for diving there now.
Any other suggestions?

 

[karstdvr]

The fee to dive state parks is nominal at $15 per person,as compared to some of the commercial operators,plus you'll have access to some facilities. If you are open water certified the places you want to go to are Troy springs,Catfish Hotel at Manatee springs,and Orange Grove at Peacock springs. Royal springs has a basin,and no fee,but it hasn't been very good for quite awhile,and dangerous is you accidently stray into the cavern. Some people will say Little River,but there really isn't much of a basin for open water diving. Check in advance before visiting because a rainy spring can blow out the springs with flooding

 

[cfcstl]

Thanks for the info. After searching the names you mentioned I found some more I used to visit. One in particular was Blue Springs in Orange City. Can you tell me if that site is still open to diving? We used to enter from the run and swim up to the spring. Has that changed at all?
Another place I can't remember the name of I can describe and see if anyone can offer the name. It was probably located in northern Florida. You would drive through some woods on a dirt road to a large basin with a rock wall on one side. You would enter from the opposite side and swim down into a cavern below the rock face. If I remember, the bottom was only a cavern but if you knew where to look along the submerged rock wall above the cavern, there was an opening that lead to a cave system. That's the best I can describe it. Sound familiar?

 

[ucfdiver]

Thanks for the info. After searching the names you mentioned I found some more I used to visit. One in particular was Blue Springs in Orange City. Can you tell me if that site is still open to diving? We used to enter from the run and swim up to the spring. Has that changed at all?
Another place I can't remember the name of I can describe and see if anyone can offer the name. It was probably located in northern Florida. You would drive through some woods on a dirt road to a large basin with a rock wall on one side. You would enter from the opposite side and swim down into a cavern below the rock face. If I remember, the bottom was only a cavern but if you knew where to look along the submerged rock wall above the cavern, there was an opening that lead to a cave system. That's the best I can describe it. Sound familiar?

Blue Springs in Orange City is still open to diving, but call before you go, as manatees get first dibs at the spring, humans are second priority lol. They're *very strict* about the no lights policy unless you're cavern/cave.

Is this the spring you're referring to? If so, it's Royal, there's a rock face to my back when taking this photo IIRC.

If so, it's not a great cavern dive, but doable. I really don't encourage going in the cave, here's a photo taken AFTER our dive, you can see the silt pouring out, and within 30 minutes the entire basin was blitzed. If you're cave trained and want to dive here, show courtesy and do it late afternoon on a weekday so you don't ruin it for any OW divers.

The only other place I can think of is Blue Grotto <<< Blue Grotto >>> . That place is more of a man made graffiti sculpture these days than cavern dive.

I think the caverns that allow OW divers (I refuse to use the term OW friendly) are as follows

• Blue Grotto
• Ginnie Springs Ballroom
• Vortex Spring
• Morrison Spring (?)
• Paradise Spring
• Royal Spring
• Little River (nothing enforced, but hopefully the deaths deter people at this site)

 

[SkimFisher]

Many consider Paradise to be not so OW friendly. Their website specifically states that it's not a good dive for a novice.

Ginnie Springs is a waste at its current price, IMO. To dive the basin and Ballroom I'm willing to pay $15 - not $40. It's a SHORT dive unless you just want to sit there and blow bubbles.

Blue Grotto is good but expensive (entry, fills, tanks, lights - they should call it Money Hole Grotto). Make sure to get tanks ahead of time and any other rental gear you might need.

Devil's Den is good.

Vortex I've heard good things about.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Check out the dive sites link on my website. I have listed several springs along with information on depths and suitability based on previous training. If either you or your son are not cavern trained and certified please don't go in the overhead. While this may have been common practice in the 80s, it's not now and many places don't allow it. Please be safe.

 

[b1gcountry]

Many consider Paradise to be not so OW friendly. Their website specifically states that it's not a good dive for a novice.

Ginnie Springs is a waste at its current price, IMO. To dive the basin and Ballroom I'm willing to pay $15 - not $40. It's a SHORT dive unless you just want to sit there and blow bubbles.

Blue Grotto is good but expensive (entry, fills, tanks, lights - they should call it Money Hole Grotto). Make sure to get tanks ahead of time and any other rental gear you might need.

Devil's Den is good.

Vortex I've heard good things about.

Ginnie only charges $30 for admission.

 

[SkimFisher]

Ginnie only charges $30 for admission.

My mistake. $15 still sounds better for that dive.

 

[bigdave1969]

Check out vortex springs in ponce de leon, great spot for ow , has a large basin, and a very nice cavern/cave. Remeber if not cavern/cave trained, do not go into a overhead.

 

[Mopar]

I been to Troy once. It was in the mid. 80's. Is the ribs of the old Civil War ship still around?