Open Water Friendly Florida Springs?

[moneysavr]

I second Troy ,,
Manatee too not as deep but ease of entry and with my JOW son he loves both springs with the turtles at Troy,Fish at Manatee and if you look hard on the bottom fresh water flounder so cool but the fish show no interest in cheese wiz!
As said the rains or lack there of will dramaticaly effect thease springs unlike the sinks like BG /DD.
Florida state parks are some of the best parks I have visited on our travels.
Dive safe,
Brad

 

[jscott099]

While not springs in the sense you mentioned, you could also consider Crystal River since the manatees will be back soon. Three Sisters there is cool as is King Spring. Nearby there is also Rainbow River which is an amazing drift dive down the river in bathtub clarity water. Royal Spring is another one that is near Peacock and is quite clear as long as the Suwanee has not backflowed into it. In the summer swimmers muck it up though. Stay out of the cavern there, not safe.

 

[karstdvr]

Was just curious about the Commercial Dive Permit - saw mentions of it but never any details online. I am not "teaching" any classes this trip but . . . .

http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstoknow/doc/FPSFeeSchedule.pdf

There is at least one dive shop I know of that has a commercial pass that instructors are allowed to use.

 

[LMM1967]

Another thumbs up for Troy.

Go see Wayne at Amigo's - great service - we always rent our tanks from him and fills are available 24/7.

Amigos Dive Center: Nitrox, Oxygen and Trimix Fills

 

[Xaryo]

Troy's nice and moreover there is supposed to be a civil war wreck in the spring run.

 

[mheaster]

Another thumbs up for Troy.

Go see Wayne at Amigo's - great service - we always rent our tanks from him and fills are available 24/7.

Amigos Dive Center: Nitrox, Oxygen and Trimix Fills

Thanks! I will certainly swing by there. I have heard of Amigos Dive Center in Joe Cocozza'a Pod Diver Scubacast Podcast.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Troy's nice and moreover there is supposed to be a civil war wreck in the spring run.

There is. Here's what you see -

 

[Hetland]

I don't recommend Paradise for OW. The OW section is very small and only about 15-20' deep.

Second what Dive-aholic says. It's about 10ft wide and at the bottom of some very steep stairs. Not OW-friendly at all imho.

 

[Stu S.]

What would be the water temp at Troy for diving this weekend? Still 72?

 

[Dive-aholic]

Always 70-72. However, as you get closer to the river, the temp will drop. The old paddle wheeler might be in colder water.