run down of dive site options in N. Florida for new OW divers

[bradlw]

I'm looking for a rundown of sites easy/fast to get to for short weekend 1-2 day trips from Jacksonville, St Augustine, Orlando
Good places to take new OW divers for fun and experience
I'm familiar with

• rainbow river
• Crystal River
• Devils Den
• Blue Gratto
• 40-Fathom Gratto
• Ward Sink (although I see that's listed as closed now)
• and I know about Gennie Springs (camped there once and snorkeled, but haven't dived there yet on scuba

Where else am I forgetting or not aware of?

I'm not a big fan of the sinkholes because they're typically small, dark, not much to look at and I don't think they are all that much fun for new divers....and based on their experience during their checkout dives at Blue Gratto I think that they tend to agree probably. Ok for training dives, and places to get deep experience, etc.... but not all that much fun
Regardless, I'm looking for those options too. Especially ones that are more suitable for new divers as a fun dive

 

[Johnoly]

I'm looking for a rundown of sites easy/fast to get to for short weekend 1-2 day trips from Jacksonville, St Augustine, Orlando
Good places to take new OW divers for fun and experience
....... Especially ones that are more suitable for new divers as a fun dive

You could add Alexander Springs near Eustis in the Ocala National Forest to your list.
It's one of a few 1st magnitude high flow springs. Things I like about it are:

* 300 foot crystal clear viz. Even if divers trash viz, it clears in 15 mins from high flow.
* Some high flow, mask shaking, powerful small water vent jets
* 27ft deep max and a long 300ft very shallow swim out to the 'bowl' to practice your trim
* Tons of shade tree, clean bathrooms, little store, showers, paved sidewalks for rolling gear
* Camping, kayaking also
* C H E A P - but check their website for rules.

 

[bradlw]

You could add Alexander Springs near Eustis in the Ocala National Forest to your list.
It's one of a few 1st magnitude high flow springs. Things I like about it are:

* 300 foot crystal clear viz. Even if divers trash viz, it clears in 15 mins from high flow.
* Some high flow, mask shaking, powerful small water vent jets
* 27ft deep max and a long 300ft very shallow swim out to the 'bowl' to practice your trim
* Tons of shade tree, clean bathrooms, little store, showers, paved sidewalks for rolling gear
* Camping, kayaking also
* C H E A P - but check their website for rules.

That's a new one for me.
Looks like the main attraction is the spring boil. Which seems to be the case for all of these except maybe Rainbow River.
But that's ok. My family would probably have fun enough just goofing around practicing trim and tricks. That was one point of discussion after our recent key largo trip.... they had fun just going out into a sand bottom area and goofing around.... trying cartwheels, flips, floating neutral, etc.....

This looks like a great location for us...and CHEAP is good!!!
and camping there too. We could take our RV there and make an overnight out of it.

Is there anything to dive beyond the bowl?...such as out into the spring run, is that deep enough/long enough for much of a tour?
What would a fun dive look like there? A few minutes exploring the bowl and boil? Then goof off time blowing bubbles?
I'm imagining one tank per diver for the weekend.
Maybe a couple of 20-30 minute bubble sessions, then that would be enough. Sound about right?

 

[Johnoly]

Is there anything to dive beyond the bowl?...

The water area is Unlike most of other springs who have a single very narrow river emptying out. Alexander is more like a 3 acre crystal clear shallow lake that you can stand up in many places. It's usually pretty quiet and definitely not a water park with screaming and yelling cause there's no alcohol allowed. It's the total opposite of Ginnie Springs. There's some excellent short hiking and I've seen deer, raccoons and 1 bear in my short walks.

There's thousands of Alexander Sprgs youtube/instagram videos that you can gather ideas on what to do. But it's great for training and new divers to practice skills.