Question Spring Diving Late March 2025 (Suggestions?)

[The Chairman]

80 FFW?! That is one spring I've not yet dived. I'll have to get up there and dive it one day. Sounds like you can easily get a fun day of 2-3 dives.

They blew up the cave access in the 60s, but it's still a wonderful dive. It might be a 100 or 150 feet swim to the Madison. Royal, Peacock, and Little River are the other side of the river. Close enough where you'll get there well within your surface interval. OW is welcome at Orange Grove (Peacock System) if the vis is good, but not at the other springs in that park or over at Little River. However, Royal is a fun dive and full of baby peacock flounder. 3 to 4 inches. You have to have great buoyancy and kicking to not silt it out there. Even then, it's hard to spot those guys at times.

 

[Rilelen]

Oh, you can still get in the cave (and there’s line in there), but I would very much not advise it. System is super unstable.

 

[The Chairman]

Oh, you can still get in the cave (and there’s line in there), but I would very much not advise it. System is super unstable.

Are you absolutely sure? That's the case at Royal, but I haven't seen a diveable entrance at Troy. @tbone1004, @kensuf, or @Capt Jim Wyatt might be able to chime in on this.

 

[Rilelen]

Are you absolutely sure? That's the case at Royal, but I haven't seen a diveable entrance at Troy. @tbone1004, @kensuf, or @Capt Jim Wyatt might be able to chime in on this.

Yup. I’ve haven’t been in myself but know people who have - by all accounts, it’s quite tight, very high flow, and nothing worth seeing. There’s a similarly tight entrance in Rainbow River to a sidemount/no-mount cave maybe ten minutes downstream from where the water taxi drops.

For a somewhat more official source, there’s a note in the Troy state park management portfolio, noting the cave system’s instability, that cites personal communication with Wes Skiles.

 

[The Chairman]

I'll take a closer look next time I'm in it. Thanks.

 

[oldschool45]

Heading down tomorrow. Probably going to rent tanks from Amigos unless there is a valid reason not to? Going to break in her new BCD at Fanning and maybe hit there and Manatee spring/Catfish Hotel over the weekend. Probably do Devils Den Monday or Tuesday. She wants to do Crystal River for the chance to see some Manatees. I'm on the fence about if Ginnie is worth the cost. Also plan to spend some time at Troy and Royal. Any conditions issues we should be aware of? I know the area got some rain recently.
Thanks again!
She's already got her AOW booked through Puravida in mid-july. 3 of her dives will be at Blue Heron Bridge. I'll probably shore dive and try to kill some Lionfish.

 

[Evan_S]

Love Paradise, but I think Jennifer is currently requiring AOW to dive it, and OP’s wife doesnt have it yet.

Correct, it’s AOW recommended I think. I recently completed my AOW cert at Paradise Springs. Got down to 100’ with my instructor. I live in Ocala, I hope to go back with someone again!

 

[Rilelen]

Heading down tomorrow. Probably going to rent tanks from Amigos unless there is a valid reason not to? Going to break in her new BCD at Fanning and maybe hit there and Manatee spring/Catfish Hotel over the weekend. Probably do Devils Den Monday or Tuesday. She wants to do Crystal River for the chance to see some Manatees. I'm on the fence about if Ginnie is worth the cost. Also plan to spend some time at Troy and Royal. Any conditions issues we should be aware of? I know the area got some rain recently.
Thanks again!
She's already got her AOW booked through Puravida in mid-july. 3 of her dives will be at Blue Heron Bridge. I'll probably shore dive and try to kill some Lionfish.

Troy and Royal are currently brown; the Suwannee River is up, and has browned out a lot of the Suwannee springs. You could substitute Orange Grove, assuming conditions hold.

 

[oldschool45]

Troy and Royal are currently brown; the Suwannee River is up, and has browned out a lot of the Suwannee springs. You could substitute Orange Grove, assuming conditions hold.

Thanks for the heads-up! That probably just put Ginnie back on the list.

 

[oldschool45]

Got tanks at Cave County Dive Center and hit Fanning Spring. Couldn't get geared up before swimmers ran the manatee off. Going to try again tomorrow morning. Also stopped by scuba monkey dive center in Alachua.