Springs close to Crystal - Advice please

[divebomb]

All,

My wife and I (so far) are coming down to snorkel with the sea cows at Crystal January 24/25. We also want to do a dive at one of the nearby springs. I've learned that Blue Grotto/Devil's Den and Ginnie Springs are two options.

Since we are newbies, which would be the smarter choice? And should we pay for a guide since it's the first time?

Also, back to Crystal River. I saw a claim of average 70 degree weather in January on one website. Is this true? I'm bringing all of my wetsuit stuff, but it would be great if it's really this warm.

Thanks, Beck

 

[Wendy]

Water in the river may be chilly in spots, but spring water is always 72ºF year round. Right now its in the 70's outside and it wasn't really chilly out last night either.

I wouldn't waste getting a guide for the springs. Most places have a video for you to watch if its your first time there.

Who are you using as a guide at Crystal River? Bird's Underwater is a good choice.

 

[_Kurt_]

Ginnie is about 1.5 hours drive from Crystal, but it is, well, Ginnie. Nothing else like it. Devils Den is really nice, very interesting dive. Blue Grotto is right next to Devils Den but I have not been there.
Kurt

 

[divebomb]

Wendy,

Bird's has been recommended by numerous people. So I think that's who we're going with.

Thanks, Beck

Water in the river may be chilly in spots, but spring water is always 72ºF year round. Right now its in the 70's outside and it wasn't really chilly out last night either.

I wouldn't waste getting a guide for the springs. Most places have a video for you to watch if its your first time there.

Who are you using as a guide at Crystal River? Bird's Underwater is a good choice.

 

[simbrooks]

If you are going with one of the operations (Birds being one, the one we used was American Pro Diving) they also have other trips, depending on how you feel about organising thru others or doing it yourself. We dived at kings springs (on crystal river, i believe there is another diveable spring nearby, gator hole which we didnt dive). We also spent the weekend on a package diving at Manatee Springs, Rainbow River and then at some other point this year we will do the others mentioned (Ginnie, Blue Grotto, Devils Den, Alexander Springs and a load of others).

If you search back thru threads in december you will find my trip report and a few others:
http://69.93.91.170/t43042.html
http://69.93.91.170/t42669.html
http://69.93.91.170/t40941.html
http://69.93.91.170/t39704.html
are just a few of the options to get an informed view of what is available.

Have fun with whatever your dive plan is, we did!!

 

[herman]

Hi Beck,

I will add my recommendation for Birds as well, just be ready to get up early. You have to be at the shop ready to go at 6:30am if I remember correctly. We used them last Feb and had a blast. We swam with at least a dozen manatees for over 2 hrs...and he had hot coffee on board!

As far as the Springs go, it kind of depends on your comfort level. All 3 have overhead enviroments and can get dark. You will need a light most places. I would rank them Ginnie, Blue Grotto then Devils Den on a least dark or "spooky" to the most scale. None of them are bad but if you are uncomfortable in overhead enviroments, you need to take the that into consideration. Another option that is a lot of fun is to drift dive or snorkle Rainbow River. It's close to Crystal River, shallow, clear and an interesting dive. You get a boat to take you up river, get off then drift back down to the exit point.

If you don't have a copy of "Diving Guide To Underwater Florida", you need to buy or borrow one. It has info on most all dive sites in Florida, it helps a lot when planning road trips.