Springs dive suggestion in pan handle of Florida

[JKSteger]

Looking for suggestions on a good spring dive. Doesn't have to be deep or cavern etc. I'm looking to get out of the house for a day or two and would like to hit up a nice place with alot to see. If Morrisons is clear I'm going to hit it up. I can find alot of things to see int he basin and run. So I'm looking for something similar. I've heard about that place in Marianna that is ususally clear and has a rather large area to look around, not too deep but that means I can blow bubbles longer!! Anyway maybe its called Merrits Mill or something? Let me know some places and how to get there.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[wjefferis]

I don't see any cavern or cave certifications listed on your profile so I would say to just skip Merritt's Mill Pond as all the diving there is cavern/cave. There isn't any OW stuff there to dive there unless you wanna make a 12 foot dive. I would say to try Vortex, Morrison (if the water levels go down), Cypress, Troy, Blue Grotto, Devil's Den to name a few. Here is a link to more Florida springs: Florida Springs: Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in Florida Springs


While your down if you wanna dive Merritt's Mill Pond (Jackson Blue, Twin, Shangri-la, etc) and get your cavern certification, I would recommend you call Robert Neto (AKA Dive-a-holic on SB). He is a great instructor: Chipola Divers - Home


If you have any other questions feel free to post them.

 

[JKSteger]

Thanks wjefferis,
I would like to get cavern cert one day but it will probably be later in the year this year if I do. I might just head down to North Central Fl. and hit up the springs there. Not really sure. Thanks for the suggestions. I will check into Troy, Blue Grotto, etc.

Jeremy

 

[Dive-aholic]

Morrison and Cypress are both great but both are blown out right now. Merritt's Mill Pond is a good dive, but like Walter said, max depth is about 12' in open water. Although there is a lot to see there, especially if you get out in the pond and away from the basin. But...right now the water temperature in the pond away from the basin is in the 50s!!!

Before heading to north central Florida, you may want to check conditions. Peacock just blew out, which means most of the springs close to the Suwanee and Santa Fe are also gone (this includes Troy). If it's anything like the last time this happened, it will be 3 months before conditions are back to dive friendly.

 

[divinginn]

Jeremy,we have a trip going to crystal river in a few weeks to swim with the Manatees and hit blue grotto on Sunday. We are going with north Georgia school of diving,I think there are a few openings if you are interested. I finally signed up for my advanced course,I figured after 30 years of diving I was finally ready for it. I have always wanted to do the manatee dive and have wanted to do blue grotto too,we might stop at Ginny springs on the way down on Friday Pm me if you are interested..

 

[LMM1967]

Troy is great for OW if it's not blown. Call the ranger (number found on the site linked in another post above) a day or 2 before you go.

Blue Grotto is also a very nice dive but expensive and "technically" is mostly an overhead - many instructors do OW checkouts there though and they do not require anything except OW as long as you stay out of the "cave" section (more like dropping down between very large boulders and the wall than a cave). Blue Grotto will NOT get blown out. Also is pretty much across the road from Devil's Den - another good open water dive that should be clear but is also more expensive than the state parks.

 

[Mopar]

I don't see any cavern or cave certifications listed on your profile so I would say to just skip Merritt's Mill Pond as all the diving there is cavern/cave. There isn't any OW stuff there to dive there unless you wanna make a 12 foot dive. I would say to try Vortex, Morrison (if the water levels go down), Cypress, Troy, Blue Grotto, Devil's Den to name a few. Here is a link to more Florida springs: Florida Springs: Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in Florida Springs


While your down if you wanna dive Merritt's Mill Pond (Jackson Blue, Twin, Shangri-la, etc) and get your cavern certification, I would recommend you call Robert Neto (AKA Dive-a-holic on SB). He is a great instructor: Chipola Divers - Home


If you have any other questions feel free to post them.

Those are the places I was going to sugest.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I'd take Devils Den over Blue Grotto anyday, Blue Grotto is just an undercut in the rock with lots of graffiti all over. Devils Den is awesome.

When is this trip happenin? Cypress is awesome, I'd check it out if its a little later on Probably will be fine in two weeks.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Don't count on it, Mat. More rain in the forecast this week!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Cypress clears out fast, its down several feet already from this weekend. We got rain forecast for Friday, but dry days before and after that. Only time will tell though.

Cypress is pretty reliable. Its flooded now, but it can handle most rains.