Springs near I-95

[adder70]

I am from Gainesville, so diving has always been very close, usually Santa Fe river and some Suwannee sites.

An acquaintance will be travelling down I-95 to Miami this summer, and I recommended he visit at least one spring. My Underwater Florida book is in Atlanta while I am in Richmond, so I can't easily check that. They aren't even OW, so any spring that will give a good impression of Fla. springs and allows snorkeling will be great. Let me know which ones you think are the best combination of close to 95 and impressive.

Thanx.

 

[H2Andy]

the only one i can think of is Blue Spring, near Orange City. It's just off I-95
on I-4, maybe twenty minutes from Daytona Beach?

anyways, it's a neat cavern dive (can't carry lights if not cavern cert) and a
very good "taste" of Fla. spring diving.

 

[GDI]

Blue Springs is good, there is also Deleon Springs not that far from Blue Springs. Alexander Springs is a bit further but to much.

 

[H2Andy]

oh yes...i forgot about alexander springs... it's on State Road 40, straight off I-95,
maybe... hmmm.... forty five minutes at the most? you have to take a few side roads,
but it's relatively easy to find. Alexander is very shallow (30 feet) but has excellent
vis and a few nice ledges to explore.

never been to DeLeon.

 

[scubafool]

There is also Gemini Springs near DeBary, but every time I've tried to go there it's been closec because of high bacterial counts It used to be part of a cattle ranch, & someone said that all the manure built up around the spring is responsible. There is Silver Glen, Juniper, & Salt Springs all in the Ocala National Forest, as is Alexander. However, these all are probably getting a bit far from the interstate. Of all the springs mentioned by myself & everyone else, Silver Glen is probably the best place to snorkel. Fish life can be VERY prolific, & visibility can be upwards of 100'.

 

[aihfl]

Most springs are much closer to I-75 than I-95. The only one that could be considered "close" is Blue Springs State Park, which someone has already mentioned. It is a worthwhile dive, though. Unless things have changed in the recent past, DeLeon Springs is closed to scuba except for instructors with a commercial diving permit.

 

[scubafool]

Yeah, you are right about the springs being closer to 75 than 95. As far as Deleon goes, adder 70 was looking for a snorkeling site, so Deleon would still be avilable. I think I'll check the net & see if Gemini is opened back up, if it is, I'll let you know. Blue Springs is PROBABLY the guy's best bet, but I haven't been to Deleon in so long I forget what it's like, & I've never been to Gemini due to the bacterial count closings. If the guy wants the best snorkeling available & has a little extra time, I would definitely urge him to consider Silver Glen. Once he goes there, he'll be hooked, & he will be right in the middle of several other springs that he could check out.