Florida Springs Archives

Florida is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, and one of its best-kept secrets lies beneath the surface – its crystal-clear springs. These freshwater springs offer a unique opportunity for scuba divers to explore a world of underwater wonders, from intricate cave systems to vibrant aquatic life. In this blog, we’ll take you on a journey to discover the best Florida springs for scuba diving.

1. Ginnie Springs

Located near High Springs, Ginnie Springs is a paradise for divers. Its system of seven springs provides excellent visibility and a constant water temperature, making it a year-round diving destination. The underwater limestone caves at Ginnie Springs offer an exhilarating adventure for experienced divers, while open-water divers can explore the crystal-clear spring basins with a variety of fish and freshwater turtles.

2. Devil’s Den

Tucked away in Williston, Devil’s Den is a prehistoric spring that resembles a hidden underground oasis. The underground spring is enclosed by a cave-like dome, creating a surreal underwater environment. As you descend into Devil’s Den, you’ll be greeted by ancient rock formations, sunbeams filtering through the water, and the opportunity to spot fossils of extinct creatures that once roamed Florida.

3. Blue Grotto

Blue Grotto, located in Williston, is known for its deep sinkhole and beautiful underwater cavern. Divers can explore the sinkhole and descend into the cavern, where they’ll be enchanted by the vibrant blue waters and unique rock formations. It’s a popular spot for divers looking to enhance their cave diving skills in a controlled environment.

4. Ichetucknee Springs

For a more relaxed and scenic dive, Ichetucknee Springs in Fort White offers a serene experience. The Ichetucknee River flows through a lush, subtropical forest, and divers can explore the crystal-clear springhead and its surrounding underwater gardens. Snorkeling and tubing are also popular activities here.

5. Alexander Springs

Nestled within the Ocala National Forest, Alexander Springs offers a picturesque diving experience. The spring basin is home to a variety of freshwater fish, turtles, and even manatees during the winter months. Divers can explore the spring’s sandy bottom and aquatic vegetation while enjoying the tranquil surroundings.

6. Morrison Springs

Morrison Springs, near Ponce de Leon, is a hidden gem with stunning underwater topography. The deep spring basin is surrounded by a forested park, making it an excellent spot for both diving and picnicking. Divers can descend to explore the limestone caverns and encounter schools of fish in the crystal-clear waters.

Florida’s springs provide a diverse range of scuba diving experiences, from thrilling cave dives to serene spring basins filled with aquatic life. Whether you’re an experienced cave diver or a beginner looking to explore the underwater world, Florida’s springs have something to offer. Remember to dive responsibly, respect the fragile ecosystem, and always prioritize safety by diving within your skill level. So, gear up, explore the depths, and discover the hidden wonders of Florida’s springs. Happy diving!

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FLORID
SPRING
COUNC — Donate to the cause and get a super cute sticker or tshirt! https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/saynotonestle

I’m teaming up with the Florida Springs Council to get the word out about a time-sensitive situation that is quietly going on in Florida right now. If you have ever participated in any water activity in Florida, ever enjoyed pictures of the springs or animals here, enjoyed diving here, or ever want to do any of those things, we need your help.

I’ll start with a quick abstract of the situation and my call to action first, for those of you with short attention spans 🙂

Abstract: The Seven Springs Water Company is trying to renew their permit that will allow them to pump over a million gallons of water PER DAY from the Florida Aquifer via Ginnie Springs… for free… to sell to Nestlé. This is bad for lots of reasons. (See “Why do I care about this?” and some of the links provided below.)

Call to Action: Please read carefully. We need to let the Suwannee River Water Management District Board know that we want them to deny the Seven Springs Water Permit applied for by Nestlé.

Two Options (Bonus points if you do both):

Option 1: If you are in a location close enough to send mail that will arrive in Live Oak, Florida ON OR BEFORE February 23rd, please send a physical postcard with this request. We have found this option to be the most effective. (Example below written by the Florida Springs Council.)

Hem be r s,
am a resident
"Please dens the Seven Sprinss
wafer which will
both
and the communities of koorth
Florida approved. me ase heed
of scientists,
environmentalists, and your
Florida •s and
the people that rely on them.
Sincerely,
Include
Your
SRWMD
Board Members
9225 C R
Live Oak, FL 32060
Leave this space blank — Image by Florida Springs Council

Option 2: If you are not in close proximity to Florida, please send an email to the board members with the same information, and copy me…. I will print out the emails and deliver hard copies myself (so we can be sure they don’t get lost in a spam folder).

Example message, copy/paste friendly (please personalize if you have the time to do so):

Dear SRWMD Board Members,

I am a resident of ___________. Please deny the Seven Springs Water Permit, which will devastate both the environment and the communities of North Florida if approved. Please heed the words of scientists, environmentalists, and your constituents. Do your part to protect Florida’s waterways and the people that rely on them.

Sincerely,

_____________

Email addresses of the board: Virginia.Johns@SRWMD.org, Charles.Keith@SRWMD.org, Richard.Schwab@SRWMD.org, Virginia.Sanchez@SRWMD.org, Harry.Smith@SRWMD.org, Larry.Sessions@SRWMD.org, Larry.Thompson@SRWMD.org

Don’t forget to copy me: anarchyscuba@gmail.com

Why do I care about this?

The aquifer is already dangerously low. Many of you saw the video of the “trash vortex” circling above the spring at Little River Springs County Park in Branford, FL in the last couple of weeks. The springs are not only beautiful and serve as a source of tourism and recreation for millions of people a year, but the aquifer which supports them also supplies drinking water to TENS of millions of people.

The Seven Springs Water Company is requesting to take 0.98 millions of gallons of water per day (which is an increase from the current 0.266 millions of gallons per day they are already taking).

So they want to take the water we dive in (that’s right guys, all of the springs in (arguably) the cave diving capital of the world), for free, and then sell it to Nestlé who is going to bottle up our water in plastic (#fuckplastic) water bottles and then sell them for a huge profit. These people are literally destroying the planet. This is the problem. Right here.

And we can do something about it. There is strength in numbers. We can actually make a difference here. But we have to do it now.

Do the right thing. Make a splash.

Thank you.