SpringAdventures,LLC
Spring into Diving With Us!
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Scuba Instruction and Guided Dives!
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Serving Florida and Georgia
Bring a Buddy get $25 off each
Promo Code = Buddy
What are the Best Places to Dive Near Me?
Everyone wants to know, "where to scuba dive near me?" There are lots of great places to dive in our local springs. Some locations are privately run and have a moderate fees and some are public with only a nominal parking charge. Here are our top list of scuba diving cites near Gainesville, FL!
Williston, FL - Blue Grotto features large clear water caverns in Florida. Padi Open water divers can dive down to Peace Rock in 55′ of water and Padi Advanced Open Water Divers or go for the 109′ deep tour behind the rock. The tour features two semi enclosed chimney that gives you the feel of cave diving with all the risk. The facilities are very clean and feature hot water showers, grills, pavilions, gear racks and more. Entrance fee is $38,
Orange City, FL - Blue Springs is a great diving site in Volusia County. Open Water divers are limited to 60′ with the vent going to 120". Make sure you call ahead because the park is often closed to diving because of manatees. The park has full facilities (pavilions, grills, restrooms). Entrance fee is $6 per vehicle.
Crystal River, FL - There are over 30 known springs that are part of King’s Bay, which feeds into Crystal River. Most of the springs are shallow, but one or two go deeper than 50′. Cost depends on the tour operator.
Williston, FL - Devil’s Den is a SpringAdventures, LLC top Florida Spring pick. This location is almost completely underground making it one of the most unusual dive sites in the area. You walk down ion to a diving platform in the middle of the spring. Full facilities, including rental gear, and camping onsite. Recommend that you book a guided dive if you haven't been there before as your guide can show you all the swim throughs and fun spots you might otherwise miss. After you make a full circle don't forget to turn around and swim the other way as it feels like a completely different dive. Entrance fee is $37 for diving.
Fanning Springs State Park, FL - Fanning Springs is a large spring basin with a maximum depth of 16′. Manatee are known to come up into the spring year round but most often during the winter. Because of the shallow depths, this is a really great location for scuba training, scuba refresher courses and general equipment checks. The park features full facilities (pavilions, grills, restrooms). The entrance fee is $6 per vehicle. Make sure you Google full state park name or your directions will take you to the City of Fanning Springs.
Chiefland, FL - Great location for Padi Open Water Diving and Scuba Instruction. The park has two site with one being limited to divers only. . Manatee Springs has a maximum depth of 25′, with several vents coming out into the main spring. This dive is great for working on your buoyancy and getting used to currents. Catfish Hotel is the second location and looks a little sketchy to start with. The site is covered in duck weed but that is what really makes the site amazing. Push some of the duck weed out of the way with your fins and then dive under the rest. Your bubbles are going to open up the duck weed "canopy" and let shafts of light in. We like to call them "Jesus Lights." Catfish has a maximum depth of 55', However, 55' puts you in the mouth of the funnel and that is a no go area for Open Water and Advance Open Water Divers. Two additional vents can be found on the opposite side of the Spring. Another feature to be found is, well, catfish. Lots of little babies. You will also find a ton of large bullfrog tadpoles in early spring. There are also full facilities (bathrooms, pavilions and grills). Entrance fee is $6 per car.
Ocala , FL - This is a privately owned dive site and is literally in the owners front yard so don't think your lost when you pull up their driveway. Really nice deep dive and usually not a lot of people. As part of the orientation they will tell you where you can find fossilized whale bones and large fossil sand dollars. This is a deep dive of about 95' with a cave entrance. You will want flashlights but make sure about 3/4 way down you turn off your lights and look back up at the spring surface. It is amazing!
O’Brien, FL - Royal is a free public park with a boat ramp on the Suwannee River. It’s a very popular swimming hole, and divers can explore the open spring. However, the cave and cavern is very dangerous and silty, and has claimed more lives than almost any other cave in Florida. Please do not go in the cave without proper training. Really, don't go in any care without proper training and gear!
Mayo, FL - In Lafayette County (Pronounced LA FEY IT) This spring is a great diving location just off the Suwannee River. It features a 70′ deep spring, which is a great place for that Padi Advance Open Water deep dive and free-diving. You can find what looks like an old railroad track in the spring run but is actually an old civil war vessel. There are restrooms, picnic tables, and grills at the park. This spring floods a lot and can be covered with dark water from the Suwannee, so check the web site ahead. The entrance fee is $5 per car for diving.
Luraville, FL - Cave and cavern divers flock to Peacock Springs from all around the world. With over 33,000′ of surveyed passage, it is one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world. Openwater diving is restricted to Orange Grove Sink, which is a unique and exciting dive site, but visibility in Orange Grove is sometimes limited due to algea blooms. There are grills and port-a-potties for use in the park. The entrance fee is $4 per car.