Printable View
Hi, I planning a cave diving trip to High Springs. I know this is a cave forum but I have a question if I will travel with my wife and she is not a cave diver only open water I like to keep her happy and make with her few open water dives from the shore. Is there any good places around High Springs to do that which is not to far let say up to 60 miles away from High Springs?
Thanks,
Adam
hi Adam - there's nothing in salt too close but open water divers go in Ginnie Springs Ballroom, Madison Blue basin, and others all the time. Are you looking for pretty fishies for her or just to be in the water? It also depends when you're going because many of them are flooded now.
There is Troy Springs State park it is a submerged sinkhole allows OW diving (no solo) however it could be flooded now (bad viz). Williston has two ow dives with good viz - Blue Grotto and Devils Den. Ocala has Paradise Springs. All three are expensive dives on private property. Fanning Springs is OW shallow (18' max) dive but it is also a subject to flooding. There are Crystal river attraction dives with manatees, and rainbow River drift dives - check out birdsunderwater_com.
Thanks for the information, I'm planning to arrive in Florida by the end of April, and I hope that there is no more heavy rain. :-)
Right now the only OW diving in fresh water maybe at Ginnie and Manatee. I bel all others are closed but some may be back open by your arrival time. My wife is also jsut an OW diver and she loves Ginnie, Devils Den, Troy, Peacock and Manatee.
Go to paradise. Its a little expensive but a good ow dive with the feel of a cavern dive. Way better than blue grotto and devils den
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Paradise is a great dive. DO NOT GET FILLS OR RENT TANKS THERE.
And why is that?
Pm sent.
OW at Peacock?Quote:
Originally Posted by bpcfire1
Agree with the fills at paradise. Very slow fills and I've heard questionable quality. Not dangerous fills, just dont pp fill your tank afterwards.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In OG. You need cavern to safely go in the cavern but OW divers can dive there.
I know it's a "bit" outside your search parameters, but Crystal River, FL is about 75 miles south of High Springs. In late April there will probably still be a few manatee in the Crystal River basin. It's not scuba, just snorkeling. But swimming with the manatee should be on every diver's bucket list.
I suggest Bird's Underwater as your contact if this is something that would interest you. Early morning (sunrise) is the best manatee encounters.
p.s.- full wet suit. Manatee swims can get cool FAST because you are not exercising!
rainbow river drift dive is fun, manatee springs (and catfish hotel) are fun openwater dives when others might be flooded...
Once again, thank you, now I know where to plan a few open water dives and keep my better half happy. :-)
Did an open water dive at Catfish today with an open water certified diver. Water levels were obviously higher than normal and the head spring was closed due to flooding. But, Catfish was great vis-wise and easy-in/easy-out. And not much flow either.
Had the place almost to ourselves as a small class was there.
They haven't allowed OW diving in the basin since the Bruic's owned the placeQuote:
Originally Posted by whodunit68
Kulas, I disagree strongly with the comment about bypassing Devil's Den. Devil's Den did a lot to pique my interest in cave diving 'back when (1996), and was what convinced my wife to get certified as well. There's much to see there if you take your time, including a couple of really neat swim-throughs, depths to 50' or so, and lots of fossils in the walls. I'd recommend doing what the woman who used to manage the shop-- sorry, I can't remember her name, but she taught cave diving and did sidemount before giving it up to become a nurse, maybe 12 years ago?-- first told us. Take one single and go slowly around the basin clockwise, then take a second and go slowly around the basin CCW. If you're patient and observant, there will easily be enough to see for at least two dives. Plus, the Den from the surface is as close as you can get to a cenote in the U.S.
Heading down with wife and daughter to dive in a week and we are going to Manatee to start, possibly the Rainbow River, Crystal River the manatee dives with Birds is incredible a must do for sure.
The Ballroom at Ginnie is really nice for OW divers but it will be a bit crowded for spring break.
If you plan your trip there wisely arrive early and on a mid week day you can minimize the traffic but keep your gear bundled up tight.
The place gets lively if you are accustomed to party going college age / teens then you are in good shape.
Never had trouble anywhere even when it was churning but I have not advertised or asked for it either!
I spent a week just spring hopping with my family a few years back only got one cave dive in but I had a blast and learned tons about cave country!
Enjoy sharing the beauty of the springs take time to walk around checking them out.
Jug is another great spring to check out but I do not think they allow OW divers there but I hear the tubing from the head spring is pretty fun not done it yet.
The Crystal River is worth the drive trust me, contact Bird's Dive center and book your trip arrive early it is a snorkel trip so travel light and prepare to be amazed.
One of the baby manatee's loved my son he or she followed him around like a puppy!
It was a experience that even three years ago my wife and kids still love to watch the video and talk about it.
JCG
Manatee is now closed to diving also - just called them today.Quote:
Originally Posted by JCGoodwin
I know it's not in the HS area but if you're headed south for any reason and your OW divers are ok with dark water, Hudson is pretty 'clear' right now. Clear being relative with respect to Hudson, so you'll want a light for each person. If they're not ok in darker water, then Hudson may not be your "cup of tea"!
LoL! Better make sure your lights are good if you go into Hudson Grotto. The water makes your average OW flashlight look like a pen light and that was on the 20 ft platform.:-)
How clear is "clear"?
"Normal" is 5-10', so "clear" would be at least 11' :rollguy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenwood_60
The Rainbow River drift dive is a lot of fun. Beautiful place!
Nah Forrest, it's easily 12'! :-D
Isn't that "at least 11' "? :roll:Quote:
Originally Posted by Deep_Six