Cheap or free cavern dive sites?

[andrebasso]

Jug Hole would be a great cavern dive... excellent viz and a nice open cavern with forgiving conditions for beginners. State park daily adimission or annual pass accepted. Buy an annual pass, support the parks and four days of diving will have it paid for. It is closed at certain times of the year and it is a bit of a hike to the site, but well worth the walk.

-Matt

Sweeeet , I've added that to the list. I've read on the net that the cavern at Jug is really beautiful.. Great advice!!

This is the list of caverns that I'm going to do (in order) as it stands right now. If anyone knows about rotten conditions or access problems, let me know. Thanks.

1- Paradise Springs
Ocala, FL

2- Jug Spring
Ichetucknee Springs State Park

3- Little River
Branford, FL

4- Cow Springs
Luraville, FL

5- Peacock State Park
Luraville, FL

6- Madison Blue Springs
Madison, FL

Geez, I just realized I'm going to have to find local shops to do all of my air fills. Anyone know of dive shops close to the above mentioned dive sites?

[BgDadddy]

If you're going to do Paradise Springs, make sure to get there EARLY!! There is almost no flow and a lot of sandy silt. 1 or 2 o/w divers go in before you and the hole is wasted the rest of the day.

Rick

[FW]

Luraville has 2 dive shops, Ocala has several.

Madison is the big problem, Luraville may have the closest shops.

Little River and the Jug are between Luraville, and High springs. High springs also has 3 dive shops.

[ARY]

1- Paradise Springs
Ocala, FL

Ain't cheap. If you are willing to pay such price then add Blue Grotto, Devil's Den and Ginnie's Ball Cavern to your list.
All of listed have air fill onsite but not nitrox.

2- Jug Spring
Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Very long walk and it worth of it! Take a dolly (or sherpas) with you.

3- Little River
Branford, FL

Viz might be flushed by the rising river. Air fill are near by in Branford(1) and Luraville (2).

4- Cow Springs
Luraville, FL

Are you NSS-CDS member (it is mandatory to dive there)? Cavern is small but the place is cozy and private. Gas is in Luraville.

5- Peacock State Park
Luraville, FL

You have to watch for a park closing time.

For the state (cheap) park cavern add:
Catfish Hotel (Manatee Springs State Park, has no airfill nearby),
Blue Spring (Orange Cty, Orlando prox., has no airfill nearby),
Buford Sink (Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management, gasfill in Crystal River),
Troy Springs State Park (OW cavern, gas is in Branford or Luraville)

FYI, there is no cavern in Telford spring.

[FW]

Viz might be flushed by the rising river. Air fill are near by in Branford(1) and Luraville (2).

There is a dive shop in Branford? Where?

[ARY]

There is a dive shop in Branford? Where?

Well, unless you are kidding me or want to advertise the place more than it is worth of ... Steamboat(???). There is a motel exactly on the corner when you turn north to o'brian before the bridge and patrol station with "divers down" flag. Veterans of cave diving BTW. They have interesting photos on a wall...

[Walter Pickel]

You can use the Florida Caves & Caverns list and sort on the cavern column.

[andrebasso]

1- Paradise Springs
Ocala, FL

Ain't cheap. If you are willing to pay such price then add Blue Grotto, Devil's Den and Ginnie's Ball Cavern to your list.
All of listed have air fill onsite but not nitrox.

Thanks for the list. I think I will scratch paradise. Not cheap and I hear the silt can get terrible. As for Madison Blue, I guess the closest fills will be in Luraville area?

I hear Jackson Blue is the cavern of all cavern dives! But they don't allow cavern divers??, bummer.

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