Warm Springs in Florida

Did you know that Paradise Springs has a warm water vent? The only other one I know of in Florida, is the one near Ft Myers, Warm 'Mineral' Springs (no public scuba diving allowed). Are there any others? Of course when the outside temperature is really cold, ALL springs seem warm with their 72F/22C temps...


Angie Reams 'steaming' at Paradise in Janurary/06

[looseBits]

Is there a lot of minerals in the water that will gunk up your gear?

[Cave Ranger]

Wow. Really!!?? Is it noticeable? I've dove Paradise Springs 3 times and don't recall feeling anything warm until I peed in my Wetsuit.
It's funny that this is even possible seeing as Florida is not known for its Geothermal activity. Where is it located in the Spring? Tell us more.

At 100'+ there is a warm vent. Temperature near the surface was 75F, 80F+ down at bottom. Check your thermometer on your computer.

Warm Springs link: http://www.warmmineralsprings.com/ more info on www.floridacaves.com

[kensuf]

There's a few warm water vents in Manatee about 2000' above Friedmans. You can watch little haloclines created by the change in temperature if you know where to look, but it's not enough water to make a difference in the perceptable temperature.

[ScubaBob-Squaretank]

All this time I thought it was from all the cows in the fields using the aquifer for a restroom.

[Angie Reim]

Re: Paradise.

Yup. I was at +100ft (doing mix), got a warm rush and thought maybe I was messed up in the head. I swore my computer read 84F. (It was reassuring to have that external confirmation). After that, I just enjoyed it!

Couldn't stay there long & look for the source -- had a priority stop to make. :-(

The average temperature in Paradise was 75F. I little warmer than the usual 68-72F.

Someday when I'm feeling flush ($$$) again, I'll go back to look around.

Angie

[Angie Reim]

Is there a lot of minerals in the water that will gunk up your gear?

Nope. Just lots of white silt & soft rock. I would go very early or mid-week. The viz goes to poo (comparatively) very quickly. There is a large portion of the ceiling where the limestone is very soft. Exhaust bubbles hitting it causes small clouds of fine debris.

[phishfood]

I have never found this spot in Paradise. I guess I need to do some more poking around.

I have noticed an opening that seems to emit water that is cooler than the rest of the sink. I am not certain of the temperature, but the difference is noticeable. It is located about 10 feet to the left of the entrance to the cave section, look for a small gap where the wall & the floor meet. Pretty tight, doesn't look like it is passable.

[metaldector]

I was there Sunday Feb. 5th and the surface water was 73 dg. Bottom at 115' was only 74 dg. The owner always states that it's warmer at the bottom than at the top. It wasn't very noticable Sunday.