WHY DIVE LOCALLY?
Captain Jack's promotes local area diving as an important part of being a safe diver. We find that many divers dive all too infrequently to maintain the diving skills at top level. Therefore, we have sought out diving locations that are generally close by and interesting to dive. We have tried to highlight some of the better sights and attractions in hopes we can encourage divers to stay more active. . Please feel free to contact us if you have a favorite site or would like more information on the sights mentioned.
LOCAL DIVE SITES
Panhandle of Florida
Vortex Springs - Vortex Springs is a 360 acres recreation area for divers and campers. The property includes campgrounds, a complete dive shop, restaurant, and two lodges. The spring basin is 200 feet wide and 50 feet deep at the start of the cavern. Two dive platforms are located in 20 feet for training and an inverted metal container provides air space for conversation. The cavern's garage sized tunnel travels back for a hundred yards to a depth of 115 feet where it grated off at this point. A permanent handrail extends throughout the length of the cavern for safety. Fresh water eels, bass, catfish, and Redhorse suckers all can be seen here.
Morrison Springs -The large spring basin is line with cypress trees covered with spanish moss. The shallow basin covered with eel grass and sand slopes down to two caverns. The first one starts in about 40 feet, goes back about 40 feet to a depth of 50 feet and is filled with fresh water eels. The larger cavern starts in 30 feet and appears to be a large hole with a huge tree trunk stretched across it. At a depth of 85 feet against the strong flow of the spring, a cave opens up to a large room. All passages from this point on are closed off. Life in these waters consists of pike, bream, catfish, and carp. Year round water temperature is 68 degrees. The property has a dive shop with rental equipment, restrooms with hot showers, and snack machines.
Central Florida
Blue Grotto -Located in Williston, this spring is one of our favorites, which we visit several times a year. The property has a dive shop with Nitrox fills, restrooms with hot showers, picnic tables, and a place to rinse your gear. After you don your gear you walk down a small flight of stairs onto a dock that has steps into the water. First you'll come up onto two training platforms that are swarming with fish waiting for a handout. The huge cavern opens and a bell is attached to the ceiling at 30 feet. Fresh air is pumped into the bell and allows for conversation. Descend into the cavern to Peace Rock (a large limestone rock with a peace sign drawn on it) at 50 feet. To go further into the cavern you'll need a good light. A large rope is tied from the dock and runs down both sides of the cavern to a depth of 100 feet. (Depths may vary with local rains.) Water temperature is always 72 degrees. The entrance fee into Blue Grotto is $27 and you can stay and dive all day. Opens at 8:00 am.
Devils Den -Also located in Williston, this is a dark spring, due to the surface overhang, which gets silted out quick. Not much to see and don't even think about diving in the manufactured slime pond. Admission is $27.00.
Suwannee River -The River has several springs located throughout its run but the listings included are the ones we have visited. Royal Springs is located about 14 miles upstream from the US 27 Bridge in Branford in a county park. The spring has a cavern and two caves in about 50 feet. Stay out of the caves, they silt out quick. Outside the cavern is a big clear pool with grass on the bottom and bright green algae dangling off the limbs of trees that have fallen to the bottom. A real pretty spring. Troy Spring is located about 6 miles from the Branford Bridge and is on private property. The only way to get here is by boat through a 4-6 foot deep wide run off the main river. The run contains the remains of a Civil War era steamboat-the Madison. The spring is 80 feet deep and has a small cavern. The flow coming from the small cave is very strong and keeps the spring somewhat clear.
Ginnie Springs -Located in High Springs off the Santa Fe River, which contains Ginnie Springs, Devil's Eye and Devil's Ear, is a privately owned resort. A large deck area steps down into the water to Ginnie's large shallow basin lined with cypress trees. The sand floor is covered with eelgrass and has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The cavern, with an entrance of about five feet, slopes down to 60 feet and has permanent guidelines. A grate shuts off the entrance to a cave at the bottom. Devil's Eye and Devil's Ear are only for those trained in cave diving. Devil's Eye starts as a shaft in five feet and drops down to 25 feet. The cave entrance is located on the north side of the shaft. Devil's Ear is located about 30 feet away with the entry through a narrow shaft. The dive shop on the premises offers the best selection of technical and cave diving gear and the training to go with it. Air fills and rental gear is also available. Other amenities include a country store, hot showers, and campsites.
West Coast Springs
Homosassas Springs -At the end of the Homosassas River are the springs that some manatees spend their winter months. The area is a wide shallow basin where you can observe baby manatees suckling from their mothers. Other manatees sleep, eat, or come to you to get their bellies rubbed. On the trip to the springs by boat you will see manatees throughout the river. Posted signs declare the area as Manatee Zones and speed is limited to 5 m.p.h.
Crystal River -One of the most popular springs in Florida, the main area of interest to divers is Kings Bay area. King Springs has a depth of about 50 feet and a horizontal cavern that goes back about 50 feet. In the winter, the manatee population explodes. You'll see manatee larger and more playful than those at Homosassas which will come straight at you and run you down. Other springs in this area are Idiot's Delight, Grand Canyon Spring, and Mullet's Gullet. Idiot's Springs is vertical shafts about four feet in diameter and a depth of about 75 feet. Enter the shaft at the bottom and you will come out almost at the surface. Grand Canyon Spring is a long crack in the rock and is west of King's Spring. Depths are 25 feet. Mullet's Gullet, east of Kings Springs, is actually several small springs in 20 feet of water. Throughout the Kings Bay you can see tarpon (up to four feet!), mullet, sheepshead, snapper, and many others.
Rainbow River -This is a shallow drift dive with many different types of wildlife. As you glide up and over grass beds, homes offering protection to the smaller turtles, through the contours of the crystal cleat waters of the river, you will see healthy populations of the river's life, large gar and basses everywhere and several species of turtles. Some springs boil the sand on the bottom, others flow from holes in the limestone rock. During warmer days, you may spot an alligator sunning on the banks.
Lake Jocassee
Located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, this stream fed lake is a great spot for local diving. Created by Duke Power Company, the lake is surrounded by the undeveloped National Forest with mountains rising from the waters edge. Waterfalls abound, most notable Whitewater Falls and Laurel Creek Falls.
The lake has a major body then splits into three forks. It covers an area of 7,565 acres with 75 miles of shoreline and depths in excess of 400 feet. The lake extends into North Carolina.
Access to Lake Jocassee is at the south end at Devils Fork State Park, which includes boat ramps, restrooms, and a store for refreshments and other goods.
Lake Jocassee provides adventure for any diver level. There are platforms for training in 15 and 30 feet. A wooden Chinese Junk sits on the edge of a wall at 60 feet. She’s about 40 feet long and on good days you can see the entire deck. You can swim through the cabin, down into the hold, or check out the head. Large openings allow for safe access. Off the starboard bow lies a fiberglass boat. You can take a 90 degree heading from it to the Basketball Court which lies in 35 feet. Close by is The Trench. This site is a gouged out area that creates a deep trench which is often loaded with fish and has a maximum depth of 60 feet. We can visit another site we call Fish Cliff. This is where a mountain slides straight into the water and you can see huge bass and yellow carp that will follow you throughout your dive. An observant diver will see trout, bream, and hatchlings that swarm around massive stumps.
For deep and technical diving, there is The Wall. This area was created by the excavation for the dam and stair steps down from 70 feet to beyond 400 feet. This area is for advanced divers only. There is a permanent guide line to 130 feet with a warning buoy at 100 feet. The Cemetery is located on a hilltop a few hundred yards offshore and is marked by a bouy usually about 10 feet underwater. A permanent descent line places you on top of the hill at 145 feet (high water). From here, lines fork in different directions to guide you through a tour of open gravesites, many with tombstones still in place. The church foundation is not far away. Be carefull because some lines fork again. Visibility is excellent below 80 feet and the water temperature averages in the low 50's. For those that are trained in mixed gases the Girls' Camp Bridge is in over 300 feet of water.
Water temperatures in the summer through October are 75-78 degrees down to about 70 feet. A 3mm suit is suggested for those who limit their dives to these depths. Deeper depths require a full 6mm suit or dry suit. Depths below 80 feet offer excellent visibility year round. A good dive light is helpful. You will enjoy the magnificent scenery and relaxing nature of this beautiful lake, Jocassee.