Name: Poe Springs
Rating: 4.0

Florida

Alachua County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

Mainly for snorkelers.

Just up the road from Ginnie Springs.

High Springs

Poe Springs

Four diveable springs:The Ball Room, Little Devil, Devil's Eye, and Devil's ear

This is a full service facility with something for everyone.

Ginnie Spring has a wonderful cavern and is open to open water divers. There are a number of other dives at this with limited open water area and then a lot of cave.

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/

Great campground and facilities.

Northeast to High Springs city.

7300 NE Ginnie Springs Rd; High Springs, Florida 32643; 904 454-2202; M-Th 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. F-S 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sun 8.a.m. - 8 p.m. $24 per day to dive

Ginnie Springs

The cave travels to about 80 ft deep at appx 60 degrees down then almost straight down to a u-turn to the Florida room at about 120 ft deep. It is one of the largest underwater rooms. From there, it goes back to the terminal room where many false exits exist from there is goes to depth of over 190 ft in places. The terminal room has many ascending dead end routes and is where many got lost and died. It has been early 40 years since I was an avid cave diver and spent hours exploring most of the tunnels in the cave network. It was one of my favorite caves I ever had the opportunity to explore. It has been penetrated for thousands of feet back to no ends that I am aware of.

I would increase the depth claim but also express the dangers of this cave. Full cave certification is required for this network. 

North on 129 out of Branford, Florida.  Turn left on CR 248.  Follow 248 till it ends, veer left into county park.  Spring is the big hole at the bottom of the spring run.

Not to be undertaken without at least a Full-Cave certification or equivalent.

Little River is also known as Little River.

Little River

80' Spring with a moderate outflow.  About 60' of rock wall to explore on the way down and up.  Also a cypress flat out to the Suwannee River

Very easy to enter.  There are two entry points from the dock.

Troy Springs

We went there to test out dry suits through DUI.  The manatee spring wasn't that fun but the other one right by it (in the same park) was neat, and had a lot of interesting things to look at.  The visibility was shot that day since it was so crowded but it still was fun.

 11650 N.W. 115th St., Chiefland, Florida 32626,Phone: 352-493-6072

Manatee Springs

You will find that sink in the manatee springs state park. The sink is covered with duck weed.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/manateesprings/default.cfm



Catfish Hotel Sink

"Visit one of North America's most prehistoric places, Devil's Den  -- an underground spring inside a dry cave in central Florida. The remains of many extinct animals from the Pleistocene Age (2 million - 10,000 years ago) were discovered at Devil's Den, including the bones of early man, dating back to 75,000 B.C.

The pleasant year-around temperature of 72 degrees in the Den allows comfortable diving, winter or summer. On cold winter mornings you can see steam, like smoke, rising from the cave's chimney. Hence, the early settlers called the place Devil's Den.

You'll find open water and cavern diving at its best & will be fascinated by the rock formations with stalactites and 33 million year old fossil beds, truly a natural wonder."
Source: http://www.devilsden.com

Entrance fee is approx $27. Water temp is 72°F all year round.

Norteast from Williston, on the road (Alt 27) to Bronson.
Address: 5390 NE 180th Avenue, Williston, Florida 32696

Devils Den is also known as Devil's Den, Floridas Pre historic Spring.

Devils Den

33 Million year old fossils in an incredible sink hole

5390 NE 180th Ave; Williston, Florida 32696; 352 528-3344;7 days 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; $27 per day to dive

Devil's Den

Sink Hole, underwater air bell at 30', underwater lighting system

5390 NE 180th Ave; Williston, Florida 32696; 352 528-5770; 7 days 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; $27 per day to dive

Blue Grotto

40 fathoms deep, spring water, good viz. Platforms to take a break every 15 feet.

40 Fathom Grotto<br>9487 NW 115th Ave<br>Ocala, FL 34482<br>
(352) 368-7974

Forty Fathom Grotto

Devil's hole is a very impressive place. The sink is about 18 meters in diameter with the water level about 15 meters from the top of the sink.

It can be very difficult to enter into the water (steep sides). You should plan on bringing vertical gear to get in and out of the sink (there is an old ladder but not really safe!).

This is different than Willistons "Devils Den", this is not a maintained area so dont expect facilities or help if you cant get out.  Scope it out and make sure you know what you are doing before you get into trouble.

The water is often unclear until you get down a bit, there are a number of cars, etc to see and some cave entrances.   Be smart on this dive.

IMPORTANT: This proberty is privately owned and trespassing is a federal offense. The land is currently being developed and the owners have posted no tresspass signs and the property is guarded.  Local authorities have been notified.

Edit 5/16/07: Ditches have been dug to bar all entrance. Multiple no trespass signs have been posted, and a fence has been built around the sink. 

Take S-20 from Gainesville towards Hawthorne. Look for route CR-21 (do not turn yet). Turn left onto Lake Galilee Dr, about 1.8 miles from the CR-21 intersection. Go about 150 yards and take one of the two sand roads to the left, and go to the sink.

Devil's Hole is also known as Devil's Sink, Devils Den.

Poe Springs

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Poe Springs