Ginnie Springs

Ginnie Springs is pretty much the 'party and get drunk' destination for the local college age group. Since the public parks in the area don't allow alcohol and this is a private park which does allow it, they do a lot of business that way. Having said that, it seems that the partiers, inner-tubers, kayakers, snorkelers, and divers manage to coexist pretty well even when it's crowded so if you really want to dive, don't let that discourage you. With < 30 dives and doing first open dive with my own equipment, I found the diving itself for the inexperienced is fairly safe, simple and easy. The staff is super - they have people stationed at the dive entries that are happy to explain everything as detailed as you need, and the rental shop offers pretty much everything you could need. There are apparently some extensive caves and we met quite a few advanced divers doing deco and equipped appropriately but even for the novice there are about 4 'cave-like' structures that can be safely (with all the usual precautions) entered without having extra cave training. Visibility in the two springs (Ginnie and Devils) is usually excellent, and the river section that connects the two springs was ok in the morning but got a bit cloudy during the day with the traffic. There was not a lot of aquatic life to see in the springs except for some small fish but the river holds a lot of surprises. We saw snakes, turtles, lots of fish including gar(?) and catfish, and one crawfish that was first interested in us then took off like a rocket. A well planned dive going easy on the air can probably see everything there in one tank but less experienced people can enjoy splitting it between two tanks. I tend to need more warmth so I used a 5mm long-john and was fairly comfortable. But others wearing less protection complained of the cold. All in all, a bit pricey at $80+ for two, a bit crowded on holiday weekends, but beautifully clear water and certainly worth having in the diving bucket list.

Crystal Clear water on a rainy day. It was cold outside, but the water was 73 degrees. Inside the ball room there were several boulders and the current flowing through the grate at 52 feet is something to experience. Dive lights are allowed for OW divers at Ginnie Springs and are encouraged. The covered picnic tables provided a dry place to assemble gear. Once in the water we were greeted by mullet, brim, a very large bass and a couple of baby turtles. The bath house at Ginnie Springs had warm, not hot, showers and the heater in there was not keeping up with the cold. Overall it was a great way to spend a rainy day.

OWD cert dives in 2008. Cavern cert dives in 2009. Perfect location for both. Viz is unlimited. Water level was high 2nd time & a manatee swam into the area of the where people swim, snorkel & do OWD cert dives - very cool. Please don't go into the cavern unless you're trained to do so. Lack of training is the #1 cause for cavern/cave accidents - not worth it - don't be tempted.

I certified here a few years back and is where we go each chance we can to practice our skills. We always see something different. We love to camp there as the facility is great. Summer around the holidays is a bad time due to the crowds. In the early spring watch for the Florida water moccasin. On my first dive years ago as a 'certified diver' I placed my hand on the tails of two of these vipers. I found out quickly that you can talk underwater. Really an enjoyable dive site!

What a nice area to dive. The water level was down a few feet, so getting into the water was a bit tricky when we visited. The ballroom is real treat. You can really feel the water flowing when you're next to the grate. Depth at the grate was 52 feet. Visibility was incredible. We have never seen water so clear. The people that run the place are great, as well. My wife's octo was acting up, and they adjusted it free of charge. Devils Spring is also a lot of fun. At Devils Ear the Santa Fe River and Spring meet. Where the black water from the River and clear of the Spring meet is something to see. Too much fun...:)

A legendary site with many options. Here at the main springs you have an opportunity to dive into a cave environment without much of the dangers, and, for the real die-hard cave divers, one of the best sites around. Excellent shop, great folks.

WOW. Just spectacular. The water was clear and crisp and about 68 F. The cavern is one of the few (well, actually I only know of this one) that an open water diver is allowed to go in. It is very safe and fun. You will always have access to the surface from where you are, but at an angle, not just going up. I would really recommend this dive. It really opens your eyes up and shows you the difference between an open water dive and being underground with a ceiling above you.

Very few spring dives in Florida compare with Ginnie. Crystal clear water, first rate grounds, and three different springs to dive. Definitely worth the cost of admission!

This is a great place for new divers to get a look at an overhead environment. The Ballroom is neat because of the strong flow near the grate. Lights are allowed in the Ballroom for OW divers so don't forget to bring one so your able to get all the way to the grate.

Great fresh water dive. Water a little cold for my likes, but OK. Water is crystal clear. You can also do drift dive down the Santa Fe River.

If you find yourself in the northern Florida area, do yourself a big favor and dive at Ginnie Springs. If you have ever consumed Dannon Spring Water then you have already come close to diving Ginnie because that is where the Dannon water comes from. Just for the record, I did pee in the water.<br>Ginnie Springs is a park with an entry fee of about $20 for divers. They have a full dive shop with gear and do tons of instruction from basic to cave level. If you have non diving family members, they will love this place. My wife and I like to dive as family members snorkel above in water so clear that after an hour long dive you feel like you could take the reg out of your mouth! Visibility is literally unlimited. Crystal clear like air and a constant, crisp 72 degrees year round!! I love it! A must do is the ballroom area. It's a very large cavern down to about 55 feet where fresh spring water rushes out through bars that prevent you from continuing deeper into the caves. At other spring entry sites in the park, full cave diving is at its best but rules prohibit those untrained in cave diving from venturing into the caves. It's fun to watch the cave divers vanish into the openings. Dive, snorkel, hike, bike, tube, kayak, and camp. You will love it. Great for all levels of diving. Easy entry and exit with no current, surf, or surge to worry about here. A great place to get comfortable as a diver. The rock formations are a wonder! Don't forget to drift dive the Sante Fe River if conditions are right.

Basically a scuba/cave diving theme park. Good facilities. Ginnie Spring is a nice open cavern with a grate making it a safe dive for even OW divers. Other areas have strict no-lights policy unless you have cave certification. Looking up from the Devil's Ear entrance gives a great view of the tannic waters of the river mixing with the clear spring water.

Basically a scuba/cave diving theme park. Good facilities. Ginnie Spring is a nice open cavern with a grate making it a safe dive for even OW divers. Other areas have strict no-lights policy unless you have cave certification. Looking up from the Devil's Ear entrance gives a great view of the tannic waters of the river mixing with the clear spring water.

Don't over look the Santa Fe River at Ginnie Spring. Follow the spring run down to a deep hole where the spring enters the river. There are logs, slabs of lumber and lots of fish there. At times there is luxuriant growth of water plants, early in the year almost none. You can also drift the river from The Devil's Eye and Ear area down to Ginnie or on down to Deer spring. When the river's clear, usually in summer and the current is not too strong, the river drift is a terrific dive.

Large main basin at Ginnie. Plenty of room to move without bumping elbows with snorkelers.

Went on a whim but was not disappointed. Several friends and I spent about 60 minutes poking around the cavern. The grate blocking off the rest of the caves was a neat place to hang out just to feel the water pressure pushing into the "ballroom". Not much for fish but the few we did see were rather large. Nice clear water, and relaxing for me as this was only my 8th ever dive. I would go back if for no other reason to show the family. Service at the resort was great.

My husband and I did our check out dives at this site. Great place for new divers. We were there in Feb. and it was not too crowded. I have been told that it gets very crowded in the summer. They have a nice shop and air fill station. We didn't have to wait long for air fills. Very polite and friendly staff. Very clean site.