Crystal River is a fresh water river complex fed by warm freshwater springs. It offers a variety of fish (mullets, catfish, tarpon, etc.) and many Manatees. I found the manatees were friendly and unintimidated by SCUBA.  Sadly, all of the manatees I saw had suffered multiple prop injuries.  If you do boat in manatee territory, please look out for them.  This is an easy site to dive and offers a good environment for beginners.  Maximum depth is around 40 feet. The water is in the mid 70s to low 80s year round and I was comfortable diving in a 3-mil skin.

I know it can be shore-dived, but, I don't know a lot of the details of shore diving this site.  I dove it from a small inflatable.  I know it's in the North Western section of the Florida Peninsula, and, I believe it's a state park.  Sorry I don't have more information.  I only dove there once.

Crystal River

If you are looking to dive from shore you could start at Hunter springs park.  There is a nice spring dive from the beach area, and there are also great dives from boats: 3 sisters, king spring, and many others. Boat rental around area is pretty cheap, around $7.00 an hour for a jon boat.

#2 - Crystal River

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

We dove from the state park. There are great caves, and just to dive the spring was fun.  Wildlife was good; we had a deer walk up to us. Plenty of deep blue water!

Jason Saybrook's Dive Log

@jason_saybrook

2 dives