Best Introductory Cave Dives in Florida

Maybe you’ve heard of freshwater springs. Maybe you’ve heard of cave diving. But, maybe you’re just not ready to make the leap to technical diving. You’ve heard it’s dangerous and the gear is expensive. None of these things are necessarily untrue—there are always risks associated with diving—but with the proper training and appropriate gear, caves can be amazing places to explore. Not ready to make that leap yet? Here are some incredible sites you can check out as an open water diver! Remember though, nothing in any cave is worth dying for, so please observe the rules and always seek proper training.

Ginnie Springs

Ginnie Springs is known worldwide as a top spot for open-water checkout dives. With unlimited visibility and a constant water temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit all year long, it’s obvious why. And once certified, you can venture into a cavern there! Ginnie Springs’ property boasts multiple springs. As a certified open water diver you’ll want to check out Ginnie Spring first and explore the Ballroom. You won’t be able to venture beyond the cavern zone here because a grate was installed in the 1970s to prevent divers from entering the cave. Ginnie Springs is private property, and you must be at least 12 years old to dive here. Minors need a parent present to sign a waiver, and make sure to come with your certification card in hand.

The Devil’s Ear and Eye

Located on the property of Ginnie Springs are sites called the Devil’s Ear and the Devil’s Eye. If you’re the first to arrive here, you can swim down the run and have hundreds of feet of visibility and see tons of turtles, ranging from the river cooter to snapping and musk turtles to name a few. Manatees have even been spotted here in the past year! Venture out into the Santa Fe River and you may have an opportunity to see the water come alive like fire! When the tannic waters of the river mix with the spring water it creates a vibrant colorful effect that you need to see to believe! Be careful though, only certified cave divers are allowed to carry lights in this area. This is an extra precaution to prevent divers who are not properly trained from entering the cave environment. Do not venture farther than your training permits.

Blue Grotto

Blue Grotto boasts one of the largest caverns in Florida. It too offers infinite visibility and 72-degree water all year round. Only open water certification is necessary to check out the cavern here. Blue Grotto has it all—pavilions, cabins, grills. You can spend days there and never get bored! Unique features of Blue Grotto include an air bell that has safe breathing gas pumped into it from the surface, a large cavern reaching depths of 100 feet, and a resident softshell turtle named Virgil. It’s a beautiful, picturesque property you won’t want to miss, and it’s very popular for training, with platforms at different depths. This can be a great place to come and perfect your skills. The site is privately owned, and the entry fee to dive is just over $40 for the day, but you’ll have access to lots of great amenities.

Devil’s Den

Diving Devil’s Den is like traveling back in time. It is a true pre-historic dive site. Devil’s Den got its name from early settlers who could often see steam rising off the water on cold mornings. This site is especially unique because you enter into a dry cave with fossil beds dating back 22 million years. You then submerge yourself into the cool constant 72-degree water. Devil’s Den is privately owned and operated, and only allows snorkelers and scuba divers. You’ll pay close to $40 to dive here.

Paradise Springs

For the more adventurous (and experienced) open water diver, I recommend checking out Paradise Springs in Ocala, Florida. It's one of the most unique caverns in the state. You won't want to miss the prehistoric fossils embedded in the walls. The constant 72-degree water makes this another great place to visit all year long. Paradise Springs consists of a small opening on the surface that leads to a large cavern area. The floor is mainly covered in silt, which can be kicked up and reduce visibility, so be sure you have good buoyancy when going here. Paradise Springs is on private property, and the owners don’t accept credit cards, so be sure to have $30 cash on you when you visit here!

Already Cave Trained? Check out these six cave dives in Florida.

Royal Springs

Royal Springs is a county park located in O’Brien, Florida. This is a great site for open water divers as well. The cool blue waters pump out of the spring here and meander into the Suwannee River. There is a platform submerged at 30 feet, but be careful venturing off the platform because it can be very silty on the bottom. You can see spectacular sun rays here during the right time of day. Since this is a county park, there is no entrance fee. While the open-water area is gorgeous, venturing into the cave here would be very dangerous. Always dive within your level of training.