7 Best Springs for Diving in Florida

Diving in the Florida Springs is one of my favorite things to do! I grew up diving the springs and got certified with my Dad and sister at Rainbow River. When I tell you this is some of the most unique diving in the world, I mean it!

People often ask if you can dive at the Florida springs, or is it just snorkeling and tubing? Whether you’re looking for a good introduction diving course, or you’re a seasoned veteran looking for a cool challenge, there’s an awesome option of springs to dive in Florida just waiting for you!

Hands down, my personal favorite spring for diving is Ginnie Springs, and if you are cave-certified, the cave networks at Peacock Springs are crazy unique! For beginners, I recommend checking out Devil’s Den! A lot of people do their certifications in Devil’s Den!

So, get your gear ready and sit back while I walk you through the best springs for diving in Florida.

divers perparing to enter the water at ginnie springs in florida

7 Best Springs for Diving in Florida

Devils Den

So, if you’re into checking out unique underground springs with some cool historic rock formations and fossils, Devil’s Den is where it’s at. This place is considered one of the best for scuba diving in Florida.

My sister and Dad would go here all the time, and I love this place for training too!

They call it a prehistoric cave, and it’s got these awesome fossilizations all over the place. On chilly mornings, you’ll see steam rising from the water, making it look like the entrance to Hell — hence the name. It’s not exactly in the middle of everything; it’s out there in rural Florida, a bit off the usual path. But that’s why people like it. Plus, it’s close to other cave systems, so it’s a hot spot for scuba diving enthusiasts.

To get in, it’ll cost you between 15 and 20 dollars, depending on whether you show up on a weekday or the weekend. You MUST make a reservation in advance! Each person needs their own registration, but it guarantees you a spot for your dive, especially for the 54-foot descent.

If you’re looking for more information on this amazing spring, check out our article on Devils Den!

woman standing with hair down in red bathing suit in a walk down onto a platform ready for a dive in beautiful bright blue waters with a big ray of light shining from an above ground opening in the cave

Wakulla Springs

If you’re into diving in North Florida, Wakulla Springs is the spot to check out. It’s the deepest spring to dive in Florida and the waters are pretty darn beautiful.

Wakulla Springs is part of Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, a massive 6,000-acre area. Conveniently close to Tallahassee, it’s a top-notch dive location. Plus, if you’re up for it, there’s a camp nearby. You can snag a camping spot and explore all the cool dive spots right there.

I grew up going here because I had family in Wakulla County, so we would visit multiple times a year and go visit the springs.

Looking to adventure through North Florida? Here’s our article on some of the best springs in North Florida!

bright sunlight through dark exposure with a scuba diver continuing to descend in the water

Ginnie Springs

Hands down, Ginnie Springs is the best Florida Spring for diving! There’s also plenty to do in this area that isn’t specifically diving, so if you’re going in a group with people who want to explore the water but don’t want to be in the diving atmosphere, they can still partake in other watersport activities!

My favorite part about Ginnie Springs is the impressive cave network. But if you are not cave-certified or you are a beginner, that is okay! The visibility here is incredible and I recommend going for all skill levels.

Here are some of the tips and tricks to tackling Ginnie Springs!

person under rocks and crystal blue water diving at ginnie springs florida

Rainbow Springs State Park

One of the best scuba diving springs in Florida is Rainbow Springs State Park! This is where I was dive certified with my Dad and sister many years ago.

Located in Dunnellon, Florida, Rainbow Springs State Park lives up to its name with amazing rays of light shining through the water and filling everything with rainbows! It’s the fourth largest spring found in Marion County and hosted on a 5.7 mile river!

The water is super blue and beautiful and surrounded by a wide variety of biodiverse ecosystems featured in every biologist’s dream and a perfect option for the best springs in Florida.

If you want more information on adventuring through the springs, here’s our article on Rainbow Springs State Park!

rainbow springs from above in florida with green trees and blue water

Blue Grotto

Blue Grotto is one of the best springs for diving in Florida for cavern and cave diving!

My sister and Dad loved to dive here. It is also near Devil’s Den so you can hit both places in one day.

Blue Grotto is definitely a great option for Florida springs for beginner divers because of its location. This is where my sister learned to dive and many friends.

It’s good for dive training, but in high season can be extremely crowded and busy. Please plan accordingly so you can enjoy and explore at your own pace without feeling overwhelmed!

It has some of the most visible water when it comes to the best dive locations in Florida, making it an ideal spot for divers of all levels!

wooden pathways and rock faces with lush green trees and bushes all giving way to a sinkhole of deep teal waters featured at Blue Grotto, one of the best springs for diving in Florida.

Ichetucknee

For springs for diving in central Florida, Ichetucknee is a great option because it’s also one of the best tubing locations near Jacksonville for when you need a break from diving.

With three entry points available year-round, Ichetucknee makes tubing convenient with access to their bus service to bring you back to the parking lot. This gives you both flexibility and the ability to not stress about your own plans not coordinating with what’s available, let the reins free and just enjoy the time!

Their most popular spring is the Blue Hole Springs which features 600 feet available to explore one of the first magnitude springs in North Florida!

Now the IMPORTANT thing to keep in mind is that there is a long walk to get to the Blue Hole here. It is a 1/4 mile hike and that feels long when carrying a lot of dive gear!

Our article on Ichetucknee‘s tips and tricks can help answer more questions if you’re adding this amazing spring to your stop!

woman in red floral dress stands on rocky path down to water staring out over the bright blue waters and bright green trees

Peacock Springs State Park

Last of the best springs for diving in Florida is Peacock Springs State Park!

The first time I visited here, I was amazed! Even if you are not a cave diver, I love this place because of the underwater rock formations. It is quite shallow at parts, but worth it, even if just for a snorkel!

Featuring five different springs in 10 miles of surveyed cave exploration, there’s plenty of space and atmosphere to enjoy at Peacock Springs State Park! This is perfect for the avid diver looking to see some beautiful cave systems, this is the perfect option for scuba diving in the Florida springs.

As I said above, if you’re not comfortable with underground cave systems, it also has an amazing above-ground trail system so you have the ability to walk the same system from above and learn some interesting stuff about the caves!

woman in white bathing suit swimming underwater at peacock springs

Now that you’ve seen some of the amazing options for the best springs for diving in Florida, where are you going to explore first?