good freshwater diving!!!

ScubaJohn511 · 01-03-2007, 03:00 AM

do you know a good place in america to go freshwater diving...ideally where the water is crystal clear but still fresh water...if you do please let me know! thanks!

**dalehall** · 01-06-2007, 11:50 PM

North Florida Springs.
Great diving.
"Visibility forever" in a good many of them.

Dragon · 01-10-2007, 12:57 PM

Florida has far and away the most good clear water diving in the world due to its geography.

http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/
Ginnie Springs is one of the most celebrated of the Florida springs. Ginnie has a wonderful cavern dive that is a must do.

http://www.divebluegrotto.com/indexflash.html
Blue Grotto is close to Ginnie so you can plan to do them both while you are in Florida.

I have been to these several times and would highly recommend them to anyone. I will be there for a few dives next month. We like to take students there for check out dives.

http://underwaterflorida.homestead.com/manatee.html
Mantaee Springs is another good dive with the possibility of spotting a manatee on any given day. I myself have never had the pleasure of running into one there yet.

http://www.florida-scuba.com/Crystal_River.htm
This is the spot for Manatees, and while the river water is as crystal clear as any water in Florida, often the water is stirred up by the many people that may be there on any given day. There are places that are better than others. Call and ask some questions, tell them your needs and I am sure you can find a great spot.

http://www.americanprodive.com/info/Rainbow_River.asp
Wonderful drift diving and perfectly clear water. A good experience but not a lot to see.

Good luck and happy diving.

James Goddard · 01-10-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScubaJohn511

do you know a good place in america to go freshwater diving...ideally where the water is crystal clear but still fresh water...if you do please let me know! thanks!

You could also try Bonne Terre Mine.

rick00001967 · 01-16-2007, 05:43 PM

hi. we just returned from florida. we did the snorkel with the manitee in homossasa springs (just south of crystal river). it was ok. not spectacular. i did it in crystal river a few years back and it was better. but for anyone who loves marine life it is a must do. we used sunshine river tours this trip. i used american pro divers last time. they even video tape you in the water. then you can buy it afterwards.
we also drove up to ginnie spings (bring a light). we dove the cavern. it was great if you have never done a cavern before. safe and easy. but it was quite disapointing to me as i have done the cenotes in mexico. that was amazing. this does not even come close. but for a first cavern experience or for training purposes it is a great spot. we were very disapointed with the other site at ginnie. the devils ear or eye or whatever they call it. there is really not much point in diving that spot unless you are a cave diver. we thought both the ginnie cavern and the devils part were going to be much larger. it was a nice day but i don`t think i would plan another trip there unless i was bringing the kids for the day. a good spot for families to swim and snorkel. 72 degree water and as clear as it gets. rick

**dalehall** · 01-16-2007, 06:38 PM

We used Bird's Underwater in Crystal River back in November. VERY satisfied with the operation, the crew and awesome Manatees!! They also video your snorkel. Although it wasn't diving, it was the highlight of that weekend.. (I had never been around mantees before that weekend)
Highly recommended for anyone!!!

**dalehall** · 01-31-2007, 09:49 PM

Dove Vortex Springs this past weekend. (28 Jan 07) Pretty fun place. I don't think I could make a habit of going there (like I could Ginnie) but it's still a fun dive spot. We didn't go into the cave but I would like to at a later date to see it.. A few O/W classes had the viz down to about 10-15 feet. Around 2:00 pm, we had the entire place ourselves. Of course, 52 degree weather and 68 degree water don't make for "Southern Style" diving.

Still, it was worth the short drive I made from Biloxi to check it out..