Central Florida Dive Sites Guide
Central Florida sits on top of some of the clearest freshwater springs in the world, and a few hours south, Palm Beach has some of the best reef and shore diving on the East Coast. This guide covers the sites our team dives most, what each one is like, and how to dive it. Conditions and park rules change, so check with each park before you go.
Want a guide? Our year-round guided snorkel and scuba tours run at Blue Spring State Park. We also run club dives and winter trips to Palm Beach, posted on our Dive Club & Trips calendar.
Blue Spring State Park, Orange City
The largest spring on the St. Johns River and a winter refuge for hundreds of West Indian manatees. The water is 72°F and crystal clear all year. The spring run is open for swimming, snorkeling and diving from April 1 to November 14; it closes in winter for the manatees, and those dates can shift with manatee numbers. Only certified cave divers may enter the cave at the spring boil.
Dive it with us: Florida Dive Company is the only guided snorkel and scuba operator inside the park, and every tour includes guaranteed park entry. See tours and prices from $65.
De Leon Springs State Park, DeLand
A historic 72°F spring basin, about 30 feet deep at the boil, used as a swimming area. Snorkeling is allowed in the swimming area only. The spring is not open to recreational scuba diving; only instructor-led training dives under a state park permit are allowed.
Dive it with us: ask about training dives as part of our Open Water certification.
Alexander Springs, Ocala National Forest, Altoona
A first-magnitude spring with a sandy bottom and a gentle slope, 72°F all year and around 25 feet at its deepest. It is the only site in Florida's national forests where certified divers can scuba dive, which makes it a favorite for newly certified divers. Snorkeling is allowed all year. Vehicle reservations are needed on summer weekends and holidays.
Dive it with us: watch the Dive Club & Trips calendar for club dives.
Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring, Williston
A privately owned spring inside a dry underground cave, with stalactites overhead, 72°F water and a maximum depth of about 54 feet. Pleistocene-era fossils have been found here. Reservations are required for both scuba and snorkeling, and scuba is for certified divers only.
Dive it with us: get certified with our SDI Open Water course, then join a club dive.
Rainbow River, Dunnellon
A spring-fed river known for drift diving and snorkeling over sand, eelgrass and limestone, with water around 72°F and visibility often over 100 feet. Most dives drift about a mile downriver to KP Hole Park. Rainbow Springs State Park requires day-use reservations, and a dive flag is required on the river.
Dive it with us: watch the Dive Club & Trips calendar.
Blue Heron Bridge (Phil Foster Park), Riviera Beach
One of the most famous shore dives in the country. It is shallow, 4 to 20 feet, and full of small creatures: seahorses, frogfish, batfish, octopus, nudibranchs and the occasional manatee or eagle ray. Dive within about an hour of high tide for the best visibility and least current, and fly a dive flag.
Dive it with us: we run winter trips while Blue Spring is closed. See upcoming trips.
Palm Beach reef drift diving, West Palm Beach
With the Gulf Stream close to shore, Palm Beach offers boat drift dives on reefs and wrecks, typically 45 to 90 feet. Winter brings the lemon shark gathering; spring and summer bring sea turtles; goliath groupers are found on the wrecks. Charters set their own certification requirements for deeper dives.
Dive it with us: our winter Palm Beach trips are posted on the Dive Club & Trips calendar and booked online.
New to diving?
Try it first with a Try Scuba experience at Blue Spring, no certification needed, or get fully certified with our SDI Open Water course.