Diving in the Orlando Area

[Creed]

Well, I'll be attending an IBM conference at the castle of the rat(Disney World) June 3-7. Aside from the Living Seas dive(which I'll prolly do), what else is there in the area? Any shore dives, springs, whatnot?

I'm not sure if I'll be able to swing by Panama City on the way back to partake of Sanddog, although I'm going to try.

[Bryan]

Orlando is no where near the coast and even on the coast you need to go quite a bit further South for good diving.

http://www.floridasprings.org/visit/map/

[Creed]

Yeah, that's what I was figuring, from some googling. Looks like Blue Springs and Alexander are the only things relatively close. Due to the conference times, I'll probably only be able to do the aquarium dive. Still trying to carve out a few days for Panama City.

[cheeko8080]

I dove in Blue Springs about a year and half ago because I happened to be somewhat close bye and figured why not. It's really probably not worth your time unless you are a full cave diver and even then I honestly have no idea if it would be worth it since I am not and could not venture that far in. That being said the water was the clearest water I have ever experienced, though it is the only spring I've ever had the chance to dive in.

[simonbeans]

Once upon a time, there were events for vintage equipped divers called Sand Dogs. At the early Sand Dogs we dived almost all of the springs in and around Ocala which was the centralized location for the activity. About an hour + or _ north of Orlando, Ocala has Paradise Spring. Then, of course, Alexander, east of Ocala, etc., etc. Not sure of your method of transportation, but a drive from Orlando to home, Kansas??, takes you by and through some of the best fresh water springs in the world. Mostly great for cavers, the springs do have plenty of open water diver accessibility. Ask any of the Sand Doggers and they can give you tales, lies, and adventures of most of the springs. Scheduling a day or two outside of your obligations would seem definitely the thing to do.

[Creed]

Ah, I am well aware of the Sand Dogs. I was with you at SDIII, though I had a serious(and quite embarrassing) problem on the initial dive off of the Aquanaut and decided to leave early(lesson learned: never assume that extreme fatigue coupled with a few other factors won't be enough to cause you to FUBAR a dive badly enough to call off the weekend). I'll be flying into Orlando, but I'm thinking of either renting a car or flying to Panama City for the festivities.