Now Open to Divers! DeLeon Springs, FL | Any scuba diver with a buddy is welcome / Down to 60

Finally, any certified scuba diver (with a certified dive buddy) can dive this freshwater springs.
De Leon Springs State Park is located just outside of Orlando, FL, and for just $6 a car, you can dive here year-round.
Sign in at the front with proof of Open Water Scuba Certification or above, and make sure to do so before 3pm, and be out and back to sign out one hour prior to sunset.
Once signed in, follow the signs and go to the parking lot to the RIGHT of the main swimming area. That's where you'll park and find covered pavilions, diver benches, picnic tables, rinse showers, and bathrooms. It's also the closet access to the actual spring.
(NOTE, there is no diving allowed or recommended in the actual lake).
Enter using the stairs, or go by the waterfall and giant stride off the large deck into the deeper water. Watch for swimmers and of course, watch that silt. The bottom of DeLeon Spring blows out pretty quick. It's a popcorn and silt factory at the 25' cave on the bottom of the boil. (There is no cave diving allowed here).
There's a hook down at the bottom for attaching a float ball, flag, or other line for teaching certification courses or freediving.
The perimeter is surrounded by a seawall and shallow water, so this place is EXCELLENT for both scuba and free diving classes to start shallow, be able to stand or exit, while also being near the deeper middle section.
A few words of warning: This place will quickly hit capacity and close down on warm weekends, ESPECIALLY when school is out. During the summer, springs break or major holidays, you'll need to arrive at opening time to ensure entry. For the best times, go in the middle of the week, when school is in, and especially in the winter. In the winter, the water remains 72 degrees Fahrenheit, so there's no bad time to visit.
Put your name in early the Sugarmill Pancake House restaurant since there is typically a solid wait time (assuming you want amazing food and to pour and sizzle your own pancakes at your table!).
Finally, this spring pairs perfectly with Blue Spring State Park, or Alexander Springs. you can do all three if you time it right, just be mindful of check-in and checkout times, and weekend capacity issues. They're both within an hour of each other, and all are inexpensive and can be dived with one tank each at the most.
For Blue Spring State Park, remember it closes sometime in November until around March due to Manatee migration, but Alexander Springs is open year round.
Be sure to check out both of the Down to 60 videos on each of those on our channel!
Blue Spring State Park: • How to scuba dive Blue...
Alexander Spring recreational Area: • How to scuba dive Alex...
Getting to DeLeon Springs:
DeLeon Springs State Park is just North of Orlando, Florida. It’s absolutely loaded with things to do, eat, and see, including kayaking, fishing, bird watching, nature trails and boat tours.
386-985-4212
Google Maps link: goo.gl/maps/AK...
DeLeon Springs website: www.floridasta....
601 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
De Leon Springs FL 32130
Special thanks to Chappy of Sea King Scuba, and Katie Reich for getting wet and diving in to make this video happen.
Video, Script and voice by Kenny Dyal
Produced by: www.sweetwaterscuba.com