The passage drops down to about 140' from there and it's very dark just 40' from OW. Here divers can remove their masks, take a breath of fresh air and even have a quick chat with their diving buddy, if they so desire. Alexander Springs Wilderness is also located within Ocala National Forest. Happy 2016, everybody- I hope you all had a fabulous holiday! The basin, which is OW is only about 10' deep right now. We have three different dive sites for certified scuba divers to experience: The Ginnie Ballroom, The Devil’s Spring System, and the Santa Fe River. Pictures, dive logs, reviews and articles. I don't recommend Paradise for OW. Legal. Alexander Springs Rec Area 49525 CR 445 ALTOONA FL 32702 Phone: (352)669-3522 Operating Hours Open all year round. Help. Alexander Springs Recreation Area There are only 27 first-magnitude springs in Florida, and Alexander Springs is by far one of the easiest for visitors to enjoy. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. With forested scenery and abundant water, the recreation area offers camping, swimming, canoeing, scuba diving (for certified divers), hiking, birding and wildlife viewing. Springs are the attraction here. Alexander Springs Recreation Area is located along County Road (CR) 445 in the northeast corner of Lake County between Astor and Altoona. Projects. The springs are fed through Florida's natural underground aquifer (a river that runs beneath Florida) dumping millions of gallons of water daily. No external links have been submitted. They're a little too soft for scuba diving, but are comfortable and are good kickers on the surface. by Steph | posted in: Explore Florida, Road Trip | 8. The main attraction here is the beautiful headspring, which is one of the 27 first magnitude springs here in Florida. The Bubble Watcher at Alexander Springs, Florida. Alexander Springs is not one to miss. Alexander springs is also home to many trails and fun activities like canoeing. TripAdvisor WanderlustigDuo The spring pool is filled from a natural spring that stays at a constant 72-degrees Fahrenheit all year long. Alexander Springs Diving 7 Jan 2016 . Getting There From I-75 take Hwy 40 East thru Ocala and Silver Springs approximately 40 miles to Hwy 19. It’s relatively shallow and boasts a sandy beach. alexander springs scuba diving sept. 17th 2020 & dec. 10th 2020 with compressed adventures Jan 12 Ginnie Springs Scuba Diving Sept 26 2020 Excerpts from DavesDiveVideos She is a certified scuba diver. Snorkeling is amazing, diving down into the fresh water hole with crystal blue water about 20ft deep. Alexander Springs is also a great OW site. Follow the road a short distance to Paradise Springs… It is in the middle of Ocala National Forest and is one of the most beautiful springs of any. Overall Alexander springs is a very good place to unplug and getaway from stress! Dive Site. The swimming pool at Alexander Springs measures an impressive 300 feet by 258 feet, and the park features a boardwalk for wildlife viewing, hiking, picnic areas, and a camp store. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Alexander Springs, FL. Sponsors. Alexander Spring is the only 1st magnitude spring in the federal parks and forests system (Follman, personal communication, 2004). Click here for more information about this Florida swimming hole. Alexander Springs is one of the best places to visit for families. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. The average temperature of a Florida spring is 72 degrees year round which makes it excellent for scuba diving, cave diving, and snorkeling. The canoe run is 7 1/2 miles long and takes more than 4 hours to complete. by James A. Coss (Daytona Beach, FL) My friend is going scuba diving down in Fort Lauderdale in about 2 weeks. Utilization - Alexander Spring is in the Ocala National Forest. Check out this great little video from The Florida Diver of Alexander Springs and see why you will want to join us there! The shallow depths and small caverns make an for excellent novice dive. Ginnie Springs is a cavern dive, too. Alexander Springs. SeaLife Photo - taken with Sealife CD600 at Alexander Springs, Florida Diving on Mars - Photo ID: 1685 Alexander Springs Recreation Area is an incredible natural area that provides something for any adventure seeker to love. Alexander Springs one of the best springs in Florida. Once divers reach 30 feet below the surface, there is the one and only fresh air bell in the freshwater diving Florida springs. Diver Reviews: Click here to write a Site Review, and share any new information about this site! Mar 7, 2014 - Diving on Mars Alexander Springs, Florida. Alexander Springs and the Ocala National Forest. That is all she thinks about. Alexander Springs, located in central Florida, is known for its safe open water dive. Alexander Springs has always been tops on my list of things to do in the Ocala National Forest. Vultures are best known for picking at carcasses of dead animals on the roadsides. Two segments of the Florida National Scenic Trail run through the area. The campground gate is closed and locked from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM. The spring's water is beautiful, deep blue and incredibly clear. Alexander springs is not your average campground, yea sure it has the normal campsites and bathrooms but, it also has a beautiful breathtaking spring that you are allowed to swim in. Park Map. Vultures & Alexander Springs. Dive Training. Paradise Springs. It's also unique because it's located inside Ocala National Forest. Check out roamyers's scuba dive dive log. Dive Rules. Scuba Diving Rentals. Alexander Springs is a 1st magnitude springs with camping, swimming, scuba diving and a large picnic area for families to enjoy the day. The OW section is very small and only about 15-20' deep. The spring basin is one of the largest I've seen, almost 300 ft. wide. Alexander Springs Recreation Area is located in the Ocala National Forest near the beautiful, turquoise waters of Alexander Springs. Address: 49525 County Rd 445, Altoona, FL 32702 It feels like I am too from all the scuba diving conversations that … Camping, swimming, scuba diving, and canoeing are available with full facilities. There's also a very silty bottom. From State Road (SR) 40 at Astor, take Butler Street to CR 445A, and turn left on CR 445. People come here to scuba dive the underwater caves and paddle the Spring Creek. $13.32/day with NP pass. Divers can swim about 20 to 25 yards in 3 to 6 feet of water, looking for freshwater fish or … This is the only place in Big Scrub where scuba diving is allowed. Manatee Springs Scuba Diving and Catfish Hotel July 15, 2020 Alexander Springs, FL Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. Florida’s Ocala National Forest is the home of Alexander Springs Campground, which is one of the state’s most popular for hikers, backpackers, and campers of all skill levels. As the spring run meanders through an untrammeled wilderness, it is a delight to canoe or kayak. In the summer, it's cool and inviting, and in winter, well, at least it's warmer than the typical air temperature. Blue Grotto. Contact. Alexander Springs is a big, natural, heated swimming pool--if you can call a steady year-round 72-degree water temperature heated. They can sniff out a decaying corpse from an incredible distance, and usually circle around until they find it, before diving in for supper. Alexander Springs Patrons: Please consider becoming a Patron for Alexander Springs Dive Site Links: (If you have a relevant link for Alexander Springs, please write us here.) Divers will begin at the 80 ft wide entrance to this 100 ft deep, majestic sinkhole. Alexander Springs Dive Site near Astor, Paisley, Umatilla, Barberville, Pierson, Eustis & Lake Mary United States. Alexander Springs Creek is a creek in Ocala National Forest, Alexander Springs Wilderness, Atlantic Coastal Plain, FL. Water is very warm and clear with white sand bottom so you can see the fish. Information about Alexander Springs Access: From shore Difficulty: All divers Avg Depth: 7.5 m / 24.6 ft Currents: None Visibility: Good ( 10 - 30 m) Best dive centers in Central Florida Springs - Ocala. A broad and naturally gently sloped spring pool becomes a natural water park when visitors come to picnic, swim and play. More about diving Central Florida Springs - Ocala. Alexander Springs. Alexander Springs Highlights: Alexander Springs offers a great location for snorkeling in clear spring water and scuba diving if you want to fully explore the 25-foot basin. Alexander Springs Recreation Area in Florida is one of the most beautiful swimming holes in the state. The recreation area is 5.8 miles south on the right. Paddling Alexander Run is one of the main reasons many people visit Alexander Springs. The creek is wider than some of the other nearby spring-fed waterways, like Rock Springs Run and Juniper Run. Popular activities include swimming (obviously), hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, SUPing, camping, and canoeing. Contact. You might not be fortunate enough to witness the season change in Florida and all of … … Alexander Springs Recreational Area is a popular destination with camping, picnicking, snorkeling, a boardwalk, and hiking - this is the only area in the Ocala National Forest where scuba diving is permitted. Log a dive or post a picture at Alexander Springs. ALEXANDER SPRINGS 49525 County Rd 445, Altoona, FL 32702. Established National Forest campground. The first mailbox has a dive flag painted on the side of it and a sign below that says “Paradise Springs Scuba Diving.” Turn right onto the sand road by the mail boxes; continue across the railroad tracks and then make a right turn. It's one among many of Florida's crystalline springs, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy its many offerings of eco-adventure.