An adventure snorkeling in central Florida’s natural springs.
The Devil’s Den sounds ominous, but it’s really just a colorful, folksy name for a deep, water-filled limestone formation somewhere south of Gainesville in central Florida. It had been on my bucket list (and Pinterest board) for some time. They offer snorkeling and scuba diving in the water, and while I didn’t have time to get scuba certified, I was definitely down for snorkeling. The fact I hadn’t done it in ten years or so? Didn’t matter.
The drive from Jacksonville was about two hours, punctuated by small towns and speed traps so frequent I felt like I was accelerating only to jam on the brakes again. When I turned onto a dirt (sand) road, I knew I must be getting close. The mossy oaks were incredible. It felt like being in a national park.
I paid my entrance fee and wandered the park while waiting for my turn to enter the cave. People milled all around, mostly families out for some weekend fun. There were some young people on dates and schools of divers looking intent on their upcoming dive.
Rodger loved the environment, and agreed to pose for some glamour shots.
I decided to brave the cold and wore no wetsuit into the cave – just took my fins, mask and snorkel. The water was like ice and took my breath away! That combined with the adjustment to the snorkel made me hyperventilate for a while. But finally, I adjusted and swam around enjoying this spectacle with the people around me, who smelled disturbingly of beer and marijuana.
(These quick shots will give you a sense of the place, but much better photographs can be seen online.)
The cave’s and pool from above is exotic enough… under the water, I wished (for the first time in my life) that I owned a GoPro or had some way to take underwater video. The light from the hole above illuminated the limestone formations, the fish swimming calmly along, and the scuba divers emerging like monsters from the cave floor.
When I got out of the water, the Florida heat didn’t even feel warm. It took a few minutes to warm up from the freezing water. But wow, was it worth it! Maybe the experience of the summer… but then, there’s still plenty of summer left to be had.
~ The Dauntless Princess ~