Name: Crystal River - Three Sisters Springs
Rating: 4.0

Florida

Citrus County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States



Crystal River. East side of King's Bay.

Crystal River

Crystal River - Three Sisters Springs

Three Sisters Springs is a complex of three spring areas, with many vents and sand boils that help feed Kings Bay, the headwaters of the Crystal River. These springs also constitute one of the most important natural warm-water refuges for the endangered Florida manatee. The site entrance is blocked from boats.

Fresh Water fish and turtles. Occasional manatees though diving in the area is limited when there are a high number of manatees present.

Three Sisters Spring

A great a free way to snorkle with the Manatees. no need to waste $70 with some of the outfits. we saw 10+ manatees the day we were there just wade into the water right next to your car.

recommend a wet suit though as it is winter when the manatees are there. the water temperature is 72'.



East of Crystal River in Crystal River City Park. End of NE 1st Avenue.

Crystal River - Hunter Spring

Many people come here to dive and snorkel because of the large manatee population that migrate up into the warm natural spring fed waters that remain a constant 72 degrees all year round. 

During the winter months, Crystal River boasts the largest manatee population and is the only place in the world that you can swim with the manatees during our manatee tours.



South of King's Bay, Crystal River.

Crystal River - King's Spring

Crystal River is a fresh water river complex fed by warm freshwater springs. It offers a variety of fish (mullets, catfish, tarpon, etc.) and many Manatees. I found the manatees were friendly and unintimidated by SCUBA.  Sadly, all of the manatees I saw had suffered multiple prop injuries.  If you do boat in manatee territory, please look out for them.  This is an easy site to dive and offers a good environment for beginners.  Maximum depth is around 40 feet. The water is in the mid 70s to low 80s year round and I was comfortable diving in a 3-mil skin.

I know it can be shore-dived, but, I don't know a lot of the details of shore diving this site.  I dove it from a small inflatable.  I know it's in the North Western section of the Florida Peninsula, and, I believe it's a state park.  Sorry I don't have more information.  I only dove there once.

Spring fed river, incredibly clear.  In addition to abundant underwater wildlife, see springs bubbling into river (looks like bubbling sand).  Easy snorkel since you get taken upriver in a boat and "float" down.

Biology interest is based on both land and water creatures, especially birds and large freshwater fish. Week-end frequency based on holidays and summertime, otherwise not too bad in the early morning when the best animals are active.

Very quiet setting, recommended to get there EARLY, 8am when the park opens, to beat any crowds and big dive classes (they arrive around 11:30 or 12 usually). Gentle current allows good introduction into handling your buoyancy on a drift dive. Gentle sloping landscape underwater, worst thing you'll run into is tall grass or a sunken log.

In various spots the spring feeding the river bubbles up from the sand, and from small caves, which is quite interesting the first time someone experiences it (seeing the sand "boil," feeling the temperature differences). Large alligator gar and turtles may come by to say hello

You can easily access the first entry point by going to the main gate for the park and hopping a boat, or simply taking the short trail down to the water's edge. The docks and walkways are brand new, either paved or wooden depending which you choose. Very easy access either way.

Paved parking, small fee to enter park.

From Orlando - Approximately 83 miles ( time 1 hour & 40 min)  1. Take I-4 East or West or Florida Turnpike North exit #77  2. Go North on the Florida Turnpike approximately 55 miles 3. Turnpike will turn to I-75 North  4. Take I-75 North for 10 miles to Hwy.484 exit # 341 turn left 5. Take Hwy. 484 West to Dunnellon Fl. Approximately 20 miles to Hwy 41 6. Go right , North 3 miles to SW 99th Place. Turn right at light go 1 mile cross RR track then go left after crossings, 1 mile on right is KP Hole County Park

Rainbow River

This is an advanced dive. Do not take this lightly. Do not screw it up for the rest of us. Getting to the nest was often as hard as the dive. It was best to go with someone who had been there several times before since the hunting roads can become an incredible maze. This is an extremely advanced dive due to the distance from help and the depths found here. If you have never seen the Little River well pipe, done the Peacock Grand Traverse, and hit the Hinkle restriction, all on on a swim dive, then you probably should not be diving here. There is no open water, cavern, intro, nor apprentice to cave level of diving conducted here unless under the control of an instructor. With a team of 3-4 divers using HIDs and scooters, one can really just start to get an idea of the size of this place. Access is gained through the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. The access is about 10 miles north of the Hwy 50/Hwy 19 intersection. There are some good directions with pictures at this site: http://www.ezscuba.com/eagle's_nest.htm  When you dive there, please make sure to leave a copy of either your annual pass or the stub you got after paying at the ranger on the vehicle dashboard so that law enforcement may check it while you are in the water. Please also leave a copy of your cave certification card as well as you would at Peacock and be sure to sign the log book. If you want to see the waypoints, you can see the track here. Although the words overlap, the first point after the entrance is the first Y-split, soon followed by the second Y-split and then the crossroads.



Eagle's Nest is a large cave system on Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area property about the woods near Weeki Wachee. Access is now available for the general public. The good news is that a good road has been provided all the way to the sink and a wooden deck and staircase have been installed for easy access. The bad news is that the sink is now 12 miles from the current access even though it is less than a mile from the closest paved road.  If you use a Garmin GPA with Mapsource, then you can import this Mapsource track, or click here to see how the track appears. The state has put in a lot of time and effort to improve the road and build a dock and ramp system to enable divers to have easy access. This is a great deal. The price to dive here is $3 a day or you may purchase an annual Wildlife Management Area pass for $26.50 at local hunting supply stores or even Wal-Mart.

Eagle's Nest is also known as Lost Sink.

Eagle's Nest

Dome shaped sinkhole where groups of manatees gather in the winter months.  Jack fish and eels can also be seen. 

Rent a canoe in the town of Weeki Wachee Springs and travel a short distance upstream from the canoe dock on the gentle Weeki Wachee River to find sinkhole where many manatees gather in the winter seasons.  Shallow water around the sinkhole allows shore-like entrance.  Small buoy marks the sinkhole.  Rent a canoe through a local store and travel from the parking lot at Rogers Park canoe launch east up the river.

Hospital Hole

Weeki Wachee can best be described as a fresh water spring with a theme park built around it.  In between dives you can watch the mermaid show that takes place right there in the spring.  Divers must be accompanied by local dive shops with permission to enter and dive.

Located on US 19 in the heart of a very small town called Weeki Wachee.  It's about an hour and a half north of Tampa, Fl.

Weeki Wachee Springs

Individual diving will not be permitted.  Individuals wishing to dive at the spring, must contact one of the registered dive shops for availability and pricing.



Weeki Wachee Springs is about 12 miles southwest of Brooksville at the head of the Weeki Wachee River. It is just south of State Hwy 50 on the west side of U.S. Hwy 19. This is a well known landmark and will be very easy to find. Look for the swimming mermaid signs all over the interstate and state highways. 


Weeki Wachee

40 fathoms deep, spring water, good viz. Platforms to take a break every 15 feet.

40 Fathom Grotto<br>9487 NW 115th Ave<br>Ocala, FL 34482<br>
(352) 368-7974

Crystal River - Three Sisters Springs

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Crystal River - Three Sisters Springs