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What better way to celebrate the first day of Spring than to dive into the freshwater springs in Florida!
Vortex and Morrison Springs are located in the panhandle of northwest Florida near the community of Ponce de Leon. Vortex has a circular pool of crystal clear water, approximately 200 feet in diameter, with depths from 10 to 50 feet. A cavern system leads some 400 feet back, and to a depth of around 110 feet, before divers encounter a locked gate across the passage further into the cave.
Vortex is a commercially operated dive park. The open basin features large dive platforms, swim-throughs and even two underwater "bells" where divers can surface in an air pocket and talk to one another! The site is ideal for training dives and the near 70 degree water is a great alternative to our local dive sites this time of year!
Morrison Springs is a county park that features large boardwalks and a dive dock for entry into a 250 foot diameter spring pool. The flow from the spring is estimated to average 48 million gallons of clear water each day. While it is generally an excellent site, the area sometimes floods making it unsuitable for diving. The flow from this spring has at times reached 70 million gallons a day!
Vortex Itinerary
Mar 18 (Thu) - Depart Chattanooga and drive to DeFuniak Springs, Florida where we will be staying at the Comfort Inn. Allow apprximately 6.5 hours of driving time.
Mar 19 (Fri) - Meet in the motel lobby at 8:00 AM (Central Time) for breakfast before making the short drive to Vortex Springs. We will check in as a group at the dive park and will make as many as five dives before heading back to the motel at approximately 4:30 PM.
Mar 20 (Sat) - Meet again for breakfast before heading back to Vortex. Plan on making as many as five dives again on this day as well. We will organize a group dinner this evening.
Mar 21 (Sun) - After breakfast, we will drive to Morrison Springs (depending on conditions). After checking in at the park office, we will make approximately three dives before packing up for the drive back to Chattanooga. We should depart the springs area around 3:00 PM.
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