Crystal River · United States · Cave & cavern · Freshwater
King Spring
A 60 m spring basin with a vent bottoming out around 20 m
Area photo: Keith Ramos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain
The main vent in Kings Bay, a spring basin about 60 m across with a rock opening at the bottom around 20 m down. Average visibility over the site is 9 to 11 m, and it is reached only by boat, either your own or one rented from a dive shop on the bay. Manatees are logged here more often than any other animal.
Where it is and how deep
28.8825° N, 82.5955° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
You come in by boat and drop into the basin, which runs about 60 m across. Average visibility over the site is only 9 to 11 m, and the murkiest water is the bay water sitting on top of it. The picture improves rather than darkens as you go down, because what you are descending into is the column of spring water on its way up out of the vent.
The vent sits at the bottom of the basin and the deepest point of the dive is around 20 m. Getting into the opening means working against the outflow, so most divers pull along the rock rather than fin. Inside, the daylight zone is short and there is rock overhead the whole way. Back out in the basin the fish are freshwater: bass, catfish and gar are the regulars, and manatees are logged here more often than any other animal.
Plan the dive on gas rather than distance. The swim back out of the vent is downstream and quick, and the ascent is a straight one in open water over the basin. Air fills and bathrooms are available at the site, so a second dive is simple once you are back on the boat. Manatees are the reason most people are in Kings Bay at all; on scuba, stay off them and let the animal choose the distance.
Marine life and season
- Dugongs & manatees
- Freshwater fish
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Crystal River: Manatees crowd the springs Nov–Mar when the Gulf drops below 20°C; in summer they disperse and only the spring dives remain.
Know before you go
- Outflow is strongest right at the vent opening; plan to pull yourself in along the rock and expect an easy ride back out.
- Site-average visibility is only 9 to 11 m and the bay water above the spring is the murkiest part of it, so agree a descent plan and buddy contact before you drop.
- This is an overhead environment at the vent — stay in the daylight zone unless you hold the appropriate cavern or cave training.
Questions divers ask
How deep is King Spring?+
The basin is about 60 m across and bottoms out at around 20 m at the vent, which is the deepest point of the dive.
What is the visibility at King Spring?+
Averages run about 9 to 11 m across the site. The bay water on top is the murkiest part; clarity improves as you descend into the outflow from the vent.
Can you dive King Spring from shore?+
No — the site is reached by boat, either your own or one rented from a dive shop on Kings Bay. Bathrooms and air fills are available at the site.
Sources
- King Spring - Scubago — Scubago
- King Spring - SSI MyDiveGuide — SSI
In The Logbook
- Where to dive, month by monthTrip planning · 13 min read
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