North Florida Springs · United States · Wreck · Freshwater
Troy Springs
A Confederate steamer, scuttled in 1863, in shallow spring water
Area photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0
A first-magnitude spring in a state park north of Branford, with a Civil War wreck in it. The Madison, a Confederate sidewheel paddle steamer, was scuttled here in September 1863 by her own captain to keep her out of Union hands, and her remains lie in the shallow water of the spring run. The spring itself is 70 feet deep, about 21 metres, and the dive is a shore entry.
Also known as Troy Spring, Troy Spring State Park.
Where it is and how deep
29.9986° N, 82.9990° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The remains of the Madison are the reason most divers come: a Confederate sidewheel paddle steamer, owned and captained by James Felix Tucker, scuttled here in September 1863 to keep her from falling into Union hands, and lying in the shallow water of the spring run ever since. She sits shallow enough that snorkellers see her too, which is why the park lists swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving together.
Past the wreck the spring itself drops to 70 feet, about 21 metres. Accounts differ on where the Madison actually lies: Wikipedia places the remains at the bottom of the spring, while the dive-site listing describes them in the shallow water of the run, so it is worth looking in both. Above the water the park has picnic tables, an interpretive nature trail and a riverside dock for canoeists and boaters, six miles north of Branford off US 27.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Madison
- Type
- Confederate sidewheel paddle steamer
- Sunk
- 1863
- Cause
- Scuttled by her captain to keep her from falling into Union hands
- Lies
- In the shallow water of the spring run; one account places the remains at the bottom of the spring
The Madison was a Confederate sidewheel paddle steamer, owned and captained by James Felix Tucker. In September 1863, during the American Civil War, Tucker scuttled his own vessel at Troy Spring to prevent her from falling into Union hands, and the remains have stayed there since. The spring around her is now Troy Spring State Park, about six miles north of Branford off US 27, with an interpretive nature trail running above the water.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows North Florida Springs: The spring water holds a constant 22 °C (72 °F), so diving runs all year; Ginnie Springs is crowded on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Know before you go
- The spring bottoms out at 21 metres while the wreck lies shallow, so plan the deep bowl and the wreck as separate parts of the dive rather than one continuous loop.
Dive videos
Scuba Diving - What's left of a Civil War era Paddle Boat Wreck - Troy Springs · Discover Florida Diving on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Where is the Madison shipwreck?+
In Troy Spring, about six miles north of Branford off US 27. Accounts differ on the exact position: Wikipedia places the remains at the bottom of the spring, while the dive-site listing describes them in the shallow water of the spring run.
How deep is Troy Spring?+
The first-magnitude spring is 70 feet, about 21 metres, deep. The Madison's remains are shallower than that, in the run, which is why the park lists snorkelling alongside scuba diving.
Sources
- Troy Spring State Park — Wikipedia
- Troy Spring State Park — Florida State Parks
- Troy Springs dive site — ScubaGo / SSI MyDiveGuide
In The Logbook
- Freshwater diving: lakes, springs and quarriesFreshwater · 15 min read
- Your first wreck dive: what to expect and whereFirst dives · 6 min read
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