Swimming in Florida's Blue Spring [March 28-30, 2016]

Russ over the Spring opening

13 months after we initially set out for Florida in February 2015, we arrived in Jacksonville to visit Dana’s Aunt.  We had a lovely Easter together, and visited Jacksonville Beach.  Lucky Aunt, she lives only 12 blocks away from the beach. 

One of the Entry Points

The next day we headed out to Blue Spring State Park north of Orlando.  If you are ever visiting Orlando and get tired of Disney, you really need to give this spot a visit.  Blue Spring is a Magnitude 1 spring, and it pumps 101 Million gallons of 72 degree water out of the Florida Aquifer each day.  In the winter about 200 Manatees live in the Spring and the Run because the water is warm.  After the Manatees leave, millions of human visitors swim in the refreshing fresh water.  It is a prime spot for SCUBA and free divers.

Looking up the Run

First a word on Springs.  The Florida Aquifer collects water underneath coastal South Carolina, all of Georgia and all of Florida.  Whenever it rains, the water that soaks into the soil makes its way through the porous limestone into a maze of underground rivers and lakes.  In central Florida there are about 700 places where the limestone has collapsed, causing a sink hole, and opening rock fissures to the aquifer.  Pressure from the weight of the water in the aquifer pushes water up to the surface.  At Blue Spring they call the basin where the water comes up to the surface, the Boil.  The water then follows down the Run to the St. John’s River. 

The sink hole at the Boil

On Monday, we walked along the side of the Boil and the Run down to the River.  We were disappointed that the Manatees had left just 2 weeks before.  It was a hot day, and we noticed the many swimmers renting floating tubes and cooling off as they were pushed down the Run by the current of the Spring.

The dark gash in the middle is the opening

So Tuesday, we got out our snorkel gear, rented tubes and entered the Spring.  The spot where you get in is downstream from the Boil, so you have to swim or walk against the current to get there.  The opening is like a great gash in the bottom of the pool.  Several large trees have fallen across it.  The caves beneath the gash extend down 120 feet.

The opening - 101 Million gallons of water pump through each day

Dana snorkel tubing

We snorkeled around, watching divers, and taking pictures.  When we got tired we floated down to the put-in spot and rested and had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Nourished and refreshed, we went back in and spent another hour or so exploring the Spring from the surface.  When we were done, we made a leisurely float the length of the Run that is open for swimming and then walked back to get our towels.  

SCUBA divers coming up from the cave

Entering the Boil

The Spring is very lovely with Palm, Palmetto, and Live Oak (with Spanish Moss) trees around it.  The area of the Boil is a sinkhole with sides that go straight up like a deep bowl.  Laughter and shrieks echo off of the sides.  As you float along the Run, you pass under branches dripping Spanish Moss.  Very exotic.

Free diver