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Blue Springs
State Park
Volusia County's best spot for
manatees and cavern diving |
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Blue
Spring State Park
2100 West French Ave.
Orange City, Florida 32763
(904) 775-3663
Open:8 a.m. till sundown 365 days
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Manatees
Around November and staying
through March, the manatees
spend the *in the calm warm
waters of the 72-degree spring
run that leads to the St. Johns
River. At times
several dozen of
the gentle giants may gather together
in the run. The park offers ranger interpretive
programs so visitors |
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can learn more about
this endangered animal. A wheelchair accessible platform and boardwalk
have been constructed to lessen the environmental impact on the riverbank,
making for a
spectacular view of the crystal clear water and the wildlife. Be
advised that swimming with
the manatees is prohibited.
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Cavern Diving
The source of the the spring run is a spectacular
limestone cavern that extends down at a
45 degree
angle to a depth of approximately 120 feet. The
park limits the number of
divers per day, so getting
there early is critical. Open water divers are allowed
in
the first sixty feet of the cavern, there divers will
see the "prevent your own
death" sign marking the
spot where the overhead environment begins.
Advanced
divers who are specially trained for cave
and cavern diving are permitted full access to
the
cavern. The cavern walls are composed of
limestone, and have
been uniquely carved by the
force of the aquifer as it surges from
the
underground passages. Due to the strong flow
of this first
magnitude spring, divers might find it
difficult at first to enter the
cavern and navigate
around the tree that lies submerged at fifteen feet.
This cavern is one of the most beautiful of its kind,
and is a highly
recommended dive for divers of all
levels.
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IAN
strongly cautions all divers to follow the safety regulations of the park. Failing
to do
so could expose inadequately trained divers to unnecessary risks. Typically
spring diving
can be perfectly safe when common sense is used.
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Hiking/Swimming
The park offers a self guided nature
trail through hardwoood
hammock and along the springs run, including the boardwalk section that leads to the
Blue
Spring. Swimming is permitted
in the run and can be easily accessed
by stairs off
the boardwalk. Remember
that the water temperature is a cool
72 degrees farenheit all
year! |
Camping
Blue Spings State Park offers tent sites,
rental cabins, primitive camping, and RV style sites.
All of the sites have a water
source, picnic table, and a grill, and the campground features
full bathroom facilities.
The primitive camping is available to backpackers, and is at the end
of a four mile
trail. Reservations can be made at the ranger station, (904) 775-3663.
Also
available are 6 heated and cooled cabins which are fully equipped with
kitchenware and linens
for up to 6 people (reservations are strongly recommended). |
| Historical Before the European settlement of Florida the Timucuan tribe
settled the spring run, river
and the surrounding area. The tribe left behind huge mounds
of snail shells gathered from river,
snails were a key food source. By the
mid-1800's, a majority of the Timucuan had been driven
out by pioneer settlers, and in
1872 a large frame house was built by the Thursby family on top
of a shellmound.
The Thursby house is remarkably well preserved, and is complete with a
sistern for
collecting water. Inside, the home is complete with antiques and many items of
the
day. Imagine living here in that period before air conditioning or electricity in
such a remote
and steamy wilderness. |
Author-Simon J.Swain, e-mail
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