Daytona Beach is located in Volusia County and is famous world wide among the race fans for the Daytona International Speedway. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the city hosts an amazing coastline and beautiful sandy beaches, attracting visitors from all over the states. It is also known for the hard packed sand on which you can drive your vehicle and visit restricted areas.
With a humid subtropical climate, the average temperatures during summer are 90°F/33°C with brief tropical storms and the average temperatures during winter are 70°F/21°C with light freezes.
Volusia Blue Spring is located within the Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, just within few miles away from Daytona Beach, being among the top diving sites in the area. With a very interesting biodiversity and home to manatee populations that come up from St. John’s river, this fresh water dive is an amazing adventure.
The diving spot is located on a circular spring pool, surrounded by steep sandy banks and the temperature of the water is 72 °F /22 °C during spring and summer. The large cave angles into a room and drops down at a depth of 121.4 ft/37 m while visibility varies from 32 ft/10 m to 98 ft/30 m. While diving down, you will come across many smaller caves that lead into dark dead ends. Once you reach the maximum depth, the cave becomes narrow and you are not allowed to proceed any further, due to the strong flow of the stream.
In order to dive this site, you must have a CMAS * / OW certification. The park is open daily from 8:00 am and you have to check in and register beforehand in order to dive. The spring run is very important for the survival of the manatees and diving is not allowed from the 15th of November until the 15th of March. Camping is allowed in the park. Respect the natural environment and if you come across a manatee, don’t get closer than 50 ft/15 m because these are wild animals and can get scared. Divers should be careful of the strong spring current.
