About Who's Been Here Photos Dive Log Revisions Paradise Springs - Spring 4040 Southeast 84th Lane Road, Ocala, FL 34480-9769 (352) 368-5746 | More Info Max Depth: 131-140ft/40-43m Average Viz: 71-80ft/22-24m Entry Type: Shore Bottom Composition: Sand Aquatic Life: Might See Something Rating: 4.12 by 49 divers Spring: 71-75°F/22-24°C Summer: 71-75°F/22-24°C Fall: 71-75°F/22-24°C Winter: 71-75°F/22-24°C View All 49 Members View All 8 Photos davidmgf: Avg Viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 12/31/2016 mangoman1: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 7/08/2016 mangoman1: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 5/13/2016 mangoman1: Avg Viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 4/29/2016 mangoman1: Avg Viz: 101-110ft/31-34m. Water Temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C. 2/29/2016 mangoman1: Avg Viz: 101-110ft/31-34m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 8/29/2015 xracr96: Avg Viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water Temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C. 8/02/2015 mangoman1: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 3/11/2015 SantaFeSandy: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 3/11/2015 SpacemanCraig: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 1/02/2015 SantaFeSandy: Avg Viz: 81-90ft/25-27m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 6/26/2014 bvarn1: Avg Viz: 21-25ft/6-8m. Water Temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C. 2/15/2014 bvarn1: Avg Viz: 21-25ft/6-8m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 12/22/2013 djkobra81: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 11/16/2013 SantaFeSandy: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C. 9/19/2013 SantaFeSandy: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 5/29/2013 bvarn1: Avg Viz: 26-30ft/8-9m. Water Temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C. 12/09/2012 jimciot: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 6/02/2012 9/04/2016 7:35 AM 6/22/2015 1:08 PM LatitudeAdjustment 7/01/2010 8:42 AM

Paradise Springs - Spring is a shore accessible fresh water dive site, located at 4040 Southeast 84th Lane Road, Ocala, FL 34480-9769. This dive site has an average rating of 4.12 out of 5 from 49 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 131-140ft/40-43m. The average visibility is 71-80ft/22-24m. This dive site provides bathrooms and airfills. Training platforms are available.

Just outside of Ocala, this huge Cavern/Cave has a giant Whale bone, and some sand dollar fossils on the walls. Did I say this cavern was gigantic, I mean gigantic. Open water divers welcome.... 

Paradise Springs is actually a sinkhole that is privately owned and operated. The current owner purchased the land from a family member that was not using the sink. The sink is now open to the public and admission in July 2002 was $27 to scuba dive. Air fills were $5 a tank. Depths here reach 140 ft. Upon entering the water, a large cavern is encountered. At about 20 ft, you follow a large tunnel down at a 90 degree angle. Open water divers should stop at 99 ft., where they’ll see a sign warning them "prevent your death." After 99ft. you loose all surface light and enter a small shaft that continues down to 140 ft. Visibilty is generally good. Careless divers make it worse. Some fossils can be seen in the walls of the cavern.

Check out the Youtube video at
youtube.com/watch?v=5uo67BRuae8

Comments

randomlyon - 11/12/2023 10:05 PM Rating Added: 4 I was surprised how entertaining this cavern was. It’s like blue grotto with no bell and with a much smaller open water area. The cavern is probably better than bg and you can still go to 100’ where there’s a death sign preventing anyone from going all the way down to 140. There’s a few interesting fossils, a whale bone, some catfish and small minnows, and I saw a blind cave crayfish at 42’ while looking for some bones sticking out of a sediment layer. There was only one other group of cave divers (in rec gear) when we went. Visibility is good at 40’. There’s no flow. I understand there’s no OW classes, so it doesn’t get really silted up. Facilities are good enough with picnic tables and a bathroom. An outdoor shower and foot wash is also available.

Tattoobill - 1/30/2021 3:37 PM Looking for a dive buddy here In the next few days 1/30/21

siboles2000 - 4/08/2020 4:10 PM Rating Added: 4 Great Dive - not many divers can fit in this hole at one time.

Kevin_Z - 2/04/2018 4:15 PM Anyone want to go this coming weekend? 2-11-18

davidmgf - 2/05/2017 4:19 AM I went scuba diving here on 12/31/2016. Average viz: 41-50ft/12-15m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

RcDyno - 10/13/2016 1:37 PM Rating Added: 4 Very nice place in the middle of nowhere. Great dive the only drawback was my weights I left on a ledge topside that "dissapered" while I was diving.

mangoman1 - 7/09/2016 12:50 PM I went scuba diving here on 7/8/2016. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 3 great dives on a very hot summer day. The cooler water felt fantastic and we were the only 3 divers all day so viz was perfect!

mangoman1 - 5/14/2016 4:10 PM I went scuba diving here on 5/13/2016. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 3 great dives with 3 other divers that communicated and worked very well together. Only 2 other divers at the site all day so the viz was excellent on all dives!

mangoman1 - 4/30/2016 9:34 AM I went scuba diving here on 4/29/2016. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

mangoman1 - 3/01/2016 8:38 PM I went scuba diving here on 2/29/2016. Average viz: 101-110ft/31-34m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.

mangoman1 - 12/30/2015 7:33 PM I went scuba diving here on 3/11/2015. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

mangoman1 - 12/01/2015 10:08 PM I went scuba diving here on 8/29/2015. Average viz: 101-110ft/31-34m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C.

Cheshirecat - 10/19/2015 6:15 AM Rating Added: 4 I dived here on 10/18/15. This spring is located on private property. Entry fee is $30 per diver. Vis was easily 60-80 ft. Bottom is covered with silt and requires good buoyancy skills. There are a lot of fossils on the walls and ceiling. They’re not easy to identify without some close inspection, so make sure you save some air for exploration of the upper area of the cavern. Bring a light and a spare. I will definitely visit this site again.

Aquabot - 10/18/2015 5:06 PM Rating Added: 5 I loved this Dive. I don’t recommend diving here if you have poor buoyancy skills.

xracr96 - 8/23/2015 6:37 PM I went scuba diving here on 8/2/2015. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C.

SantaFeSandy - 3/11/2015 3:24 PM I went scuba diving here on 3/11/2015. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. Absolutely beautiful day for a private dive!!! Thank you Jen & Curt for gracing Eric and me with the opportunity to dive your gorgeous spring in a tropical setting. It was nice to be able to practice running a line in a low flow setting, in addition to it being a great day for exploring Paradise more thoroughly as well.

dalehall - 7/21/2014 6:23 AM Went there on 13 July 14. Nice place. Not very crowded for an 85 degree, sunny, Sunday afternoon. A nice place to get some good bottom time. There is a training platform and you can get 100 feet before the cave system starts. Price is now $30 per diver. Here is a video from our day there: youtube.com/watch?v=nPIdKqIrriY

SantaFeSandy - 6/27/2014 3:13 PM I went scuba diving here on 6/26/2014. Average viz: 81-90ft/25-27m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. Gorgeous, simply beautiful day and dives. See the images at flickr.com/photos/santafesandy/sets/72157645375308072/

djkobra81 - 11/17/2013 7:58 AM I went scuba diving here on 11/16/2013. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. Excellent dive. Definitely need a light as there is no visible light after 65 feet.

Scotty4244 - 11/05/2013 4:40 PM Rating Added: 4 Had fun.