Crystal River Dive Trip Review

[rox@ucf11]

The day started out really overcast, as I stepped outside w/ all my gear, 9:00 is just too early for me! I then met my buddies from the UCF dive club, at a parking lot on campus. We geared up, and pulled out for what we hoped would be a great day of diving.

About an hour and a half later, we arrived at Crystal River, in Crystal River, FL. We got lunch, and headed for the dock, where we were able to rent a pontoon boat for 12 dollars a person, split between us seven. We loaded up, and went.

First we went out to Kings Spring, which was about 3 foot vis. There is a cavern down at 30 feet I think, but no one but two wanted to dive it, because we didnt think we would be able to find it anyways. So brian, and AJ(a dir diver, diving doubles, and using a dry suit lol, and trimix said he was just bleeding his tanks down.) (god wished I had a dry suit!!!). So the other five of us just tooled around on the surface for awhile. When they surfaced they said they found the cavern, but couldnt see much due to visibility. So we went over to the three sisters springs, I drove the boat the whole time, and was happy w/ my skills, because the river is really shallow, and I navigated it without wrecking, or bending the prop.

When we got there we all suited up. This is where we would have the underwater pumpkin contest. We had already gutted the pumpkins but only two of us had bothered to bring one. We then got in the water, and procceded to get to the springs. In order to do this, you have to swim up this rock filled channel, with mad current. We eventualy got to where we wanted to be. Some of them swam it, heck I just pulled myself along using the rocks, as hand grips. Once we got there we each took turns carving the pumpkins, wasnt exactly a contest, but we all had fun. To all those who are planning to carve a pumpkin underwater. put a two or three pound weight in the bottom and you should be set, or else it will pop to the surface like a cork.

The visibilty of the water was crystal clear, and there were a bunch of marine life. or well it was crystal clear lol, untill me being a new diver and concentrating on carving the pumpkin was, ahh detrimental to my other skills, like boyancy control lol, so i stirred up a bit of silt, oh well hopefully better control will come with time, and practice. But there were two other springs to dive so all was not lost. Plus we saw three manatees, and went diving with them, tho careful not to touch them because of the laws in florida regarding interaction with them.

After the dive we brought the pumpkins back with us. Then I sucessfully docked the boat, in this tiny space, which impressed the owner of the boat. After diving, and loading up our cars, we were all pretty hungry again, so we stopped off at a local barbecue restaurant. I got a pork platter and it was awesome.

Once we got back to the campus though we decied to have a party. After drinkinga bit we had the thought to blow up the pumpkins, and someone came up with some of those fire works mortoars. We felt that the pumpkins deserved a proper send off, from todays carvings, so we blew them up in a spectacular show of flame.

This was a great ending to an almost perfect day of diving. The only thing that could have been better were the sky's being clear, and sunny, but underwater this doesnt make much of a difference lol.

Hope you liked my review, of my first dive out of certification. sorry for the length lol

[maggs_the]

note to self : do not do King Spring

i dont like braille diving!

[Chad]

Diving, booze and explosives. Doesn't get much better than that.
Glad you had a good time.

[tremtech]

King spring on a weekend is a waste of time ,there is a large algea blume that will green the water out when its hot and usually the silt is so stirred after about 9:30 am from the four or so dive shops that use it as a cert. pool.the cavern is at about 40 feet and the water is like air tuesday thru friday you can follow the cavern back around 80 feet. its definitely a one time dive during the day and one time at night. but the best diving is off the coast on the several reefs that the state has built. Better luck next time.

[Disneymom]

Isn't Three Sisters just awesome? And no pumpkin pictures? (pre-explosive, of course) What's up with that?! Glad to hear you all had a good time.

[JahJahwarrior]

When I went to King's Spring it was very easy to find....just go down a few feet in the middle of the area sectioned off with the floating stick marker things for the manatees, and the water gets clearer. The cavern itself was very beautiful and the vis was just fine for me! We returned three hours later and did the dive again and the vis was still perfect! This was in July. No clue why you all didn't find it/like it....I would think the water would be cooler now thatn in July, so if anything the algea bloom should have been worse then, right? But you know, it was during the week, I think.

If I could keep a boat out here at UCF, I'd go out to King's Spring more often. Expensive to rent a pontoon boat every weekend....the boat we dove from is definitely not meant for diving, but it did the job. Unfortunately, it'd be too much of a hassle to keep in the parking lot at college, or leave in the water at Crystal River, and my dad wouldn't let me anyways
It could be fun to kayak dive though.

[rox@ucf11]

yea i feel ya i would bring my wave runners up but again like you said a hassel, and dad wouldnt let me. dont know if it would be super to go diving off a bunch tho. but the vis was terrible 3 feet is pretty accurate and they did find it just i didnt go down, maybe next time, i will try to get some pics

[Jipps]

sounds like a great dive rox, wish i could have made it. At least i made it to the party in time for everyone to pass out, lol.

[Kasi_G]

crystal river was a good time freshman congrats on your cert!! we need to do a more intense dive with you now

[LiteHedded]

AJ carving the pumpkin in midwater while horizontal in his drysuit, doubles and trimix was nice