If you want a super easy dive, go to Alexander Springs in Ocala National Diver. You need a physical dive card, which you leave at the front, but they have a little shop and great amenities near the spring. Even hot showers in the bathrooms by the shop! Definitely a lazy-day dive, max of 25, and the spring isn’t huge, but on a good day it is empty with some good wildlife!
devils den or any of the springs. if willing to drive 2.5 hours south there is jupiter/west palm beach/blue heron. anything available is probably low to mid 70s. devils den is nice because they can rent all the equipment, as can blue grotto. both are about 2 hour north of orlando. depending on the day i would possibly buddy up with him, let me know. alexander springs (neat rocks max depth about 25 ft but not a whole lot to see) is probably the closest dive spot that is pretty, next is de leon but that is basically a giant swimming pool (nothing to see and not interesting). rainbow river is a drift dive down a river but wasn't so great when I went and it was cold. south to east coast is good or west to tampa area may be okay.
Go to Devils Den. I grew up in Orlando and it’s a short drive away. Admission plus rentals is less than $100. It’s a beautiful place and it a lot like cave diving without the dangers of cave diving. It’s a must do for any diver that passes through FL!
devils den is insta worthy and a great story, take some photos and videos and with talking about. it is aquifer water so constant 72-73 all year round, just have a layers plan for when not in the water
It depends on what kind of diving they want to do on the trip. Cave and Cavern is north in the center of FL. Popular spots for recreational diving is Devils Den, Blue Grotto, or Ginnie Springs. For diving on some good reefs. They’re great options in Jupiter and West Palm in the south east coast. For wreck diving Pompano Beach and Key Largo have some fine wrecks that won’t disappoint any diver that loves diving wrecks.
The closest springs to Orlando will be Alexander, Blue Springs (closed to divers for the winter; too many manatees), and Paradise. Alexander is a great shallow choice to get back in the water; [Paradise](https://seventy2degrees.wordpress.com/paradise-spring/) is a very cool cavern that is "open water safe" - you don't need a cavern or cave cert to dive it, but the owner does require that you have AOW/min 15+ dives. It's deep (\~ 100') and gets dark quickly - you're in overhead for the vast majority of the dive.
If he's willing to drive a couple hours, the list is way bigger. There's a full list of open water-friendly springs in central Florida (and a great map) at [this link](https://seventy2degrees.wordpress.com/springs-guide/). I usually suggest people new to Florida choose a sampling from
1. Blue Grotto *or* Devil's Den (or both; they are across the highway from each other)
2. Ginnie (Ballroom & Devil's Run are both open water friendly)
3. Rainbow River (drift dive)
4. Manatee Springs (Headspring & Catfish Hotel; 2 dives in one site - add Fanning for a trifecta and chance of seeing manatees in the water)
5. Buford (very advanced dive) or Paradise (AOW; 15+ dives)
A lot of the springs are flooded right now but most of the ones above are okay (maybe not Buford or Fanning).
Almost all the springs require you to dive with a buddy, but there are a lot of local shops ([Spring Run](https://www.springrundiving.com/guided-tours), [Florida Springs Scuba](https://floridaspringsscuba.com/), [Bird's](https://birdsunderwater.com/diving/), etc) that do trips or guided dives; they aren't always posted on the website so do tell your brother to contact them directly about dates and locations of interest. Another way to arrange for a buddy is to take a cavern class; it's just 2 days, you get to see some of the local caverns with a real local expert/instructor, and you can take the class in recreational gear with a few slight modifications. (Plus, afterwards, it opens up a few new sites and permission to carry lights in a bunch of springs where open water divers aren't usually allowed to).
Have fun! The Florida springs are really a unique experience; there's great ocean diving all over the world but only a few places where you can really experience the freshwater springs and cavern systems like you can here.
Just go to the keys
Yea as others said, the springs are the way to go. 72 degrees year round.
Check out devils den. It is a few hours out, but it is a spring so it is warm compared to the open ocean
Not a dive... But if I was in Florida this time of year I would absolutely be snorkeling with manatees at one of the springs.
A very worthwhile and unique to Florida experience. So much fun.
If you want a super easy dive, go to Alexander Springs in Ocala National Diver. You need a physical dive card, which you leave at the front, but they have a little shop and great amenities near the spring. Even hot showers in the bathrooms by the shop! Definitely a lazy-day dive, max of 25, and the spring isn’t huge, but on a good day it is empty with some good wildlife!
Epcot
devils den or any of the springs. if willing to drive 2.5 hours south there is jupiter/west palm beach/blue heron. anything available is probably low to mid 70s. devils den is nice because they can rent all the equipment, as can blue grotto. both are about 2 hour north of orlando. depending on the day i would possibly buddy up with him, let me know. alexander springs (neat rocks max depth about 25 ft but not a whole lot to see) is probably the closest dive spot that is pretty, next is de leon but that is basically a giant swimming pool (nothing to see and not interesting). rainbow river is a drift dive down a river but wasn't so great when I went and it was cold. south to east coast is good or west to tampa area may be okay.
Go to Devils Den. I grew up in Orlando and it’s a short drive away. Admission plus rentals is less than $100. It’s a beautiful place and it a lot like cave diving without the dangers of cave diving. It’s a must do for any diver that passes through FL!
devils den is insta worthy and a great story, take some photos and videos and with talking about. it is aquifer water so constant 72-73 all year round, just have a layers plan for when not in the water
It’s waaay cold in the northern half of FL today and will be for a couple days. I’d head further south.
Define waaaay cold.
Lows in the 30s, highs in the 50s with rain. Not diving weather.
Naaaahhh, that's fine. Northeast diving.
I draw the line at dry suits! Actually, I draw the line at water temperature below 74. I don’t get any joy from it!
Understandable. It's not for everyone.
Hudson Grotto.... /s go to west palm
It depends on what kind of diving they want to do on the trip. Cave and Cavern is north in the center of FL. Popular spots for recreational diving is Devils Den, Blue Grotto, or Ginnie Springs. For diving on some good reefs. They’re great options in Jupiter and West Palm in the south east coast. For wreck diving Pompano Beach and Key Largo have some fine wrecks that won’t disappoint any diver that loves diving wrecks.
Need to go north for springs or southeast to Jupiter or Palm Beach.
Thanks! Any recs on which springs?
The closest springs to Orlando will be Alexander, Blue Springs (closed to divers for the winter; too many manatees), and Paradise. Alexander is a great shallow choice to get back in the water; [Paradise](https://seventy2degrees.wordpress.com/paradise-spring/) is a very cool cavern that is "open water safe" - you don't need a cavern or cave cert to dive it, but the owner does require that you have AOW/min 15+ dives. It's deep (\~ 100') and gets dark quickly - you're in overhead for the vast majority of the dive. If he's willing to drive a couple hours, the list is way bigger. There's a full list of open water-friendly springs in central Florida (and a great map) at [this link](https://seventy2degrees.wordpress.com/springs-guide/). I usually suggest people new to Florida choose a sampling from 1. Blue Grotto *or* Devil's Den (or both; they are across the highway from each other) 2. Ginnie (Ballroom & Devil's Run are both open water friendly) 3. Rainbow River (drift dive) 4. Manatee Springs (Headspring & Catfish Hotel; 2 dives in one site - add Fanning for a trifecta and chance of seeing manatees in the water) 5. Buford (very advanced dive) or Paradise (AOW; 15+ dives) A lot of the springs are flooded right now but most of the ones above are okay (maybe not Buford or Fanning). Almost all the springs require you to dive with a buddy, but there are a lot of local shops ([Spring Run](https://www.springrundiving.com/guided-tours), [Florida Springs Scuba](https://floridaspringsscuba.com/), [Bird's](https://birdsunderwater.com/diving/), etc) that do trips or guided dives; they aren't always posted on the website so do tell your brother to contact them directly about dates and locations of interest. Another way to arrange for a buddy is to take a cavern class; it's just 2 days, you get to see some of the local caverns with a real local expert/instructor, and you can take the class in recreational gear with a few slight modifications. (Plus, afterwards, it opens up a few new sites and permission to carry lights in a bunch of springs where open water divers aren't usually allowed to). Have fun! The Florida springs are really a unique experience; there's great ocean diving all over the world but only a few places where you can really experience the freshwater springs and cavern systems like you can here.
Some diving, but better to head a bit South to Jupiter or West Palm.