Very accommodating. Friendly staff. Good information and…read morecommunication. The equipment is sturdy. Many options for

They were able to accommodate us on their day off. Luckily another group had also booked. So they…read morefit us in as well. Definitely got the VIP treatment.

Royal Springs is exceedingly pretty as long as it's not flooded out--which can happen with heavy…read moreseasonal rainfall and the Suwannee River creeping into the spring. When that happens, it becomes murky and not much fun--if even safe for swimming. But when clear, it's very beautiful and there's a dock to jump off into the spring which is always fun. In the warmer months on sunny days this spring can get very crowded and a bit rowdy too: it's not a State Park but a county park (I think, maybe in conjunction with the Water Management District) so it's not as sedate as a State Park, either. Expect a lot of teens and a party atmosphere but that's really part of the fun. If you've ever sought out an "ol' swimmin' hole", this really IS it--but when in its best shape. On several visits the water was too murky from the river getting up high to swim or dive in, though.

On our second day of glamping, January 25th, we were looking at a few things to do and settled on…read moregoing to the Royal Springs watering hole and diving platform. With temperatures around 67F as the high today, we got into shirts swimsuits n towels and piled into the vanmobile for a short drive over from our AirBnB (Margaritaville). Of course we have been having so much fun with lows 40s n 50s, so why not give a dip a try! LOL. Now I dare not jump off the diving platform due to ankle healing, but did follow a stairwell trail down the opposite side to the shallow entry into the water. Tested the water first was about 70 degrees ish...definitely warmer relatively speaking..lol, as the surround air was cooler. Oh and being much dryer air here than in Miami, I was surprised how easily I acclimated to the colder temperatures! We stayed awhile in this watering hole, gorgeous clear water colors, fun watching the shenanigans of my two friends up on the platform psyching each other out while trying to run n jump at the same time only to abort at last second. Eventually they went in. As for me, with water shoes put on, had made way carefully through the shallow are over slippery shallow area to the drop off point into deeper water, staring down and seeing fish swim underneath. Some of us went in, some stayed outside, hanging here awhile and treading water to stay somewhat warm. It was therapudic with the crisp water, the the surround woods, calmness. It was nice! Eventually the cold gets to you as the sun further descends around 4pm, so I got out dried off and warmed up. Not only is there a watering hole here, but after drying off warming up, I made my way down another path to a gentle babbling brook glistening in the sun to which I can see the trail of water coming from the Suwanee river! I also am able to briefly see a jet skier quickly pass back and forth. Later on learned there is a boat ramp as we walked about. This another perk of glamping / living nearby here! Having enough of this outing, we headed back to our AirBnb where I took a HOT shower to warm up my core :D

Poe Springs Park is located in High Springs, Florida, 25 miles northwest of Gainesville. This is…read morejust one of a bunch of swimmable springs in the area making it a hassle-free visit. For $6 per passenger vehicle (cash only), hike 1/4 of a mile on a boardwalk pathway to reach a natural oasis of crystal-clear, 72 degree waters. When the sun is shining, Poe Springs lights up like out of a storybook moment from paradise. The olive waters can appear so strikingly translucent, I was deeply thinking how lucky I felt to be surrounded by it all. Next to Poe Springs is the Santa Fe River where you can continue swimming or get out on kayaks and paddle boards. There's even a tree with rope for swinging into the river. Near the front entrance are all-day tube rentals for $10. They have a concession stand to buy lunch or guests can bring their own food and barbecue underneath picnic pavilions. Overall, if you visit Poe Springs in the middle of the day when the sun is shining brightly, I believe you will be mighty impressed. Getting to swim among sparkling clear green waters makes for a rewarding experience within the heart of nature.

Nice local park near the big springs. It is a short walk to the spring area. I'm bias because not…read morethe biggest fan of any park with a walk to the water since I always bring a paddle board, but it's not a crazy walk. The springs area is small, and the water is not as clear as most of the springs are. In general it is nice park to do a bbq in. Entry fee: $6 per car Bbq grills: yes Must be out of the water by 7:30pm Park closes at 8pm

While in Lake City on business, I found this cool little park in the "downtown" area. It was by no…read moremeans a big oark, but I can see it being an integral part of Lake City. I would recommend if you are in the area to come and check it out.

The city of High Springs is continually making improvements to it's parks and recreation. The…read morebaseball and soccer fields look better than ever this year. There is now improved parking in the back fields and nighttime security. In addition to concessions, there are more vendors selling snacks during larger events. The parks are free and accessable year round. There are tennis courts and a play area for smaller children in the front park. Next to them is a covered picnic area and basketball courts. There are larger swingsets for big kids and more covered pavilions in the back park.

Rum Island offers one of the only free entries into a spring in our state, and certainly the only…read morein the area. It is a county park managed by Columbia County, and is well taken care of. The porta potties are always relatively clean, and it is rare to find liter. The spring is not as deep, blue, or beautiful as other area springs, but you can't beat the free entry. It does offer a larger shallow area than most which is helpful on weekends, holidays, or summer days when it becomes overcrowded. The spring will "brown out" due to overflow of the Santa Fe river when it has rained a lot. It is still safe to swim in however it is not as attractive from the surface. The tanin does however create a neat effect when you free dive/look up. Rum Island Park is a great launch and pick up spot for those wanting to paddle the Santa Fe River. Many outfitters use it, as well as individuals. I personally frequently use it to launch with a paddle board. I like to paddle down to Blue Springs and back before work (in High Springs). Overall, Rum Island Park is a nice launch spot and free swimming hole.

Rum Island Springs County Park is located in the Fort White/High Springs area of North Central…read moreFlorida, 28-miles from Gainesville. It's $5 entry per vehicle and hours are 8am - 7pm daily. Rum Island is a tucked away natural springs pool that's catered towards younger crowds (imo) with mostly shallow waters. There's a row of buoys separating the springs from the Santa Fe River. Visits here can be real quick, under an hour unless you're launching kayaks or barbecuing with family for the day. The white sands of the springs are crystal-clear most times throughout the day and the waters showcase vibrant aquamarine colors when the sun breaks from the clouds. There's even a turquoise limestone cavity that pumps out the pool's 72-degree spring waters. There are some opportunistic moments for worthwhile picture takings and recordings, but...Rum Island is so small and shallow that it feels like standing in the center of the kiddie springs at a waterpark. As much as I enjoyed the views, I felt out of place. It wasn't my favorite Florida springs park to visit, but I still respect it for its scenic surroundings. Finally, there are plenty of kayakers and paddle boarders floating past the springs. Visitors can leave their belongings anywhere on the grass. Overall, I'm glad I got a glimpse into what Rum Island Springs Park is about, which has me motivated to visit the local gold standard benchmarks...Ichetucknee Springs, Ginnie Springs and Gilchrist Blue Springs.

If using them for dive gear repair, beware. They sent off my regulator set to be repaired (had I…read moreknown they'd ship it off, I'd have taken it back to where I bought it to begin with). I was warned it would be a while because of lack of parts manufacturing which was no big deal so when months had passed, I didn't think anything of it. 7 months rolls around, they sent the USPS tracking info and said we needed to take it to the post office and locate it--it had been lost. USPS system only goes back 6 months--therefore, USPS can't do anything since it had been so long. The Dive Outpost tells me there's nothing they can do and then proceeds to tell me that I can buy a new set from them for $600 or a consigned set for $400. All said and done I have lost a $600 regulator set with no offer to replace or at the very least discount a new one. Bad way of doing business.

This is a place where you can sleep, cook, and get all the dive gear/ tank fills you need for cave…read morediving in the area. They feature several different rooms in mobile home type buildings rooms offered are: Back trailer: 2 beds on one side with a shared bathroom and 4 beds on the other side. The other 2 cabin type buildings I haven't been in but one has a bed for 2 people and the other I think has 2 beds sleeping 4 people. (call them for more details) Also inside the main building there is a room that sleeps 4 in 2 sets of bunk beds. The rooms are clean and the owner is very welcoming. They have a full shared kitchen on site for those who prefer to cook their own meals. The dive shop features rental gear and all the big or little things you would need to cave dive they have available to buy. 32% Nitrox is banked so filling tanks is a quick process here, always a good fill.

My family picked up our tubes just two streets away from the river. They attached them to the car…read morequickly and the staff were polite. Plus they sale boiled peanuts if you want to give those a try.