May 26 – June 2, 2012

Key Largo

Blue Springs State Park located at 2100 W. French Avenue, Orange City Florida. Got2Dive Blue Springs early! On Sunday May 6, 2012 we arrived at 9:00 a.m. at Blue Springs and we where among last group of divers to get in the park early. 

The Park opens up at 8:00 a.m. and scuba divers as well as scuba instructors with their students are already lined up waiting to get into the Park. The State Park limits the amount of divers in the spring head. A group of forty  consisting of six divers or less per group is the maximum. When the  maximum group of divers is met no more scuba divers are allowed to dive until the other groups pick up their certification cards and leave the park. This park system continues through out the day. Blue Springs will not allow scuba divers in the water no later than 3:00 p.m. and all Scuba Divers must be out of the Spring head by 5:00p.m. 

Scuba Diving season in Blue Springs is not year round due to the West Indies manatee season which begins around mid-November through March. Towards the beginning and end of the manatee season it is possible to see them there in the springs while diving.

This shore dive has you walking about 500 yards from the parking lot to the entrance of the water. It is quite a walk in my 5mm wet suit and all my gear on my back. So what I like to do is bring a garden utility cart and pull my gear already assembled to the water entrance and lock it up during our dive. This is a great way to get your gear to the waters edge and not get over heated or exhausted in the Florida heat.  


Besides one of Florida’s unique fresh water dives. It is a fresh water shore dive, a cavern and cave and it is one of the most inexpensive scuba dive sites around! The Park charges $3.00 dollars per diver to dive the spring head. It’s the BEST deal to try out some new scuba gear,  camera or to just get wet in between salt water dives. 

It is a must! Add this to your Got2Dive plan…Blue Springs!

Have you ever thought about mixing scuba diving and camping all in the same weekend?! I know I never did until our friends invited us along their annual scuba diving camping  mini weekend get away.

Our Base Camp was Devil’s Den located at 5390 NE 180th Ave, in Williston Florida.  Depending on your camping needs Devil’s Den has everything from very simple cabins with a double bed, island to eat at, mini fridge, 2 stove burners, kitchen sink, bathroom, and spiral staircase leading to the loft upstairs with another double bed.

As for Got2Dive we opted to try tent camping and scuba diving for the first time ever.  Devil’s Den camp site has a different area for tents and even RV’s with picnic tables and outside grills. There are bathroom facilities with hot showers as well for those tenting at the Den. So with all these camping options available there is something for every type of scuba diving camper.

Base Camp: Devil's Den

So you say not all your family or friends are scuba divers. No worries there are other things to do for those non certified Scuba Divers. Devil’s Den is also a great place to snorkel or to just visit the cave. The huge oculus in the ceiling above dripping with the green leafy vines is an awesome site. It is really a cool geological formation with the honeycomb limestone walls and fresh crystal clear water makes it an amazing place to check out, snorkel or Scuba Dive. There is also a swimming pool at Devil’s Den and right next door there is horseback riding at Two Hawk Hammock that offers trail rides.

Inside Devil's Den

Devil’s Den is the perfect scuba diving base camp  to the other local  fresh watering holes such as Blue Grotto, Ginnie Springs, Manatee Springs and Paradise Springs just to name a few. Our group of divers wanted to hit 40 Fathom Grotto as our second dive destination while camping in Williston.

Devil’s Den is a reasonably priced Scuba Diving Camping mini weekend escape for the entire family, friends and scuba diver. Got2Dive is already planning our next Scuba Diving/Camping weekend get away! Check out our Got2Dive Video highlights below of our scuba diving/ camping weekend! Got2Dive is also on Facebook don’t forget to “like” us and see more pics of our entire scuba diving camping adventure!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdJAHn-b0Aw[/youtube]

Baby Blue 1955 Chevy

Bottle of Rum wedged on a ledge of the Grotto

Suzuki Motorcycle makes for a great photo opportunity!

I highly recommend that you add 40 Fathom Grotto to your Got2Dive fresh water Scuba Dive plan. You won’t be disappointed! To see more pics of this this dive site “Like”  us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Got2Dive

When:Sunday May 6, 2012

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Address: 2100 West French Ave., Orange City, FL

Let’s Get Wet!

Got2Dive has had an awesome year of Scuba Diving! Florida is such a beautiful state to scuba dive because we have it all from salt water, fresh water springs, rivers, caves and caverns to scuba dive and explore. We took every moment we could to Capture the Depths of Got2Dive Memories on video and in pictures. Along the way we have met so many Scuba-holics like ourselves. It was awesome to meet new and catch up with old dive buddies who share our passion for scuba diving. So instead of writing about our 2011 scuba year I thought I would post a few links of our Scuba Diving videos of our fresh and salt water adventures. Got2Dive is looking forward to a “fintastic” 2012 Scuba Dive Season. We are excited about meeting new dive buddies and catching up with our veteran scuba divers in the new year. Let’s get ready To Get Tanked and Totally Saturated in 2012! Wishing You a Happy and Safe Scuba Diving New Year!

Got2Dive 2011 Video Highlights

Wounded Warriors- American Veterans At Weeki Wachee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXAJ7_CCANE”>

Alexander Springs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9epMl9D1uw

Blue Heron Bridge Scuba-ween
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJH1nJHguS0

Eagle Wreck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhtZJP5UtaQ

Florida Keys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEZn58p4dq8

Hudson Grotto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWZ-qr1kMT8

Weeki Wachee Springs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdAKxlYdHzc

Florida…Life’s A Reef And Then You Dive!

Say It Isn’t So! Got2Dive Season is over?! Alright scuba playa’s now that Scuba Diving Florida Season has slowed down it is time to look at how you can sharpen, feed and maintain your passion of Scuba Diving and be ready for the summer of 2012!

So what makes Scuba diving such a life long passion? The shear joy, excitement and anticipation of the next wreck, reef or lobster dive. Or how about a planned scuba diving adventure in an exotic dive destination that is on your dive plan for the new summer ahead.

Scuba Dive in Florida Planning Tips for the next season

Increase Scuba Diving Skills

*First a great way to keep feeding your enthusiasm for scuba diving is to increase your scuba skills. This is a good time to call your local dive shop and inquire about the classes that are available. Mastering a new dive skill will increase your scuba experience and expertise. Certifications such as Advanced, Enriched Air, Tech Diver, Rescue Diver, Cavern and Cave certifications are just a few of the many scuba diving classes available. To keep my scuba skills sharp I just completed my HSA certification this month. This certification allows me as an able-bodied diver the opportunity to expand my underwater world to include sharing it with a handicap partner.

Enlist a Recruit

*Another way to keep sharp and excited about scuba diving is to enlist a new recruit. People say they want to learn to scuba dive…call their bluff! You can be apart of the initiation by offering to bring them to your local dive shop and introduce them to the world of scuba diving. I was able to experience this first hand when my family became certified scuba divers. Watching them turn onto what I love changed my perspective and recharged my excitement for scuba diving!

Scuba Dive Gear

*This is also a good time of year for Scuba Gear Maintenance. When was the last time you had your regulator, tank, scuba dive computer, BCD, etc. serviced? It is a good time to look into the manufactures’ maintenance guide and follow the manufacture’s instruction on your scuba dive equipment.

Marine Life

*Another suggestion is to improve your knowledge of marine life. There are books, fish identification cards and websites available to help increase your knowledge of the marine species.

Plan the Dive and Dive the Plan

*Last but not least Plan the Dive and Dive the Plan for 2012. Take this time to make a bucket list of trips. Experience a new scuba dive site, or if it is in your budget plan for a fantasy scuba dive destination to some exotic place. It is always fun to take scuba divers and newly certified scuba divers to my favorite tried and true scuba dive sites whether it is fresh or salt water and rediscover these dive sites all over again with a buddy who has never been there.

Conclusion – Get excited to Scuba Dive in Florida in 2012

During this down time it is important as scuba divers to stay fit and healthy so stay active during the off season of scuba diving. All this will help keep scuba playa’s scuba savvy, active and excited for the 2012 Scuba diving season! Remember to always dive safe.

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This is a Pittsburgh city girl’s story about scuba diving, how to scuba dive, become a certified scuba diver, and start Got2Dive. The only water I was familiar with was the three rivers. As a young girl my parents had vacationed a few times in Tampa and Clearwater Florida. I fell in love with the sun, sand and surf! I imagined what the ocean world would be like and wondered what it would be like to experience firsthand. I passionately wanted to scuba dive in Florida.

In the Beginning of How to Scuba Dive in Florida

After graduating high school and cosmetology school I was working at a hair salon in Pittsburgh. I moved out from my childhood home into my first apartment with my two sisters. My sister knew I wasn’t happy. I talked and dreamed of moving to Florida to be near the ocean. One cold and wintery day, my sister came home with a one way ticket to Florida. She knew how much I wanted to live in the land of sunshine and hear the sound of the ocean waves. She recommended I take the one way ticket and go after the life I so passionately dreamed and longed for.
With a one way ticket in my hand and my entire LP collection, I was on my way to living my dream. I left cold snowy Pittsburgh with my black snow boots on and my mauve winter coat and arrived in Fort Lauderdale. I vividly remember the automatic doors opening and feeling the warmth of the eighty degree sunshine. I remember removing all my winter clothing as I headed out of the terminal doors. I thought dear God I am in heaven! My very first stop off that airplane was Ft. Lauderdale Beach to dip my toes in the ocean!
My friend’s dad was a certified diver and he talked to me about his diving adventures. I enjoyed listening about his stories of spear fishing, boating and diving. I knew I could do that! I was so intrigued by his stories that I could not hold back my peeked curiosity. This scuba diving experience would help this city girl, overcome fear of the powerful ocean, especially since we all watched the 1975 movie “Jaws”. I was determined and motivated to become certified in scuba diving. Scuba diving would provide me the opportunity to see the beauty that lies beneath.
On May 1st 1982 my friends and I became NAUI open water certified scuba divers. With only a handful of dives under my weight belt I met my husband who at the time was not a scuba diver; we got married in 1983 and started a family right away. My diving passion was put on the back burner raising a family and earning an income. Over the years I dreamed of scuba diving in the ocean again. Hubby was happy being a snorkeler and over the years he showed no interest becoming a diver and I was fine with that.
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