How do you find relief from the sweltering heat of a hot Florida sun? You can do what many divers do and immerse yourself in waters belonging to one of Florida’s most popular world-class dive resort destinations; Devil’s Den. This prehistoric spring-fed cavern system is located 60 feet below ground just outside rural Williston, Florida; a picturesque community situated in Florida’s heartland. Williston is referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Nature Coast.’ Here in this peaceful inland community, you’ll find beautiful farmland, numerous horse stables, race-horse training facilities, and yes… even SCUBA diving.
Devil’s Den – – A Hell of a Name
Devil’s Den derived its name from early area settlers who maintained a long-held belief that the eerie presence of misty steam emissions rising from and settling on the water’s surface (attributed to cool ambient-air temperature conditions), was a direct sign that the spring held a dark connection to the Devil and served as a den or gateway to Hell.
Diving Conditions & Environmental Composition
Main spring-pool surface area extends approximately 170-feet end-to-end giving divers plenty of room both above and below the waterline. The dive excursion, itself, will particularly appeal to those who enjoy cavern diving conditions, divers who inquisitively like to explore ancient fossil records etched within the soft limestone rock, and those divers for whose passion includes sifting through prehistoric rubble deposits that makeup the fossil beds below.
For optimum visibility, morning is the best time to dive this natural wonder; shortly after the resort’s 8 am opening time. In this way, you’ll avoid deteriorating visibility conditions attributed to the influx of recreational divers and open-water training classes that stir up silt throughout the day.
Devil’s Den is a low overhead environment so caution must be exercised particularly around outer recesses of spring basin where sloping walls taper inward. Average water temperature is the same here as it is for all Florida springs, a cool 72 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Maximum depth is approximately 50 feet but water level can vary significantly, based upon local area rainfall and other influential factors. Lighting conditions throughout many areas of the spring basin can be quite dark; cave certification is not required to perform this dive so primary and secondary light sources are not only permitted but strongly recommended for your safe diving enjoyment.
If you’re a diver who is somewhat claustrophobic, you won’t have any worries here; Devil’s Den has a very open and unobstructed architecture providing plenty of comfortable diving room. There are certainly a number of deeper recesses and swim throughs offering an enticing environmental treat for divers of all experience levels, but these confined areas can easily be avoided by those who prefer a sense of openness.
Exploring Our Prehistoric Past
Devil’s Den is natural geologic wonder offering a unique underwater experience for those who enjoy looking beyond the obvious while exploring the many hidden treasures that comprise the spring basin. The spring, itself, gives us insight into the makeup of our ancient past.
Spearheads once found along the cavern entryway, provided evidence of early visits by prehistoric Paleo-Indian hunters. And, because of its natural design, the cavern functioned as a prehistoric death trap for those animals of the Pleistocene Age (2-million to 10,000 years ago) who aimlessly wandered too close; falling to their death or perishing from permanent internment. Because of this, Devil’s Den at one time, held the distinction of harboring among the richest fossil deposits ever discovered. Some of the more famous skeletal finds included a mastodon dating back to 5000 B.C., a saber-tooth tiger, and a giant ground sloth. Even the skeletal remains of early man were found dating to 75,000 B.C.
Along the crater-pitted limestone ceilings, walls, and rubble-like bottomscape, are early remnants that include flowstones, stalactite formations, and ancient sea biscuits. Isolated fossil-beds, located along the lower spring basin, still hold secrets dating back over 33-million years to the early Paleogene era. Divers looking here may be lucky enough to find shark’s teeth or other fossilized bone fragments deposited during a more turbulent period of Florida’s historic past. Today, the Den is host to a fluctuating population of catfish and other freshwater fish species that call the cavern home.
Under the right weather and underwater visibility conditions, sunlight passing through a small opening in the cavern ceiling can generate some amazing underwater effects for those divers lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. During such events, narrow circular beams of sunlight making their way through the upper cavern breach can pierce through the blackness of the surrounding water with the precision of a surgical laser. As solid rays of sunlight strike the face of submerged boulders below, they have the propensity to produce stunning visual effects that can only be characterized as spectacular.
Other Resort Highlights
A lesser known but interesting feature found along the upper eastern rim of the cavern ceiling are two small diver-accessible dry pockets containing dead un-breathable exhaust gas. For safety, those ascending to explore these small dry areas must to continue breathing from their regulators throughout the duration of their visit.
Devil’s Den is a great dive site not only to explore but to test and become familiar with newly purchased equipment; or, to simply practice basic open water skills that can make your diving experience safer and more pleasurable. In addition, three wooden dive platforms referenced by surface marker downlines, offer instructor staff an excellent location for hosting SCUBA training classes of all kinds.
For the convenience of its diving guests, camp sites and cabin rentals are available on the resort facility. Hotel accommodations are also conveniently located minutes away in downtown Williston. For further information about this unique one of a kind dive resort, visit their website at http://www.devilsden.com/ and include a visit to Devil’s Den as part of your next upcoming dive-plan activity. End
