Florida is known for an abundance of sunny skies and a plethora of freshwater springs – making it a great spot for spur of the moment dives. And since both the Sport Diver and Scuba Diving staff are based in Florida, we decided to pack it up for the day and head to one of our favorite freshwater springs - Rainbow River.

Fed by one of the state's largest springs, Rainbow River is located about 100 miles northwest of Orlando and approximately 5.7 miles in length. One of its most noticeable features is the water clarity — visibility can be up to 200 feet on a good day. With maximum depths of 25 feet, this river has a gentle current making it a great site for both scuba divers and snorkelers. With a consistent water temperature of 72ºF, so 3mm wetsuit is highly recommended.

The Dive Profile:
American Pro Diving Center drops off divers upriver from the boat ramp at KP Hole and travels with the group for the entire dive. With the boat only a few fin kicks away, this also means the boat is at your disposal should you want to take a break, grab some hot cocoa or just take in the topside scenery where you can spot hawks, owls and a variety of wading birds.

What You’ll Find:
Under the surface you’ll discover alligator gar, banded rainbow fish, turtles and the occasional otter swimming in the grass beds. The length of the run also features small caves, sunken tree logs and the famous sand boils – freshwater spring sources bubbling up from the bottom. It’s important to keep your eyes open. You might even discover ancient shark teeth.

Fun Facts about the Rainbow River (via Wikipedia)
• The springs are ranked fourth in the state of Florida for volume of discharge, issuing 400-600 million gallons of water every day
• Archaeological evidence indicates human activity here for the last 10,000 years
• It has been designated a Registered Natural Landmark (1972), an Aquatic Preserve (1986) and an "Outstanding Florida Waterway" (1987)

Ready to Dive in?
Visit American Pro Diving Center (http://www.americanprodiving.com/)

Looking for more trip reports on this location?
Editor's Blog: Rainbow River and K.P. Hole - Patricia Wuest, 2012
Way Down Upon the Rainbow River - Ty Sawyer, 2007