Ginnie Springs, Natural springs park in High Springs, Florida, US
Ginnie Springs is a natural springs park in High Springs, Florida, where several spring vents release water at 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit) year-round into the Santa Fe River system. The area includes different pools and river access points connected by pathways and lounging areas.
The Wray family has owned the site since 1971, and the park began operating in 1976. In the mid-1990s, as scuba diving grew in popularity, Bob Wray opened the springs to the public. After a rise in diver deaths, he fitted an iron grate over the most dangerous part of the Ginnie Ballroom cavern and posted warning signs at the entrances to the nearby Devil's Spring system.
The springs draw divers from around the world who practice their techniques in the clear pools and share experiences with one another. Along the banks, spontaneous conversations about equipment and dives take place while other visitors swim in the shallow water or rest on the grassy areas.
The park offers 129 campsites with water and electrical hookups for multi-day stays, and an on-site store rents equipment for water activities. The constant water temperature makes visits comfortable in any season, with visibility in the springs remaining clearest during morning hours.
Bob Wray placed an iron grate over the most dangerous part of the Ginnie Ballroom cavern after scuba diver deaths rose, and warning signs stand at the entrances to the nearby Devil's Spring system. The spring pool itself is about 90 feet across and 12 feet deep, while its outflow runs roughly 500 feet to the river floodplain.
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