Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring and Campground

Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring and Campground is an absolutely incredible place and a must-visit in Florida. The spring is stunning, truly unique, and unlike anything else. The water is crystal clear, the atmosphere is peaceful, and the entire experience feels both adventurous and relaxing. The staff is organized and friendly, and everything on the property is well maintained. Perfect for snorkeling, exploring, and enjoying nature at its best. Highly recommend visiting — this is one of those spots you simply cannot miss.

The diving cavern is great and they are expanding above ground pools and swimming areas. The potential to be an awesome destination resort is here and it looks like they working towards that. When they get everything open it will be a must go to see it.

Visiting this was kind of disappointing. If you wanted to just be able to see the cavern area, you can only do that Monday - Thursday and for $7 a person. There is nothing else to do there unless you happen to be camping there. If you scuba though, this seems like the place to go. They have spots for your gear, to load up and go from. That seemed to be the reason most people were there in a Sunday. The campground looked very well maintained, its a quiet area but its just a small park. Not much else to do there to be honest which js why, as a local who likes to visit new places on the fly, I gave it a 2.

This place is a fantastic find, located in Williston, just a 30-40 minute drive from Gainesville. The booking process was straightforward: we signed a waiver online and paid a small deposit of about $5 per person to reserve our spot. The total cost is $25 each, so upon arrival, we just gave them our phone number at the ticket office and paid the remaining balance. Once inside, we recommend grabbing a picnic table to set up your home base for the day. The facility is well-equipped with several grills, a small store for essentials, a beach volleyball court, and even showers in the men's restroom. We had booked the very first time slot at 8:00 AM on a Sunday. The big advantage of going this early was getting to see the wildlife before anyone else disturbed it. If you get in the water quickly, you can spot turtles and some impressively large fish. However, we realized we made a mistake with the timing and would recommend a later slot, perhaps around 11:00 AM or closer to lunchtime. In the early morning, there isn't enough sunlight to illuminate the spring, so the water is quite dark and you can't see its true beauty. The real magic happens when the sun is higher in the sky. As we were getting ready to leave, the sunlight started to hit the water, and the most incredible "Avatar-like" blue and green colors began to appear. Since the spring has a rocky bottom instead of sand, the water clarity doesn't get ruined by swimmers kicking up sediment. Visibility is almost entirely dependent on the amount of sunlight. So, if you want the most visually stunning experience and to see the spring in all its glory, definitely book a time slot for later in the morning or early afternoon.

Unbelievable experience!!!! It's a Florida must see, whether you live here or are just visiting. Definitely a bucket list item. The entire park was beautifully maintained and the staff was FANTASTIC. Highly recommend staying in their cabins. Make sure you visit the gardens next door.

I’ve visited similar places in Mexico, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. The water is beautiful, the vibe is chill, and it’s a great place to escape for a bit. Just make sure to book your tickets in advance — they often sell out for the whole upcoming week. We managed to get the earliest available slot at 8:00 AM. We were on a motorcycle road trip from Miami and arrived a bit late, but no worries — you get 1.5 hours from the time you check in. So if you’re running behind, it’s not a big deal. You can rent masks and wetsuits on-site, or bring your own gear if you prefer. We also booked a campsite here (it was $44 for a tent site), but ended up staying in a hotel instead. Still, the campground looked nice and well-organized. Overall, the atmosphere was great peaceful and worth the trip.

Visiting Devil’s Den Spring was an unforgettable experience. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted by a unique atmosphere unlike any other diving or snorkeling spot in Florida. The underground spring is absolutely breathtaking, with crystal-clear water that allows you to see every detail beneath the surface. The rock formations and shafts of sunlight filtering through the opening create a magical, almost surreal scene. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and ensures that you feel safe and prepared, whether you’re snorkeling or scuba diving. The water is refreshingly cool, which is perfect on a hot Florida day, and the visibility is outstanding. It’s also a great spot for taking incredible underwater photos. While the facilities are simple, they are clean and well-maintained. I would highly recommend Devil’s Den Spring to anyone looking for a mix of adventure, natural beauty, and a truly unique Florida experience.

“One-of-a-Kind Adventure!” Devil’s Den is an absolute must-visit! The underground spring is stunning — crystal-clear water with a magical, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Snorkeling here felt like stepping into another world, surrounded by unique rock formations and shafts of sunlight streaming through the opening above.

I Finally checked Devil's Den Spring off my bucket list! We were in the area and had to try it after seeing all the photos online. The spring is basically a sinkhole with crystal clear water. It's absolutely beautiful to snorkel in, but it's way tinier than expected. The water stays at 72 degrees - definitely needed that wetsuit rental! You do get used to it after a while. We brought our own fins and mask which were super helpful for exploring. While the cave is beautiful, don't make a special trip just for this. It's worth seeing if you're already nearby, but there's not much to do once you're in. Glad I went, but probably a one-time visit kind of place!

The natural beauty is amazing, however the experience beyond the natural beauty has much to be enhanced and worked on. No greeting, very crass and abrupt, not friendly, robotic in reciting rules, cold welcome, very unwelcoming. Den is cool, however too much man made metal stairs and platform taking away from the natural beauty. There are picnic tables on an island but signs saying no swimming.

What used to be a watermelon farm. You can see the Floridian aquifer that runs up to Georgia, portions of alabama and South Carolina. Pretty amazing to think it's that large. I find it to be beautiful and worth a visit if in the area. Bring your own fins and snorkel sets to save some rental fees. I can understand why they require the fins with so many people. You don't want them kicking around and disturbing the surroundings. Not sure if this is the reason but it was my daughter's only complaint. She didn't like that she had to wear the fins and snorkel. But to me, the experience was worth it. It's refreshing 72 degrees fresh spring and you can snorkel about 54 ft. It definitely plays with your mind when you get to the darker parts of the den. Even though you're safe, swimming in the dark just doesn't feel right. There was a large beautiful spring that used for scuba diving only. I'd suggest for people to omit the sunscreen usage when heading into the den. You're not in any sunlight and I don't find it necessary. It just leaves a film on the water. All in all a fun time that the kids. An check mark off the bucket list.

It's been yearsss since I've last visited Devil's Den, I took my bestie here for her birthday to go snorkeling. Some things to note: You MUST make a reservation online or call for the time slot you want (about an 1 1/2 hours) to snorkel or scuba dive. To reserve a spot, it's $18pp and around $15 each to rent snorkel gear (fins, goggles & mouthpiece). You can either put a down payment beforehand, or pay in full to reserve your spot. Once you check in, they give you the gear and the office can hold your keys while you're snorkeling/diving, but cannot hold any other personal items like bags etc, so you'll have to leave that in your car. It's not too crowded once you're in the cave, because they keep track of how many people go in/when their reservation time slot is. It was a very hot and sunny day, so it felt nice as the water was pretty cold. As you're swimming, you can see all kinds of fish swimming below and around you! There are a few pavilions where you can sit and eat or just enjoy the views. There's also a nice trail that goes around the Devil's Den Spring with pretty flowers and views to check out! A few things have changed over the last few years, I didn't see food trucks or anywhere to grab food, even though people claimed they now had food trucks. Nonetheless, it was a nice time & i'd definitely recommend for a group or nature lovers!! Tip: I would buy my own goggles/snorkeling gear for future use instead of renting, just for sanitary purposes!

This is a very unique and beautiful spring. You must make a reservation, fill out releases and either snorkel or scuba- no standing around inside the spring. All the details are in their website. We made a 9am reservation easily on their website. The only glitch is they actually open the park at 9 so we weren't in until about 9:20 so lost some time. There are bathrooms and showers on site. Parking was very convenient. Time slots are about 90 min. We didn't see a lot of light coming through the hole due to time of day. Maybe a later time slot is better for light and more marine life in the water. Overall a great experience!

This was a very cool/unique experience!!! I think it was a once in a lifetime visit and we will probably not come back but it was a great time overall. Make sure you reserve a time slot ahead of time before you show up! You will pay on the spot when you arrive, rental + entrance fee is a little pricey for what you get for 1.5 hours. You will be sharing the swimming space with a lot of other visitors and scuba divers. Not a lot of fishes in the water with you but super clear water. We went in early November so the water was a little cold (72 degrees) when you first got in but you get used to it fast! The sun beaming through added an extra nice touch to the experience. There are no lockers so it's recommended that you leave everything locked in ur car and bring the car keys for them to hold on to while you're in the den area. They have lights inside so it won't ever be too dark inside, it can get busy and crowded depending on when you go.

Won't return: unique but overhyped. We did our second checkout dive here - yes I passed, am an certified scuba diver . The iconic photo is all there is. The venue is well kept, I think it's pretty small - didn't have time to walk around. Our dive masters said during the high season, it's crowded, but I feel it's pretty crowded now. Two sections of stairs lead you down, one is narrower than the other. You see the iconic photo - small cave, with willows (?) dripping down from the opening, mixing with the sunlight - very enchanting. Because it's our training session, photography is discouraged. I managed a few shots while waiting for the dive master working with one of our mates. The spring water is 72 degrees constant. The space for dive is tight ... the snorkelers are mostly foreign. We spent nearly an hour to do paperwork - so be aware and budget for it. There is a swimming pool where we also spent a few hours, to train. They've bathrooms and showers. The registration/rental office has a microwave (not sure it's for guests). Long sleeve t shirt for sale. I couldn't image how divers manage during the high season.

My family and I came here for the snorkel experience and also camped on the onsite campsite. After reading the reviews. We kind of expected a crappy experience, given the many many bad reviews about staff. I must say tho, we had a great time!! Campground: was a wonderful little camp ground with onsite sewer hookup (and a dump station for those sites that do not have sewer), electric 30/50amp, and water. The campsite even had WiFi so we could stream music Office and recreation area: wasn't too bad. Check in office is in a single wide on site which serves snacks and coffee. Also outside of the check in office was a cute little area with cornhole, volleyball, and ladder-ball that is free to use. Staff: we all found the staff to be quite friendly. No issues there. The only thing I did find odd was there was one man who seemed to appear to be leading a scuba session that was literally yelling at scuba divers... The Spring: we had the 12:30 time slot which seemed great at the beginning but about an hour in there was so many scuba divers that we found it was best we got out. Snorklers had to yield to scuba divers( which makes sense) but it was just way too many and we couldn't even function in the little hole lol. Honestly, I noticed a lot of reviews stated there "wasn't a lot of fish." I saw A LOT of fish!! There was even one creepy looking fish that almost appeared to be bent in half. Very cold, but wetsuits make the experience very measurable. BONUS!!: if you like cats, there are two very sweet kitties on site (that I saw, maybe there's more.) I named the black one rose, but I believe the orange one's name is Leo :) Definitely a great experience.

If you're checking out Devils Den online for an Adventure, all I can say is you have to come see for yourself. An amazing experience! Easy reservation online and check in day of visit was painless. World class excitement! Staff was informative. They rent gear onsite if you don't have your own. For a great price you get 90 minutes diving or snorkeling in the den. No swimming. Ice cold water at 9:00am in July when the outside temp is 90+. Something special. It was cold. They have 4 rental cabins, Tent & RV rentals on the property. It was something I always wanted to do and I was not disappointed. Worth doing a road trip to experience the fun adventure

I have always wanted to come here since I was a kid and let me tell you I am so happy I finally made the trip to visit! This was such an ethereal experience. We bought the day pass and went snorkeling! (If you already have snorkeling gear, you can take it, and you'll just have to pay for the day pass! *don't forget fins + towels!) By far one of the coolest things to do in Florida (you almost forget you're still in Florida haha). We had so much fun! Even walking around the property after our reservation was over - it was soooo beautiful. We grabbed a bite at the food truck and it was delicious... exactly what we needed after swimming all morning lol. I would love to come back someday to scuba dive! 10/10 recommend. P.S. the water is really cold lol but so worth it!

Overall a cool experience but a bit overhyped. I loved the bamboo entrance and the actual nature aspect and landscape was beautiful but I think we were expecting a bit more. It would be a better experience with less people around and I wish the water was warmer. There are some cool fish but the overall space is very small. The employees were super cool and helpful, bathrooms were clean, and again the overall atmosphere was very nice. I also loved seeing some kitties randomly. It is worth a one time visit.

Cool swimming spot, water is freezing but your body adjust pretty fast. You can only snorkel or dive here. Both must have reservations. They rent the snorkel gear for $12. They do offer military, police and fire discount- total was $32 for one person with the discount. There is an hour and half time limit. They give you a colored wrist band to wear which represents your time slot. This is how the staff down in the hole know when your time is up. We did the 930 time slot and it was pretty empty at first. By about 1030 it really filled up with divers. The cons- wasn't much to actually look at under the water and some spots were very dark. The staff yells the entire time! I get she has to remind people the rules but the tone just really took away from the experience. Made it a little stressful at times when you just wanted to relax in peace. At one point there was so many divers that you really had limited space to snorkel or float. Overall- it was interesting and cool nature spot that exist in Florida.

This is a great one time dive or a training ground but not much more than that. If you are already certified and come to Devil's Den don't expect to have much more than about 30 minutes of dive until you are getting bored. My group opted to omit out planned second dive for this reason. Again, great for training, gear tests/ checks, recerts, etc. but just to dive its just okay. The staff were pretty quit and unhelpful. I went in the rental shop to ask a few questions and they seemed confused that I was even in there and not needing gear. There are plenty of tables for gear set up and to just hang out. You can reserve a table and dive online which makes it super easy.

Great stop if you are going through the area! The Den itself is not "cold" but at 72 degrees if you are sensitive to cold you should bring a 2mn jacket to keep you warm! The spring itself is not huge and there were many fishes and a few sea turtles I saw. There isn't a ton of lighting besides the actual hole under the subterranean river so make sure to bring good snorkel gear and an an underwater flashlight. Some roads to get to the spring are not paved so be ready to go "off roading" for about 2 miles or so.

Wow! "one of North America's most prehistoric places"...enough said :) I had such an incredible time here!! Tucked away in Williston, FL is this beautiful, magical gem! It was a 2-ish hour drive north of Tampa and well worth the drive. You must make a reservation prior to going. There is also camping/lodging options on the property but I only went on a day trip. You can snorkel or dive. The staff is so kind and friendly and the check in process is very quick and easy. You can also take your own snorkel gear btw! There are no food options (that I know of) I took snacks and ate at the picnic benches they have throughout the property. There is a private parking lot and I recommend leaving valuables in vehicle because when you're snorkeling there are no lockers or place to store valuables. I left my beach bag with towel on a picnic table. Highly highly recommend this experience!

I absolutely loved this place, I had such an amazing time with my wife. The drive out was beautiful and lot this place was on was a beautiful camp ground. The staff was super friendly and renting gear was really easy. Swimming in Devils Den was so gratifying and special I didn't want to leave. Time slots are an hour an half but I suggest booking the 315pm slot because it allows you to enjoy your day until closing which is at 5pm. This place has a couple snacks you can buy at the main office but we brought lunch and ate them on the picnic tables right outside the Den. You can swim and come out anytime during your time slot and go back, fins and snorkel are required thought. Such a cool place to spend with a loved one.

This adventure was AMAZING!!! My first time here and I was nervous, didn't know what to expect. My son and I had never worn flippers before, lol. The water was super clear blue, we snorkeled with fish and turtles. My son will remember this forever. You must book an appointment, time slots are 90 minutes. The cave was not crowded, but there were other swimmers and divers there as well. Everyone was having a blast. Water stays 72 degrees. I did not camp here but they do offer camping. Very inexpensive, they also offer military discounts. Beautiful. We'll be back!!

Over all the site is stunning. And I recommend you see the Den at least once. Having said that... I rented a "cabin" here for a few days as an Anniversary celebration for me and my husband. We walked in and within 15 mins killed 3 scorpions, the place was Filthy. My feet were actually sticking to the floor. I went to complain the next morning and the manager was unavailable. One of his staff members called him on a walky-talky and relayed my complaints. I asked them to have him call me and send someone to clean the place. That never happened. Aside from that, calling this a cabin is misleading at best. There is no living space, no dining space, no closets, no utensils, plates or stove to cook, for that matter. I finally tracked the manager down on day 3 and voiced my concerns again after having visited the swimming pool which was green and full of large spiders ewwww. Kevin, just stared blankly at me while I went over the filthy "cabin" complaints and the pool complaints. And when I asked what he was going to do about it, he said "what do you mean". He didn't offer a thing until I told him that I intend to file a compliant with the state division of hotels and restaurants because he rents out filthy bug infested "cabins". Don't rent cabins here. Do see the spring at least once.

I needed another dive for 2023 and on my way out of town, this was a perfect stop! I rented dive gear and paid for a dive master to lead the way through the little nooks and crannies. He loved the dang fish and we spent lots of time feeding the fish. Which I had no interest in lol! Oh well lol!!! This reminds me of the cenotes in Mexico, so it was a very different experience than all of the other springs in Florida. Definite cool spot to check out.

Snorkeling/Scuba Diving at Devil's Den is a one-of-a-kind experience you have to try once, whether you live in FL or are visiting. Some tips from someone who has done it: (01) If you own a wet suit, wear it! The water is 72 degrees, and even on a summer day, it's CHILLY. (02) It's worth investing in an anti-fog spray for your snorkel mask, and I believe Devil's Den sells small bottles right at the check-in station. (03) Arrive 15-20 minutes before your scheduled time so that you can be in the water on time. Also, we were called out of the water about 10 minutes before the end of our 90-minute session, so getting there early maximizes your snorkel time. (04) Devil's Den is biased toward divers. They get priority for the cabanas. Therefore, expect to keep all of your belongings in your vehicle outside of keys. Those you can leave with the office. (05) You can rent snorkel gear, and good news: they smell sanitized. (06) Expect some moments of wonder and awe with such a unique experience as well as moments of feeling cramped given the number of people who may be in the caves at any given time. (07) Be mindful that there are cameras, and staff will call folx out if they're not following the rules (which they verbalize to you before entering the water). Staff does not mess around, and they simply want to keep everyone safe.

I came here as part of a work wellness event. Devil's Den is a natural cave that exists in the middle of nowhere, so don't expect to have cell phone service. Like any natural wonder of the world, it is exploited by commercialism and you can pay for snorkel gear and flippers to enjoy Devil's Den. Be sure to make a reservation if you plan to go down into the cave to snorkel or scuba dive (you can't go down into the cave if you don't). The water is very cold but you get used to it, as well as becoming accustomed to the sulfur smell from the cave. The big fish swimming around can be a bit creepy. Overall it was a very cool experience to see in person but not something I feel I'll ever need to go to again.

I stayed on the campsite here for one night, and I felt like there was a lack of information on the website. For example, by the time we got there there was only a few campsites left, some not having fire pits at all and all not having electricity/ water. Only some of the campsites have water, electricity, and a fire pit. This was an unpleasant surprise. However, snorkeling in the spring the next day was very fun. Cold, but enjoyable. I recommend bringing your own equipment because it does get very pricey. There are friendly cats on the property which was lovely.

The guy that was checking us in was very rude. We were trying to get to understand the pricing because the total seemed like a lot and he didn't care about giving us a breakdown or helping us understand. The guys getting our equipment were better but they said something about not being able to fill the tanks as full as they normally do & that they can't refill any tanks because it was broken. They gave us a super quick run thru of everything and set us on our way. It seems like a good place to come with a dive school and get certified but definitely way over hyped. The equipment wasn't great and between my goggles and crappy light, I couldn't see much at all.

Devil's Den was worth the visit! The water is 72 degrees year round, which is cold at first but easy to acclimate to. The water is a BEAUTIFUL color. Not as much life in the water as I expected, but still cool to experience. Lots of little fish maybe 2-3" long and then a few maybe ~8" fish. We drove 1.5 hrs to visit and were in the water ~25 mins. You can snorkel, scuba dive, or walk around. Each require a wristband. Three of us snorkeled and four people in my party walked around. I don't remember how much the snorkel cost was, but I think it was $7 per person to walk around. Discounts for military, police, and first responders. The counter had a kitty named Leo, super cute. His brother Jake was walking around outside. The women's bathroom has two stalls, a shower with HOT water to rinse off after. No lockers, but your car works for valuables. Shaded tables to place other belongings - felt safe. They take Covid seriously - don't try on shirts for sizing or you'll have to buy it, and make sure you pull from the clean pen jar and place pen in the dirty jar after. Staff were okay in terms of friendliness. Rude at times. -- hence 4 stars. Great experience otherwise.

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. Never in my life have I had such a terrible experience with any business/establishment, and this is said as a frequent traveler of multiple states and countries. My entire group felt so unsafe and unwelcome, a stark contrast from the cordiality we had over the phone prior to arrival. Upon check-in, we were immediately met with rudeness and unfounded accusations of harassing other patrons as well as underage drinking, neither of which were true nor did they provide any evidence. NOTE: We are a latino group but the reservation is under a white last name. They then claimed this is a dry establishment and that no one is allowed to drink, regardless of age, but there is no clause in the contract nor on the website that states this. Additionally, one girl in our group was stopped by an older man who asked where she was staying. He kept persisting, even threatening to kick us out (we would have to be out by 10 pm, he said) for walking outside the campground, despite her saying that she didn't feel comfortable talking to him alone and walked back to the group before we caught up and spoke with him. Why a grown white man felt the need to target an isolated 18 yo woman of color rather than approach the group, that he admitted to passing by on his drive around the area, or call the adult that made the reservation is beyond me. Aside from this, the cabins were dirty with stains on the bedsheets and toilets. Not worth the price and there is literally only the snorkeling to do. Plus we were yelled at several times for walking *inside* the campground, even just around the lake by the office. tl;dr We filed a police report after feeling extremely targeted and harassed by the staff, which we believe to be racially motivated. **español** Teníamos la peor experiencia de mi vida en este lugar. Fueron groseros a mi grupo (de latinos), especialmente a las mujeres. Si ustedes son latinos, no vengen aquí. Espero que pode dar 0 estrellas a este lugar. Creamos un reportaje de policía xq nos sentíamos atacados.

Went there to scuba dive Feb 24 2024. Overall experience was great. It was our first time and the staff was very informative and friendly. The dive itself was great in a beautiful area on the surface. Would go here again!

Made a reservation for camping and snorkel next day. We arrived late in the afternoon and didn't know where to pull in with our RV so we went towards camping area, past the office. No office or directions there so we made our way back to the office but it was closed. We could not turn our rig around without leaving and coming back in but the gate was closed. So we drove nearly 2 hours back home. We tried calling several times, even the after hours number. That was the 19th. It's the 26th and we still have not heard from them. My advice is just snorkel. We ended up going to Salt Spring, a beautiful campground (less $$$) and huge snorkeling area.

I'm not sure if it was the indifference/outright rudeness of the staff.. the lack of clarity.. or the inflated price for the time slot (which they do not respect, we literally had to go and ask when they were even going to open the gate) but this place was extremely disappointing. To be clear, the site is stunning! It's also very small, and they allow so many people in at once that we we were over it within 30 minutes. Mostly it's everything above ground that leaves you walking away disappointed and uncomfortable. The bathrooms are disgusting, there was food all over the ground BUT no spot to put shoes? Sorry but walking around that area barefoot is not even close to palatable, especially since there isn't a rinse station for before or after entering the den. Possibly I'm just overly salty because I stepped on an olive while barefoot just before descending. Yuck. Normally we scuba in new places but after reading the reviews and leaving our equipment at home we are so glad we only paid to snorkel. BUT boy we did not expect the blatant talking down to snorkelers. First of all when the lady (who was practically barking at people by the way) asked what we were there for, my husband accidentally replied "swimming" which I mean compared to diving that is basically what snorkeling is, and the sneer along with "we don't allow swimming" was repulsive. I quickly amended that we had an appointment to snorkel and we were passed along with so much indifference that we genuinely thought we had done something to offend her. Then I kid you not, at 5 different times (and thankfully we were not there long at all!) someone said "the snorkelers are supposed to yield to the divers but they never do." Really? Never? I find that extremely surprising. Most people understand how heavy and awkward that equipment is to manage. If it is that frequent then it is your responsibility to further emphasize and explain the etiquette. Don't shirk responsibility at your establishment on other paying customers. We were told once briefly that we were to yield to divers. We understand both sides so it honestly didn't need to be said for us to know, BUT I am certain you get tons of tourists who simply want to see the beautiful sight and are not experienced in diving etiquette at all. It is then your responsibility to learn what is happening and take action to fix it! Jeez. Tell them how or at least put more weight on the request! It is simply unkind and lazy to go off spouting the equivalent of "THOSE PEOPLE don't follow the rules, nothing we can do about it!" Also, the guy who gave us our rental equipment looked like he was there against his will. He mumbled everything and gave us a very skeptical look when we asked a follow up question. It just seemed like he didn't enjoy interacting with people very much honestly. It is so sad when an amazing natural wonder gets ruined for others because of laziness and greed. This world is for everyone, the very least you can do is not make it completely unpleasant for those you are profiting off of.

I found this on a 'day trips from Tampa' post from a blogger, and then I kept seeing it recommended... and after having been born & raised in the Tampa Bay Area, after 30 years, I am proud to say I have conquered this spring! It's rather tiny and cold, but the 2 hour limit they give for snorkelers is a good idea, as it limits how many people are in the water. You can also dive here, if you are a scuba diver! My friend was not, so we opted for the snorkeling. We had the 1pm time slot, and while you could see, the visibility wasn't amazing... I did however see a turtle! I don't know how you could spend more than 2 hours in the water, and the area around, you could picnic or something but it's all rather simple. Pretty & happy I went, but I think I am a-okay with my one time!

The experience here was UNDENIABLY WONDERFUL! My husband and I traveled many miles to get there and it was so worth it. The only bad thing, I will say, is that since you have to reserve ahead of time, it will let you select the 8:00am option for a Monday morning but they are NOT open until 9:00am. We got there at 7:50am and we were the first and only car there. At 8:10am I tried calling many times but no one answered. The signs at the front gate all said they opened at 9:00am so we decided to leave and come back (after hours of traveling). We got back at 8:50am and the front gate was open but there was a long line already in front of us and they were all talking about how the office wasn't open yet. We finally checked in at around 9:15am. They barely have any souvenirs, which was disappointing. They had one x-large tshirt left, 2 fridge magnets (they kept switching prices when we asked) and other few items left. They do sell waterproof cases though ($30), which is helpful! You can leave your car key with them and retrieve it afterwards. We finished checkout/equipment rental process at around 9:40am and finally got in the cave at around 10:00am! (Keep all of this in mind when reserving.) The whole experience is definitely worth it though. I could not get enough of being in the water, I didn't want to leave! At first, you don't want to get in because the water is so cold, but once you get used to the cold, you don't want to get out! The people that we went in with (quite a few people for a Monday morning) were friendly and we encouraged each other to get in because we were cold and scared to get in at first. It was so much fun. I highly recommend this place to everyone and will definitely be back!

Beautiful Den; a bit confusing to get to without much direction on how to get in. Thankfully we had a guide and that is what made the overall experience amazing and worth it. The water is very cold so I recommend a wet suit. It gets very crowded so I would recommend going early. My main downfall with this location is the restrooms and showers. They are so poorly designed and so dirty. With so much high traffic I wish they would put more effort in cleaning and make it more user friendly for guest. The bathroom stall for guys I hear is very gross and worst for the women. The den itself is beautiful and worth visiting. The surrounding areas is questionable. If you need a guide to go scuba diving I recommend speaktothefish. AMAZING!

I had to go to this place when I went back to Florida it is a very beautiful natural spring to come visit the water was pretty cold I would have to say but absolutely beautiful I recommend if you aren't good at floating to bring a life jacket

Logan and Nick helped out a ton and gave my friend and I a great experience. I loved it!

On January 24th, on a glamping Trip with friends, it was first planned to visit Devils Den to snorkel in the crystal clear waters inside a cavern below. In the middle of rural Florida aka nowhere ;) going off the main road into the entrance, the land space seemingly no frills, and empty (maybe because was a Friday afternoon?). With just one main attraction currently open, the snorkeling and certified scuba diving cave experience, everything else is just a hang out spot above with various picnic tables and covered gathering areas. Yes there is another attraction called Ray's Fish Pond just a few short steps away primarily for scuba divers with sheer drop offs etc but there are two wooden signs that say CLOSED. Plus the water is greenish, idk if I would go in that. Onto the experience! From the parking area, you see the main wooden signed entrance and walkway that briefly pass through a woodsy area to reveal the overall attraction site. After passing by a covered area and proceeding onward walking down into the main center area you have picnic tables for placing your main gear, bathrooms, and the main office after that. Upon walking into the main office, you stand in a short line to fill out the waivers and pay the fees needed for scuba or snorkeling. I might add was surprised when they said that those who don't go into the waters, still have to pay $5 and wear a wristband (of course still having to fill out the waiver). Since my ankle is still healing, I opted just to stay above ground so paid the $5 and John Hancock'd the waiver. Of the various staff there, the younger generation folks were pleasant. While watching everyone else choose their gear, I noticed a security monitor in the corner displaying video feed from 4 cameras, one of which was the caverns crystal water down below. Very cool. Afterward, everyone proceeds back outside in the open area to drop off any needed gear on the tables and head into the bathrooms to change. This gave me a chance to roam to an observation platform behind the Devils Den stairwell entrance. It was a humbling vista looking at the land and stare straight down into a big round hole in the earth seeing the shimmering crystal blue water with people snorkling about. Very cool, and wierd all at the same time! Walking back to where my friends dropped off their gear, they soon emerged in their wet suits and gear and snapped a group shot. Then with my hiking boots on, I was allowed to follow them down the entrance stairwell made out of stone. A thanks to the staff!! With a tight steep stepping down with much care, one descends into the earth in a closterphobic fashion which eventually opens up into a beautiful cavern of luminous blue waters, yellow red illuminated lights shining on the rocks and that round gaping green whole in the earth up top. Very cinematic! It was definitely cooler down here, and the water temps my friends said were about 68 degrees, cccccold! They did so by descending down the ladder two persons at a time for safety reasons to get onto the submerged platform in the water, and then the next two climb down. Obviously I did not go down the ladder but did take a gorgeous group shot and panorama! I observed for a short while marveling at all this. Then headed back up the steps that reminded me of a lord of the rings kind of way back to the outside world. LOL.! Once outside I again went back to the observation desk to holler and gather my friends down below to take even more cool photos, videos and panorama. Would I come back? You betcha! Not just for snorkeling, but for the scuba experience one day! Alas maximum feet is 100 feet and I believe a Padi certification is 60? I would have to look into it more. An interesting experience this place is, almost therapudic as my friends attest their akin feels smoother after being in the water! Shout out to Gato and others organizing this experience!

Beautiful spring privately owned . The water is 72 degrees year round . You can swim or go diving or even take lessons . Devils den is not far from cedar woods botanical gardens . So happy we got to see it . There is camping allowed as well.

This place is a good stop. BUT it would be 10 times better if there were lights under the water for snorkelers to see deeper into the lower areas within the cave and under water.. especially for pictures

Best place I love all natural spring best employees are so good amazing service remember by appointment ok

We anxiously waited in line for 15 minutes, signed the waiver, paid our fee and got the arm band only to find out that we couldn't actually go down the stairs to see the den! Our view was from the viewing deck above and we could see a glimpse of blue water and one snorkeler, but not the view they show you online, They were too busy with snorkelers and divers to allow us to go down the stairs to view! Well, I think your policy should be that is you are too busy to see the actual thing you are paying to see, my admission should have been free. Very disappointed. My advice is when you get there before you pay your money to view the park, ask if you can actually see the den. I am sure you would also be disappointed to pay $14.98 to walk around a pond.

This place was so COOL! And everyone we encountered was super friendly, from the employees to the patrons in the Spring with us. Typically no reservations are needed but with Covid-19 restrictions and all, reservations are required. We were late for our first reservations and were lucky enough to make a reservation for the next time slot right before we arrived. There were maybe only 10 people total in the Prehistoric Spring while we were there. We brought our own snorkel gear and only needed to rent the fins ($4 each) on top of our paid admission. I have no words to explain how beautiful Devil's Den is. We almost didn't make the drive because it is 2 hours from Orlando and the forecast said it was going to rain. But so glad we made it because the weather was perfect and this was a once in a lifetime experience!

Good service and yummy cookies. I will go back for more cookies soon. They are really large and have a good selection.

My husband and I snorkled on Saturday, June 24th and the experience was not what we were hoping for. While the location itself is absolutely gorgeous, the girl working the platform area was insufferable. The words that came out of her mouth and the way she talked to me and others that day was nothing short of unacceptable. She was "kind" enough to remind all of us that she was superior because she was "the only one getting paid to be there" and she was in charge. I spoke to many people on the platform and everyone had the same opinion. Truly terrible that such an ugly-on-the-inside human is the one in charge of such a gorgeous place. We are happy we went, but we won't pay to return to a place to get treated like garbage.

This was such an awesome experience! My boyfriend and I are here in Dunnellon for Memorial Day weekend just for a nature get-away. Of course we had to kick it off with snorkeling at the infamous Devil's Den. It as absolutely breathtaking and just so outside of our normal day to day, so I really appreciated snorkeling somewhere completely new. Pre-covid, anyone could show up at the hour of their choice, but appointments are now required to snorkel. Parking is free, and genera admission is $15/person during the week and $22/person on weekends. Snorkel requires a mask, snorkel and fins (you can bring your own or rent for $4/per item. While in the cave, you can leave your belongings on a pic ing table and any personal items in your car. Staff was extremely friendly and informative. Masks were not mandated, but the area is very spacious and tables are spread out. We had a great experience overall, we cannot wait to come back.

Saw pics on instagram and wanted to do the 'Natural spring' thing this time in Florida. Booked our reservations a few weeks in advance via website. Each person needs to reserve their spot with an email. Didn't really know what to expect, except that we were gonna snorkel in a cave. We checked in and we're told to pay before entering, but your car is your locker. ?? Snorkeling equipment and fins are required, although you can rent from them. They also have scuba diving and rentals as well. My bf went to the mens bathroom/changing room and he came out and said do not go in the ladies room Got banded for the 1.5 hrs, which is way too long, went down steps and waited for others to leave. No one was running the show, disorganized and poorly run. It's a small hole to swim in, and it was kinda cool at first, but then I got bad vibes. I got freaked out and we only swam a total of 15 min max. It's dark and there were scuba divers under us with lights, but otherwise, dark. I didn't feel comfortable swimming underwater, so we floated around. It was murky, fish were small and not many. Take it as you want it. I wouldn't recommend this. Look up reviews on google. There have been events there that you should know. :(

Cool place to visit. It does get a little crowded when snorkeling. I defiantly recommend checking it out just for the memory.

1. I made reservations while driving through Texas on the border of Louisiana for 9 AM throughly DEVIL DEN'S WEBSITE. Arrived at 8:45 AM and the lady immediately states "you guys must be from out of town, your reservation isn't until noon." Now this is just plain stupid, as you'll see she's an "acting manager" and immediately sees there is a glitche but blames it on the guest. Their website apparently uses your "home town time zone"?!? And I'm supposed to know that 9 AM is not the time I should be at the place in their time zone.. dumb. Fix your site if your well aware it's an issue. She accommodated us, but made me feel like it was my fault. Like everyone has mentioned, they are completely RUDE here! It can be your property, but you work in hospitality.. work on your tone and attitude. If you hate your job... do something about it, don't make your customer experience feel your misery! 2. Their website is highly misinformed of important information. This is a diving hole with scuba divers among snorkelers. But you are not allowed to wear diving fins or free dive more then 8ft. Like most have mentioned, you literally will spent $15 + gear to see a hole, and swim around in a dark circle full of other snorkelers and kids screaming. They should reduce the time limits to 30 mins and allow less people down there because it's that quick and pointless. YOU CANNOT FREE DIVE IN THIS DIVING HOLE. Even if you have fins that you feel safe in, they call the shots. 2. It is packed. Everyone is standing on the platform (spreading that COVID) completely in your way of maneuvering safely in and out of the water. For a small hole, your constantly watching your sides and getting whacked by fins in front of you while swimming around in that dark (pointless) circle. 3. Now I will admit here, my bf threw a tantrum and he could have just shrugged it off and accepted the exchange of dive fins for their fins easier. But as a silent observer on the side, this lady was grumpy, aggressive, and petty. I mention this because I'm going to suggest better options for things to do then swim around in a circle for 20 mins at the rate of $15+. (We told her we would take our money elsewhere and we did, but I don't want to see others waste theirs as well). She explained that you are not allowed to free dive more then 10 ft and so my bf needed to exchange his fins for one of theirs. He told her he wouldn't dive, but he felt safer in his fins. He was unaware that this hole is less then 15 ft deep. They allow scuba divers to go to the bottom, but they don't allow snorkelers because they will kick the dirt around. Okay, cool, makes some sense and not a lot of sense. He eventually took the different fins and we went in. He dove, not to the bottom which would be more then 10ft, but just above the rocks. Next to him was a guy, NO FINS, DIVING TO THE BOTTOM AND SITTING DOWN THERE AND PUSHING OFF THE FLOOR WHEN HIS GF GOT THE PICTURE. THIS OTHER MAN CONTINUED TO DIVE TO THE BOTTOM, GRABBING THE ROCKS AND PLAYING AT THE BOTTOM. But then that lady sent her worker to SCOLD MY BF! They have these rules of wearing fins and not touching the bottom, but they only pay attention to certain people they have animosity against.

I made a trip to devils den for my sisters birthday not too long ago! Honestly, I had such a blast! We made 2 days out of this trip. We drove over from Fort Lauderdale Florida. The spring itself is pretty small but so awesome. It wasn't very crowded when we went which was great because based on the reviews it seems to get super crowded. I loved that you have an option to snorkel and to dive if that's something you want to experience. The water is FREEZING so I would totally suggest a wet suit to provide more warmth. We stayed in their cabins on site which were SO FREAKING CUTE! The staff was so helpful and accommodating. Make the trip, it's a once in a lifetime experience and I definitely say this should be on your bucket list! Glad I finally got to mark it off mine!

If you are planning to camp be prepare for a tightly knit space right next to your neighbor. No trees, no privacy. Very basic and just a place to stay so you can go snorkeling and diving the next day. Now, as for the "den" hole. It is breathtaking being in it and looking up. If you are snorkeling, it will get old fast and you will more than likely be done in 15 minutes. If you go on a beginner dive you will have a bit more fun, but will have to go through some pool training before you will be allowed to dive as it is dark and not for the squeamish. In fact, my advice is to go in the morning while the water is CLEAR and the sunlight hits the water. In later, and not only does the water temp get cooler, but the water becomes SILTY from all the bodies waving their fins about and it ruins the entire experience. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Bucket list? For sure!

What an experience! My son and I had a blast here for his Birthday. It had been on our Florida bucket list for a while, so we decided to check it out! I really wish we had camped here, it was beautiful and very peaceful. It's not a place you want to leave after a couple hours. They have all the equipment to rent on site, which was super convenient and cost effective. The Spring itself is epic. Be prepared for cold though! I was freezing, my son didn't seem to mind it though. It would be a great place to visit in the summer here. We went in November. My youngest son is now dying to go, so my family will definitely be back soon!

Get experience. The water was cold and it was a little more crowded than I thought it would be but the people were nice enough to not get in my pictures