There are actually 7 different freshwater springs at Ginnie Springs Outdoors so there is a lot to explore. These private springs and the campground are well-maintained and the staff are very friendly and helpful. This site features a full-service dive center, an awesome tubing/SUP experience down the Santa Fe River, and gear rentals.

If you're an inexperienced/beginner snorkeler I have plenty of tips and advice on my post here.

 We drove around to each spring to check out which spot looked best to swim in and, of course, Ginnie Springs looked best. Children and adults were playing in the blue-green water happily as a group of divers prepared to enter the cave. We grabbed our snorkel/freediving gear and hopped right in. Even though it was winter time, the Florida sunshine and the water itself kept us warm. Watching the scuba divers disappear into the caves below us made me wish I brought my dive gear, so definitely plan ahead or spend the money on the rentals. Be sure that you are cave certified though, they are strict about that and rightfully so.

Ginnie Springs is the main spring at the nature park, it was also the most crowded. It seemed to have the largest swimming area but is definitely suitable for kids as it gets quite shallow. The water was so clear and warm. If you look under the surface, you can see the freshwater bubbling up from underground and lots of fish darting in and out of rock formations. 

The shallow cave in the middle of the pool drew the divers and snorkelers right in, myself included. From inside the cave, the divers would disappear down a dark tunnel in the back, but hanging out just inside the entrance, you can see a pretty view of the spring from underneath.

The deepest part of this spring is the area just in front of the cave entrance. In this photo you can see me coming out of the cave from the other side of the pool. Just above the cave, the water is shallow enough to stand in.

The next spring is the Devil Spring System which has 3 different openings leading into the caves below. Little Devil is the very first one you can see as you walk up and this one is a 4 ft wide fracture in the rock below the water. It looks like a tiny swimming pool within the spring.

Down farther, you can see Devil’s Eye and Devil’s Ear openings mixing with the waters of the Santa Fe River. Here is where you'll see the bubbles from the divers exploring the caves below. Be careful where you step, tiny hermit crabs live among the rocks.

These 3 springs are smaller and less crowded than Ginnie Springs or Devil Springs. You can clearly see the river just beyond the small pools where you can tube and canoe. We were lucky enough to have these gems to ourselves for a short time and it was so serene.

I think what I loved most about Ginnie Springs was the scenery. Underwater, you get this completely clear view of the animals and plants living there and just above the surface you can see the greenery of the forest surrounding you. This is definitely a spot that I will be visiting again in the future.

While you're out there I suggest making time to check out the nearby Devil's Den Spring. This spring bubbles up into an underground den, complete with fossils and a cave system. Check out my post on it here to see this prehistoric beauty!

Mahalo and be safe,

Alecia

Yokohama Beach

The two islands, called the Mokes, off the coast of Kailua set the perfect scene for a day at this beach. Laying in the powdery, white sand and splashing in the turquoise water is such a treat. For the more adventurous, paddling or kayaking out to the Mokes is always fun and rentals are available on the spot. While this beach is usually crowded, the scenery and water activities cannot be passed up. 

At Pūpūkea Beach Park, on the North Shore is one of the best spots to snorkel and scuba dive. The rocky bay forms shallow tide pools, perfect for beginner snorkelers and small kids to explore. For the scuba diver or experienced snorkeler, the deeper waters are home to large schools of fish, sea turtles, and countless other marine animals.

At the bottom of Diamond Head Volcano runs a beautiful stretch of beach and popular surf spot. Because it’s on the South shore, the waves rarely get too big so the surf is pretty good. If you’re not in to surfing, it’s still a great spot to relax or swim with the kiddos.

I could never forget the famous and breathtaking Waimea bae ;). This beach always has a good amount of people on it for a reason. During the summer, the calm water is great for snorkeling and during the winter you can watch pro surfers brave the giant swells. The big rock to the side of the bay is a popular spot to jump off and the waves beneath the rock are fun for body boarding.

Alecia <3

Diamond Head

Walking around the grounds and finally into the den is a unique experience. Filled with fossils and underwater caves, the water is crystal clear with small fish swimming about.

If you're an inexperienced snorkeler, i have some tips and advice for you on my post here.

Devil’s Den Spring gets its name from the steam often seen rising from the chimney of the cave during winter.  

The $10 per person fee is well worth it. We brought our own snorkel gear as fins, a snorkel, and a mask are required, though there is an option for rentals on site. The staff were friendly and informative and gave us a small safety brief before we were allowed to enter the cave. You are only allowed to bring your snorkel gear and a camera into the den, so we put valuables in the car and left our towels on the picnic tables outside of the den.

Entering the cavern is an experience in itself, a narrow staircase cut into the rock leads you down into the earth. We had to stoop to get through the entrance but once inside the view at the end of the wooden staircase is out of this world. This is one of the best spots to take photos because you can see the whole den from this point and the colors are unreal. Don’t forget to follow the safety sign and go one at a time down the staircase.

Once on the little landing at the bottom, you will be in ankle/shin deep water where you can put on all of your gear. You’re not allowed to jump/dive in for safety reasons but there are steps leading right into the water. 

The water was cool and refreshing, but a little on the chilly side so keep moving and you will be fine. Under the surface, the water is clear with a high visibility. They tell you to stay off the rock ledges around the walls of the cave because as you erode the soft limestone, the water gets cloudy. Among the various rocks and under the staircase you will see a small amount of fish and tiny minnows swimming along the surface.

The chimney at the top of the cave is the only source of natural light, besides what little filters down through the entrance. Even with that light, it is just enough to light the cavern to the point that you can still see without it taking away from the natural simplicity. If you look closely, you will the scuba divers below you or in the many tunnels and they’re flashlights dance among the rocks lighting up small halos of light on the waterbed.

The darker areas of the cave are still pretty easy to see in and might be a little spooky to some, but the view of the sunlight filtering down through the water into the dark is pretty remarkable.

I read on their website that you can sometimes find small fossils among the rocks. I looked all over and spent quite a bit of time on the bottom looking for them but did not find any. However, I did see many of the scuba divers pick up small objects and put them in heir pockets after scouring the rocky areas. So keep an eye out!

Overall, we spent about an hour in the water swimming around and taking plenty of photos. We came up and dried off under the warm sun which felt so good after being in the darkness of the cave.

I would definitely love to come back here and scuba dive at some point and explore all the tunnels and fossil beds that this natural wonder has to offer.

While we did not have time to visit the nearby botanical gardens or the Japanese waterfall, when we go back I plan on checking out those sights too because they look well worth the extra time.

Check out the full YouTube video here!

Mahalos, 

Alecia <3