Questions to the Team

What Others Have Asked

Question:

What are all the activities that you can do at Florida Springs?
— Brittany, New Ulm, MN

Answer:

There are many things you can do while visiting one of Florida's springs including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, camping, nature watching, boat tours, nature photography and more. The springs are the best place to be on a hot Florida summer day. There are many different springs located throughout central and northern Florida. Several of the major springs and spring rivers are state parks. Other springs are operated as parks by counties or private owners.

Question:

Why are all of Florida's springs cool (around 70 degrees) when some springs in other states can be very hot?
— Christy, Orlando, FL

Answer:

Good question. Many people are familiar with "geothermal or hot springs" like those found in Yellowstone. Water in these springs comes from deep with the ground and is heated by the geothermal activity beneath the Earth's crust.

The springs in Florida are not geothermal or hot springs. They represent the "end of the pipe" of the Floridan aquifer, a layer of relatively shallow limestone underground that stores virtually all of Florida's groundwater. In some areas the limestone is very close to the surface and this is where springs form. The water underground stays at a constant 68 to 70 degree temperature.

Question:

I understand how springs form thanks to your web page. My main concern is what is the importance of springs?
— Fezeka, Cape Town, South Africa

Answer:

In Florida, some springs support entire ecosystems with unique plants and animals. They also flow into other rivers that are dependent on the springs clean fresh water. The springs also represent the visible part of the Floridan Aquifer, the underground supply of most of Florida's drinking water. If the springs are unhealthy, it's an indication of the quality of water that Florida residents drink, cook with, etc. Additionally, Florida's springs are beautiful environments that are enjoyed by people who visit from around the world. You should come visit some day.

Question:

Just how many springs are there in the state of Florida?
— Greg, Largo, Florida

Answer:

While we don't have a complete count of all springs in Florida, there are more than 600 ranging in size from very small springs discharging little more than a trickle of water to 1st magnitude springs like Wakulla, Manatee, and Silver Springs discharging hundreds of millions of gallons of water per day.

Question:

Is it safe to drink the spring water while you are swimming in it?
— Karen, Dania Beach, Florida

Answer:

While enticing, it would not be advisable to drink water straight from the spring. We don't always know what contaminants might be introduced in the spring's recharge area or through runoff into sinkholes connecting to the spring. In addition, there may be naturally occuring micoorganisms that could cause illness if not filtered from the water.

Question:

How long can the divers stay under water and do the divers get cold after awhile? Did any of the divers ever get lost for a little while?
— Kyle, Medford, NJ

Answer:

The divers exploring deep into the spring caves typically wear dry suits, which don't allow water to come into contact with the diver's skin. This enables them to keep relatively warm. Their body temperature is also raised because they are working very hard underwater.

Our divers used special "re-breather" systems, which enable them to "recycle" their air unlike traditional SCUBA equipment. This enables the divers to stay underwater for long periods of time and explore extreme depths; some divers can stay underwater for as long as 20 hours or more. During our Wakulla dive, it took about 45 minutes for Jill and Paul Heinerth to dive to about 300 feet and explore the caves. It then required nearly five hours of decompression time during which Paul and Jill had to very slowly make their way to the surface, stopping at different depths to ensure that they would not get the "bends."

Question:

Do more sinkholes form because we are depleting the aquifer too quickly?
— Mary, Vero Beach, FL

Answer:

Sinkholes are naturally occurring geologic formations, but it is understood that a sudden sinkhole can be caused by human activity. Increased water consumption associated with a prolonged drought period may draw down the water in the aquifer resulting the collapse of an underground cavern in the limestone bedrock. Heavy rains following a drought period might also lead to formation of sinkholes.

Question:

Does the spring water eventually flow into the sea? Are the manatees afraid of the divers?
— Gwen, Medford, NJ

Answer:

Yes, springs typically flow into other bodies of water like rivers, which eventually flow into the ocean or the gulf. Be sure to read Dispatch 6, which talks about the influence of spring water on Suwannee River estuary.

Manatees are very calm animals and often will not be afraid of divers, particularly where divers are frequently present. Manatees are endangered species and it is against the law for divers to hold onto manatees or to alter their behavior in any way. However, manatees are curious animals and will sometimes approach divers.

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