A few weeks ago we made the trip down to Gainesville, Florida to take Sam cave diving. Sam actually made the trip 3 or 4 years ago and really liked it, but he wasn’t able to go on all the dives because he was only certified to 60′ and of course, at the time he was only 14 or 15 years old. This time around however, Sam got to go on all the dives – 4 total in 2 days and went down over 100′ on two of the dives. Meanwhile Mom and Dad, drove to the St. Augustine beach on Saturday and relaxed a little on Sunday, although we didn’t get as much relaxation as we thought because the two dives were about two hours apart. We did get to stop at Myrtle Beach, SC on the way down and we hit Fernandina Beach, FL (very close to GA state line) on the way home, it was a little chilly at the beaches, but Mom did find a few nice shells.
One thing we did learn about Florida, was that anything can pass as a road in that state. There were several roads that both Apple/Google maps took us on that were not intended for normal driving – dirt roads with huge dips and holes. Luckily we drove the Rover, because we had thought about taking the Honda originally. The video at the bottom doesn’t do the bumpiness of the roads justice, but it gives you a little idea of their condition. The crazy thing is that people actually lived back there – quite a few of them. How did they get their mail? What happened if it rains hard? Why?? So many questions…
Myrtle Beach, SC 
Myrtle Beach, SC
1st Dive was at Blue Grotto Springs 
Blue Grotto Springs, Williston, FL – Sam dived here on his 1st trip down a few years ago but only went down 60′.
2nd Dive at Devils Den, Sam is not in this photo: credit Rum Runners 
Looking down on Devils Den Spring 
Entrance to Devils Den 
Devils Den Spring from above – this was only about 15 minutes from Blue Grotto
Anastasia Island Beach, St. Augustine, FL 
Anastasia Island Beach
3rd Dive, Paradise Springs, FL 
Looking down on Paradise Springs 
Quite chilly this morning, and steam was rising off the spring
Ginnie Springs, FL – even though we weren’t diving, we weren’t allowed in unless we wanted to pay $50 so we obviously stayed in the car. All these photos credit Rum runners. 
Ginnie Springs 
Ginnie Springs 
Ginnie Springs – Sam dived here a few years ago, but didn’t actually go down in the cave this time as his air was running low, so he helped observe another diver get certified.
Fernandina Beach, FL 
Man of War that washed up on shore 
Sam using a stick to try to push the Man of war back into the water. 
Fernandina Beach, FL
The Payne Chronicles 