Do I need a certification to dive Troy Springs?

Yes. You must hold an Open Water SCUBA certification or higher; guides will check certification and dive logs at check-in.

Is rental gear available?

Rental gear is sometimes available through the outfitter for an additional cost—contact the operator ahead to reserve specific items.

How deep is the dive site?

The spring head reaches about 70 feet; much of the wreck sits in shallower water, but divers should plan dives according to their certification limits.

What is the best time of year to dive?

Visibility is excellent most of the year; weekday mornings in spring and fall often offer the calmest water and clearest conditions.

Are there age restrictions for divers?

Age requirements follow standard certification agency guidelines; check with your certifying agency and the operator for minimums.

Can I snorkel instead of diving?

Yes—non-diving visitors can enjoy the spring from shore and the run, but snorkeling will not provide the same views of the Madison wreck beneath the surface.

Dive Troy Springs: 70-Foot Spring & Civil War Steamboat Madison

Adventure Brief

Clear, blue water, a 70-foot spring boil, and the Civil War steamboat Madison make Troy Springs a rare combination of geology and history. This four-hour dive trip is ideal for open-water certified divers who want high visibility and a low-impact, guided spring experience near Branford, Florida.

4 hours

moderate

From $132.50

Troy Springs State Park sits just outside Branford, Florida, where a 70-foot-deep first-magnitude spring feeds a crystalline run that flows toward the Suwannee River. The site reads like a clear chapter in Florida geology: a steep-walled limestone bowl, a visible spring boil, and a shallow braided run edged by palmetto and cypress. The feature that draws divers is the Madison, a Civil War-era steamboat intentionally scuttled in 1863; its iron and timber skeleton lies in the shallows where history and diving meet. Bookable dive trips here focus on open-water-certified divers who want a straightforward spring dive with exceptional visibility and an immediate historical point of interest. Beneath the surface, clarity—often exceeding 70 feet—reveals pale karst walls, scalloped ledges, and pockets where freshwater interacts with tannin-stained runoff. Youll move from the bright open boil into quieter shallow areas where fish, turtles, and submerged roots make the wreck feel like an underwater classroom rather than a dramatic showpiece. Operators stage gear and briefings at the roadside parking near 674 NE Troy Springs Rd; rental gear can be available for an additional fee through the outfitter. Trips run roughly four hours and balance surface intervals, boat or shore prep, and multiple dives so you can inspect the Madison and refine buoyancy over the spring head. Guides emphasize safe, low-impact diving: no touching artifacts, neutral buoyancy near fragile formations, and strict adherence to certification limits. On land, the park offers a short trail to a riverside overlook and shady picnic spots beneath classic Florida hammock trees. The spring's geological story—flowing from the Floridan aquifer through porous limestone—becomes obvious in the scalloped walls and the velocity of the boil. For history lovers, seeing the Madison's outline in situ connects a specific Civil War action to the landscape; for naturalists, the clear water offers close views of freshwater fish and turtles in a rare first-magnitude spring. Why this trip stands out: few Florida springs provide both a deep, high-visibility dive and an identifiable historical wreck in the same shallow run. The combination of karst geology, an accessible dive site, and local guides who know the spring intimately makes Troy Springs an efficient, memorable day trip from Branford. Expect water temperatures in the mid-60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit depending on season; a thin wetsuit or 5mm is commonly used. The park can fill with weekend day-trippers, so weekday morning dives often offer quieter conditions and cleaner visibility. Bring a surface signaling device and reef-safe sunscreen for surface intervals. Guides will run a thorough site orientation and usually limit groups to small numbers to protect artifacts and the spring's delicate ecology.

Dive Troy Springs: 70-Foot Spring & Civil War Steamboat Madison

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