Jackson Blue Spring
The head spring of Merritt's Mill Pond in Jackson County's Blue Springs Recreation Area; a public swimming park whose cave is used for limited scuba training and exploration. No published dive rules.
The head spring is the swimming area of Blue Springs Recreation Area, a county-run park east of Marianna. Below it, a cave complex extends into the limestone; Jackson County describes the site as managed with limited scuba training and exploration.
The county and the park operator publish hours and general admission but no diving procedure, so divers should contact the county parks office before planning a visit. Pets other than service dogs are not allowed in the park.
The environment
A first-magnitude spring pool opening into a cave complex; water about 22°C year-round per the operator.
Conditions
Hours changed from 2026-03-21. The operator advises that hours are subject to change and to call ahead.
Typical ranges from published sources, not current conditions.
For orientation, not navigation. Hollow dots are approximate.
Every fact on this page, with its source (7)
| Fact | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson County leases the head spring from Florida DEP and manages the site with limited scuba training and exploration; operations are run by a third party. | Verified | [1] |
| Starting 2026-03-21 the park is open Monday to Friday 10:00 AM-5:30 PM and Saturday to Sunday 9:30 AM-6:00 PM.Operator site (s2) lists Monday to Friday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. | Sources conflict | [1] |
| The park operator lists admission at $4 per person.Operator website read 2026-10-14; no diver-specific fee published. | Reported | [2] |
| The operator cites a year-round water temperature of 72°F. | Reported | [2] |
| No animals except service dogs are allowed in the park. | Verified | [1] |
| USGS lists Jackson Blue Spring at latitude 30.79046943. | Verified | [3] |
| USGS lists Jackson Blue Spring at longitude -85.1407611. | Verified | [3] |
Verified: stated by an official or primary source we opened. Reported: from a secondary source only. Sources conflict: the note gives both versions. May be out of date: the newest source we found is old.
Written in our own words from the sources above. Report a correction