Cave system
Devil's Spring System (Ginnie Springs)
DAN reports cave dives in the system ranging from 70 to 100 feet (21.3 to 30.5 m); no overall maximum depth or survey length was found in the sources read.
Three linked springs at privately owned Ginnie Springs on the Santa Fe River - Little Devil, Devil's Eye and Devil's Ear - leading into a high-flow cave; cave divers pay a day fee and only cavern- or cave-certified divers may carry lights.
The Devil's Spring System is a chain of three springs along a short run at Ginnie Springs, a privately owned park on the Santa Fe River near High Springs. At the head of the run is Little Devil (Devil Spring), a narrow fracture in the rock; next is Devil's Eye, a round opening about 6 metres across; and where the run meets the river is Devil's Ear, a canyon-like opening from which water pours with great force.
Together the springs discharge nearly 80 million gallons a day, according to the park. That strong outflow shapes the diving: DAN's Alert Diver notes that high flow makes moving into the cave and managing breathing gas more demanding, and describes cave dives here ranging from about 21 to 30 metres deep.
At Devil's Ear, tea-coloured, tannin-stained water from the Santa Fe River often lies in a thin layer over the clear spring water, creating a stained-glass effect when divers look up. Ginnie Springs enforces a no-lights rule at the Devil's springs for anyone who is not cavern or cave certified, to keep untrained divers out of the overhead areas.
Water, flow and flooding
Combined discharge of nearly 80 million gallons a day from the three springs, per the park. The springs flow into the Santa Fe River, whose dark tannic water mixes with the clear spring water at Devil's Ear.
Conditions
Florida springs run about 22°C year-round (DAN). Visibility in the spring basins is usually very clear, but Devil's Ear is often covered by a layer of tannic river water; how high river levels affect the springs is not described by the park.
Typical ranges from published sources, not current conditions.
Entrances and dive sites
Three spring entrances: Little Devil (Devil Spring), Devil's Eye and Devil's Ear, all within Ginnie Springs Outdoors.
For orientation, not navigation. Hollow dots are approximate.
Every fact on this page, with its source (9)
| Fact | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The three springs of the Devil's Spring System together produce nearly 80 million gallons of water a day.Landowner's figure. | Verified | [1] |
| Cave dives in the Devil's Spring System range from 70 to 100 feet, and high flow makes penetration and gas management more challenging.DAN Alert Diver, 2026-03-11. | Reported | [4] |
| Devil's Ear's basin is often covered by a thin layer of tannin-stained river water, producing a stained-glass effect. | Verified | [1] [4] |
| Florida spring water runs 72°F (22°C) year-round.General figure for Florida springs, not specific to this system. | Reported | [4] |
| Ginnie Springs enforces a no-lights rule at the Devil Spring system: only certified cavern or cave divers may enter the water carrying dive lights. | Verified | [1] |
| Divers must register before diving; personal compressors, surface-supplied air and umbilical diving equipment are never permitted. | Verified | [2] |
| Daily scuba admission is $28 for certified full cave divers or equivalent and $36 for all other certified divers, with an annual cave dive pass at $440; diving is not permitted on some major holiday weekends.Prices as shown 2026-10-14. | Verified | [3] |
| USGS lists Devils Ear Springs (site 295012082414700) at latitude 29.8369039, longitude -82.6962307. | Verified | [5] |
| USGS lists Devils Ear Springs at longitude -82.6962307. | Verified | [5] |
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