Devil's Den Spring

What to expect

Devil’s Den is not a hot spring, and it is not a swimming hole either. It is a cool, 72°F22°C spring inside a dry cave whose roof partly collapsed, leaving a round opening at ground level. Sunlight falls through that hole onto clear blue water about 50 feet deep. You go down a narrow stairway of 56 steps and step straight into the water. There is no beach and no shallow end.

The place is privately owned and run as a snorkel and scuba site, a few minutes outside Williston in Levy County. The chamber is about 120 feet across. Pleistocene fossils have turned up in the walls, and the caretaker told Spectrum News 13 in 2025 that bones of mastodons, saber-toothed cats and giant ground sloths found on the floor helped date the collapse to roughly 115,000 to 126,000 years ago. Most fossils have since been taken out by paleontologists, and you may not touch or remove what is left.

On cold winter mornings the water can steam up through the opening in the ground. That is 72°F22°C aquifer water meeting cold air, not heat from below.

Around 50,000 people visit a year, so expect company. The grounds above the den also include John’s Oasis, a separate spring-fed swimming area that comes with snorkel or lodging reservations, plus picnic tables, pavilions and the campground.

Note the name. The operator says plainly that it is not Devil’s Den Creek, and it is unrelated to the Devil’s Eye and Devil’s Ear springs at Ginnie Springs.

Getting there

The address is 5390 NE 180th Ave., Williston, FL 32696, a few miles northwest of downtown Williston.

• From Orlando or Tampa (about 2 hours): take I-75 north to Ocala, then US 27 west to Williston and follow the signs to NE 180th Avenue.
• From Gainesville: about 30 minutes southwest.
• From Jacksonville: about 90 minutes.

Parking is in the lot by the office, a short walk from the stairway. Check in at the office before you go down, and arrive at least 15 minutes before your time slot.

When to go

Year-round. The temperature does not change, and the den is open 364 days a year. The main differences are crowds and light. Weekdays are quieter. Midday, when the sun is high, sends the strongest light shafts down through the opening. Cold winter mornings bring the steam, and you will want a wetsuit for anything longer than a quick look; the operator rents wetsuits.

The den clears and closes temporarily for lightning or high winds nearby, which is common on summer afternoons.

Prices and booking

• Snorkeling: $30 per person for a 90-minute session, booked online with a $5 non-refundable deposit and $25 paid on arrival. Sessions run 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Everyone in your party signs a waiver, which is emailed after booking. You get one free date change if you ask at least 72 hours ahead, for a new date within 60 days. Otherwise bookings are not refundable.
• Gear: every snorkeler needs a mask, snorkel and fins. Renting all three costs $15 plus tax, one item $5.50 plus tax. Long free-diving fins are not allowed.
• Scuba: Visit Florida lists admission at $48, air fills at $10.50 (no nitrox) and a full gear bundle at $60. Diving is first come, first served, and Devil’s Den does not teach scuba itself.
• Night dives: $48 per diver with a $480 minimum, by appointment at least 7 days ahead (352-528-3344 or the dive shop email). Advanced certification or an instructor required.
• Non-swimmers: $7 to walk the grounds. They may not go down the stairs unescorted.
• Email is the operator’s preferred contact: [email protected].

Rules

• Snorkelers and divers only. No general swimming, and no non-swimmers in the water.
• Flotation devices only when medically necessary.
• Children must be at least 6 and very strong swimmers. Under-18s need a parent on site or a notarized consent form from the snorkel page.
• No sunscreen. The operator bans it to protect the water.
• Only snorkel gear and cameras or phones go into the den. Leave valuables in the car; staff can hold your keys.
• Divers: Open Water certification or higher, a buddy at all times, no cave entry, no doubles, ponies, side mounts, reels, rebreathers or knives. The last dive starts 90 minutes before closing, and everyone is out 15 minutes before closing.
• Alcohol: not during business hours. Campground guests 21 and over may drink at their site, but no glass bottles.
• No pets or emotional support animals outside the RV park.

Where to stay nearby

• On site: tent sites, an RV park and four cabins that sleep four, booked through the Cabins/Tents/RVs page. John’s Oasis is included with a lodging reservation. Tent camping closes during tropical storms.
• Williston has a few motels and places to eat. Ocala and Gainesville have far more choice; Visit Florida suggests both as overnight bases.
• Other springs: Blue Grotto, another Williston dive site, is close by. Rainbow Springs at Dunnellon and Ginnie Springs near High Springs make good second stops.

Safety notes

• Deep water, no edge: the den is about 50 feet deep with straight walls. If you are not comfortable treading water in fins, do not book.
• The stairs: 56 narrow, wet steps with no room to wait at the bottom. Take them slowly. The site is not wheelchair accessible.
• Cool water: 72°F22°C on a 90-minute session will chill most people, especially in winter.
• Overhead environment: the cave passages beyond the open chamber are off limits. Stay in the main room.
• Lightning: staff clear the den when storms are close. Get out promptly.