Head out on a grand adventure in Central Florida by visiting Devils Den, a prehistoric spring where you can swim underground. This unique experience makes you feel as though you are swimming in a cenote in Mexico but right here in Florida! This day trip guide to Devil’s Den tells you everything you need to know before your next visit so that you can enjoy your trip stress free.
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Devil’s Den General Information
Phone: 352-528-3344
Email: diveshop@devilsden.com
Location
Address
5390 NE 180th Ave
Williston, FL 32696
Devils Den is located near a small town called Williston. There are restaurants to stop in and eat at but not much else to do. It is the perfect location for a day trip from several different large cities though.
Tampa to Devil’s Den: 2 Hours, 120 Miles
Orlando to Devil’s Den: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes, 102 Miles
Gainesville to Devil’s Den: 33 Minutes, 23 Miles
Jacksonville to Devil’s Den: 1 Hour and 45 Minutes, 95 Miles
Getting to Devil’s Den
Like much of the U.S. there is absolutely no public transportation that will bring you to Devil’s Den. So the only way to get here is by driving yourself or hiring a driver on a platform like Uber.
Since it is most likely a long drive, renting a car will be the most affordable option. You can rent a car in any of the large cities mentioned above. Then simply plug the address into your phone or navigation system and off you go.
Best Time to Visit
Honestly anytime of year is great to visit but spring or summer would be my #1 pick.
There is no off season time to visit Devil’s Den, thanks to its popularity they are busy all year round. The spring, like all Florida springs, is a consistent 72 degrees fahrenheit all year round. That may sound warm but it feels pretty chilly when you get in. Because of the chilly temperature I would recommend visiting when it is warm out so that the sun warms you up quickly once you leave the spring.
If you decide to visit when it is cold out I recommend wearing a wetsuit or long sleeve swim shirt to help keep warm.
Facts + History
Devil’s den is about 54ft deep and 120 ft wide in what many have described as an inverted mushroom shape. The water is a consistent 72 degrees fahrenheit just like most other Florida springs.
Devils den is a karst cavern which means that soluble rocks such as limestone or dolomite dissolved leaving behind the cave system that now exists. These caves actually run a very long way underground, much further than is safe for divers to explore.
There are fish and even a turtle that live in the Devil’s Den, I only saw the fish during our visit. There are no alligators though, thank goodness.
The water is described as crystal clear on the website, however I felt it was a little hard to see through, part of that was my goggles fogging up but part of it was the water too.
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Devils Den Name
The name “Devil’s Den” came from the steam that comes off the spring and through the hole in the ceiling occasionally. The steam is caused when the temperature of the air drops below the temperature of the water (72F).
Nothing spooky about it when you know the cause but to the people that discovered it, the steam made them think of an entrance to the underworld.
Devil’s Den Hours
Monday – Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Friday – Sunday: 8am to 5pm
The last water entry is at 4pm everyday so make sure you arrive before then in order to have time to swim. Devil’s Den is open everyday except Christmas Day.
Reservations at Devil’s Den
At this time reservations are required for entry into Devil’s Den and they do book up especially on weekends. To get a reservation simply visit their website and select your date and time. They will collect some personal information like email and name, then you will receive a confirmation email. You do not have to pay until you arrive. Each reservation is a 90 minute time slot which doesn’t sound long but is plenty of time in my opinion.
When you arrive at Devil’s Den simply walk into the office where they will confirm your reservation, pay for your entry as well as any gear rentals and sign the liability waiver. In the same room you will pick up your gear.
Outside there are picnic tables where you can leave your towels and personal belongings while you swim. There are no lockers available although there are restrooms and warm showers.
Kids at Devil’s Den
Children under six are not allowed inside Devil’s Den at all. Since there are no flotation devices allowed in the spring everyone in your party must be able to swim on their own for as long as needed up to 90 minutes.
Children between the ages of 6 and 18 must have a parent or guardian sign for them on the liability form stating that they are good to swim in the spring. This means that minors must have their guardian on the property or the parent/guardian has to sign the parental consent form ahead of time. This allows another adult to be your child’s chaperone. The parental consent form requires a notary.
Equipment
All you NEED to bring to Devil’s Den is a swimsuit and a towel. Everything else is provided with your entry fee and rental cost. If you don’t want to rent then you need to bring fins, a snorkel and a mask.
A couple items that it would be nice to bring along if you can are mask defogger, a flashlight, dry bag for your phone, a dry box, and a go pro. However, these are absolutely not necessary to have a good time!
Snorkeling Devil’s Den
We decided to snorkel when we visited because we are not scuba certified, I’m sure it would be very cool to see more of what’s under the water like fossil beds.
When you snorkel, once you’ve gotten your gear and put your belongings on the picnic tables then you head to the entrance.
The Entrance
The entrance to Devil’s Den has a big sign, lots of plants and a very narrow set of stone steps. Be careful because the steps can get slick!
You won’t be able to see the spring until you reach the bottom of the stone steps, then you turn left and you see the bright blue water.
A set of metal steps takes you to a submerged platform you can put on your fins, get into the chilly water and take off!!
Devil’s Den Snorkeling Cost
Monday through Friday Admission: $15 per person
Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Admission: $22 per person
Walk Thru (no Devil’s Den Entrance): $7
Admission does not include gear rental. A snorkel, fin and mask are required for entry. You can bring your own or rent from Devil’s Den. If you want to make day trips to Devil’s Den a regular thing then buying your own gear may be worth it, otherwise I would just rent.
Rental Cost: $12 per person
Diving Devil’s Den
If you are open water certified or above then you are welcome to SCUBA dive in Devil’s Den. You are required to dive with a buddy and must be in the water by 4 pm to start your dive.
Night dives are also available through appointment only.
Diving Cost
Admission: $38 per diver
Equipment: $45 for full SCUBA equipment rental or you can rent by the item.
Getting SCUBA certified in Devil’s Den
You can get SCUBA certified in Devil’s Den, you just have to find an insured SCUBA instructor in the area.
I imagine it is much easier to get certified in a small, quiet space such as Devil’s Den rather than the ocean. If it is close enough to you this could be a fun option when you look to get certified.
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Deaths in Devils Den Spring Florida
There have been a couple deaths in Devil’s Den, from the research I’ve done it seems that they’ve been from SCUBA divers that try to go further into the cave system than their gear and knowledge can handle. No snorkelers have died in Devil’s Den.
Camping at Devil’s Den
If you would like to turn your day trip to Devil’s Den into an overnight trip you can easily do so! There are a variety of on-site lodging options at Devil’s Den Spring from cabins, tent sights and RV sights to choose from.
Tent sites start at $22 per adult and $10 per child. Each site is first come first serve.
RV sites start at $45 per night although there are weekly and monthly prices available as well.
Finally there are 4 cabins available for booking as well. You must be 21 or older to book a cabin.
Shop Devil’s Den Equipment (fins, snorkel and mask, mask defogger, flashlight, dry bag, dry box, go pro)
Places to Eat in Williston
We asked the employees at Devil’s Den for their food recommendations and this was their list:
- Green Shutters
- Shakers
- The Ivy House
- Las Avina
We ate at Las Avina and thought it was delicious. They serve authentic Mexican food at very reasonable prices. The restaurant was very busy the whole time we were there which is always a good sign.
Things to Know When Visiting Devil’s Den
- No floatation devices at all are allowed inside Devil’s Den. Absolutely no exceptions. So you should have at least moderate swimming skills. The platform is easily accessible though and you don’t have to swim for more than a couple minutes at a time.
- Masks and fins are required but you can bring your own.
- Open water certification is required to dive unless you are a dive student there with an instructor.
- There are no lockers. Leave as many valuables as you can at home and leave everything else locked in your car. Anything you bring onto the grounds will have to be left on picnic tables.
- No pets are allowed and only service dogs can be on the premises.
- Lastly, you can only enter if you are swimming. You are not allowed to go down the steps just to look or even take pictures.
FAQ’s
Is it a hot spring?
No, Devil’s Den is not a hot spring because it is not hot. It is a freshwater spring that stays a chilly 72 degrees fahrenheit all year round.
Are there alligators?
There are no alligators in Devil’s Den. There are fish and a resident turtle that you may or may not see.
Why does it steam?
Devil’s Den steams when the temperature of the air drops below the temperature of the water. Where the two meet, they react and create steam.
Is Devils Den worth it?
In short, yes Devil’s Den was worth it. I will say that the actual snorkeling is really underwhelming, there isn’t much to see and in the end you are really just swimming in a circular hole for an hour and a half. It gets a tad boring and chilly after a while.
However, it is really exciting at first. It is very beautiful and very worth doing at least once. The clear bright blue water, being in the cave and seeing the light stream through the vine covered window above you is enchanting.
Day Trip to Devil’s Den
Make sure you add a day trip to Devil’s Den to your Florida bucket list ASAP so you can plan it into your next trip out here. If you have any other questions about our experience or about Devil’s Den in general, let me know below!
