Spelunkers in Florida, depending on their expectations, might be either delighted or vastly disappointed at what they find in the Sunshine State. Because Florida is basically one large limestone plateau, it contains one of the most extensive system of caves in the world. But the water table is very high, so most of these caves are underwater. Still, there are a selection of dry caves in the panhandle and in central Florida that spelunkers will want to explore.
Just off Interstate 10 in northern Florida near Mariana is Florida Caverns State Park, one of the few parks in the state containing dry, air-filled caves and the only state park offering cavern tours. Inside these caverns, you’ll see a dazzling display of stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones, draperies and other cave formations. Escorted cave tours are offered by the park Thursday through Monday, as of publication. These 45-minute guided tours take you along a 1,600-foot path past stunning formations, but they are considered moderately strenuous, and they do occasionally sell out.
An area of the state containing many dry caves is along the citrus tract in Withlacoochee State Forest just north of Tampa. These are unsupervised, wild caves accessible only from hiking trails. Dames Cave is the most-visited site. It has four entrances along trail 22. It‘s also often called Vandal Cave because of the extensive graffiti and interior cave damage it‘s suffered. Nearby Peace Cave, named for the large peace sign painted on an oak tree near the entrance, has suffered a similar fate. The cave has been tagged, bats have been driven away and the speleothems -- cave formations -- have been stripped. Girl Scout Cave, also found in the forest, is in better condition.
Two caves near Gainsville worthy of exploring are the Bat Cave and the Catacombs. Just north of Newberry, the Bat Cave is owned by the Santa Fe Community College and used as a field laboratory. Educational tours, however, can be arranged. Catacombs exists on private property, and entry is allowed by limited arrangement with the Florida Speleological Society which curates the site.
Cave diving is one of the most exhilarating but dangerous methods of cave exploration. Cave divers need not only advanced certification, but also advanced equipment and experience, too. However, a place you can experience it without trepidation is Devil’s Den just west of Williston on Alternate U.S. 27 off Interstate 75 in west central Florida. Devil’s Den is a prehistoric underground spring inside a dry cave. The year-round water temperature is 72 degrees and there are plenty of sections where you can swim through one hole and come out another. The cave is open to divers and snorkelers until 6 p.m. daily except on Christmas Day.
