Do you have to be a certified cave diver to just dive without venturing into any caves? If so, can you just snorkel? Oh, and is there any place nearby to get certified to dive?

1.Yes you can snorkel as well as free dive and have a good time. 2. You can dive in the open areas with an open water certification you will need a buddy to dive with as well. I would not recommend going into the cavern without additional experience and training. 3. The area is a hot spot for diving you should have no issue finding a class or person that can provide training. Tip. If you can go during a weekday or off time as there will be less people as it can get really busy. Also check out where the tannin water mixes with the fresh water where the springs meet the Santa Fe river it is really neat to see the and feel the difference in temp between the two bodies of water. Have fun

The Ball Room cavern (which is Jenny / Ginnie Spring) is open for any open water certified diver. The closest dive shop is down the road 441 to Gainesville where classes regularly going.

I teach Open Water classes there. You do not have to be cave certified to dive the Ginnie Springs section or the Devil's Den section or the river. Do not take lights down with you and do not venture into the cave openings.

There is a place near by in High springs. Its called Extreme Exposure amd you can rent everything except masks and anything that goes in mouth. You can rent tanks and suits and they donjave classes but you may have to call about the class schedule! People are great and very helpful!

You do not have to be dive certified to Snorkel or peek into caves. No flashlights allowed in Devil's system, but Ginnie is OK.

Yes, cave certified and overhead enviroment certified I believe.