Bumping down the dirt road into deep forest, it’s hard to believe this park is all about diving.
But Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park – renamed in honor of Florida’s top underwater photographer, who died while open water diving in 2010 – is a top international destination for cave divers.
That’s thanks to its extensively mapped system of underwater tubes: more than six miles of passageways connecting two major springs, six sinkholes, and the Suwannee River.
Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Overview
Location: McAlpin
Address: 18532 180th St, Live Oak
Fees: $4 per vehicle
Restroom: Portable toilets
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 386-776-2194
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed dogs welcome but are not permitted in the springs. No potable water is available inside the park.
Special rules for diving apply, including proof of certification and sign-in / sign-out. No solo dives permitted. Divers must be out of the water at least one hour prior to sundown.
Location
About the Park
You can’t see the river from the parking area, and indeed, the spring run itself simply vanishes into the ground.
Landlubbers have the option of walking marked and unmarked trails through the woods, tracing the trails that divers follow underground; in springtime, colorful wildflowers spice up the scenery.
Summer means you can splash in the two springs, and cool off in the run under the shade of ancient cypress trees with knees taller than yours.
Divers have a choice of open water diving in Orange Grove Sink or cave diving – certified divers only, in teams – through the maze of passageways.
Dive Outpost, an excellent dive shop, is just up the road and can help you find a buddy if you need one.
Trail Map
Explore More!
Springs of the Suwannee River Valley
It’s August. It’s Florida. Where do you go to cool off? The springs of the Suwannee River Valley. No matter the size, these natural swimming holes are a delight.
Peacock Springs State Park renamed in honor of Wes Skiles
The late Wes Skiles, a High Springs resident whose Karst Productions brought a new dimension to the exploration of natural Florida – underground and underwater – shared with millions through PBS specials, will be honored today at a special ceremony at 11 am at Peacock Springs State Park, near Mayo. One of the little-known projects …
Tip of the Nose
Cypress knees can grow much taller than you think. I was able to measure this particular one at Peacock Springs State Park by standing nose to nose with it.
Slideshow
See our photos of Peacock Springs
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Royal Springs
Staring into Royal Springs, it feels like looking into a bottomless pit. Steep and broad, it drops 42 feet into shimmering waters of turquoise and royal blue
Troy Spring State Park
A first-magnitude spring along the Suwannee River, Troy Spring State Park has the remains of a Civil War steamboat cradled in its rocky waters.
Lafayette Blue Springs State Park
Lafayette Blue Springs was an old swimming hole for folks in Mayo and the rural communities west of Live Oak, a hidden beauty spot along the Suwannee River that is now a state park.
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
Showcasing springs, sandy beaches, waterfalls, and haunting swamp forests where manatees gather, the 170-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is a paddling trip of a lifetime