KING SPRING

This spring is located in the Kings Bay area of Crystal River and is the deepest spring in Kings Bay at over 65ft deep. King Spring is a first-magnitude spring with a brass manatee statue installed near the spring vent. This spring is known for its popularity with divers, swimmers, and snorkelers because of the amount of manatee that use this spring as sanctuary. During the winter months it is normal to see over 400 manatees in the King Spring area of Kings Bay.

Access is limited during the winter months but in the summer months many divers will come to this area in hopes of seeing a manatee up close. King Spring is the original spring that the refuge was created for back in 1983. To access the spring, you will need to rent a boat at the nearby dive shop or bring your own. It is a bit of a paddle from the Crystal River launch sites but it is still doable on calmer days.

King Spring is accessible to the general public all year long, however in order to protect manatees, access to the springs is limited from November 15 to March 31. Visitors can still see the manatees at this season from designated viewing places and can take part in educational programs and guided tours.