October 15–17, 2027 — Tentative

Pack the dive gear, grab the camping equipment, and join American Pro Diving Center for a laid-back fall weekend at Vortex Spring!

After a travel season filled with boats, reefs, wrecks, and big-animal encounters, this trip is about getting back to the basics: clear spring water, diving with friends, camping, good food, and enjoying a weekend outdoors with the American Pro dive family.

Vortex Spring offers a completely different experience from our ocean trips. With clear, spring-fed water and a controlled inland environment, it's a great place to spend time underwater, work on your skills, try new equipment, take pictures, or simply dive because you love to dive.

This is intended to be one of the most relaxed and social trips on our 2027 Dive Travel Program.

THE WEEKEND

Friday, October 15 — Arrival, Camping & Group Night

We'll travel to Vortex Spring, set up camp, get settled, and kick off the weekend with the American Pro group.

Friday is primarily an arrival and social day. Once camp is set up, relax, meet the other divers, get your equipment organized, and enjoy an evening around the campground.

Depending on arrival times and the final schedule, optional diving may be available for divers who arrive early enough.

Saturday, October 16 — Dive, Relax, Repeat

Saturday is our main diving day.

We'll spend the day enjoying Vortex Spring with plenty of opportunity to dive without the tight schedule of a traditional boat charter.

Dive. Take a break. Grab something to eat. Talk diving. Get back in the water.

This is also a great opportunity to work on skills such as:

• Buoyancy and trim
• Proper weighting
• Finning techniques
• Underwater navigation
• Equipment configuration
• Dive-computer familiarity
• Underwater photography and video
• General comfort and confidence underwater

After diving, we'll head back to camp for an evening together.

Sunday, October 17 — Morning Diving & Departure

Wake up at camp, enjoy the morning, and get another opportunity to dive before we begin breaking down camp.

After our final dives, we'll pack up and head home, wrapping up a relaxed weekend of Florida spring diving.

The exact schedule will be finalized closer to the trip.

THE DIVING

Vortex Spring offers clear, spring-fed freshwater diving and is a great environment for recreational divers to spend time underwater.

Unlike our ocean trips, there isn't a charter schedule dictating when the boat leaves or returns. That gives this weekend a much more relaxed feel and allows divers to enjoy the spring at their own pace within the site's operating rules.

The spring also gives divers an opportunity to concentrate on skills without many of the variables associated with offshore diving.

Whether you want to sharpen your buoyancy, become more comfortable with your equipment, shoot some underwater video, or simply enjoy a few dives with friends, there's something worthwhile to do underwater.

IMPORTANT: OVERHEAD ENVIRONMENTS

Vortex Spring includes areas that lead into an overhead/cave environment.

Participation in this trip does not authorize recreational divers to enter areas beyond the limits of their certification and training.

Open Water and other recreational divers must remain within areas appropriate for their certification, experience, equipment, and the rules established by Vortex Spring.

Never enter a cave or other overhead environment without the proper training, certification, equipment, and dive plan.

American Pro Diving Center takes these boundaries seriously.

There is plenty to enjoy at Vortex without exceeding recreational-diving limits.

WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR?

One of the great things about this weekend is that it can appeal to a wide range of certified divers.

It's a great choice for:

• Newly certified Open Water Divers
• Divers looking to gain more experience
• Divers wanting to improve buoyancy and trim
• Experienced divers who enjoy Florida springs
• Underwater photographers
• Divers testing or adjusting equipment
• American Pro Divers Club members
• Anyone who wants a relaxed weekend of diving and camping

You don't need to be an advanced diver to join us.

If you've recently earned your certification and want more time underwater in a controlled environment, this can be an excellent experience-building weekend.

CAMPING

This is a camping weekend, which is a big part of the experience.

Rather than everyone disappearing into separate hotel rooms after diving, we'll spend the weekend together at the campground.

Bring your tent or other approved camping setup and plan to enjoy a couple of evenings outdoors with the group.

Participants should bring their own personal camping equipment unless otherwise specified.

• Tent
• Sleeping bag and/or blankets
• Sleeping pad or air mattress
• Pillow
• Camp chair
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Toiletries
• Towels
• Reusable water bottle
• Personal snacks and drinks
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray

A more detailed packing list and campground information will be provided before the trip.

FOOD & THE SOCIAL SIDE

This trip is meant to be as much about the Divers Club experience as the diving.

We'll build time into the weekend to relax around camp, eat together, talk about the day's dives, and spend time with people we usually only see while wearing masks and regulators.

Final meal arrangements will be announced once the trip details are finalized.

Whether we organize group meals, a cookout, or everyone brings their own food, we'll provide those details before departure.

PLANNED PACKAGE INCLUDES

Final inclusions are still being developed, but the package is expected to include:

• Camping accommodations for Friday and Saturday night
• Access to Vortex Spring during scheduled trip activities
• Recreational spring diving
• American Pro Diving Center group coordination
• Divers Club social activities
• Plenty of opportunities to get underwater throughout the weekend

Final diving, camping, admission, tank, and meal inclusions will be listed once arrangements are confirmed.

NOT INCLUDED

Unless specifically stated in the final package, participants should plan for:

• Transportation to and from Vortex Spring
• Personal scuba equipment
• Scuba equipment rental
• Personal camping equipment
• Meals not specifically included in the package
• Tank rentals or fills not specifically included
• Personal purchases
• Gratuities where applicable
• Travel or dive accident insurance
• Optional activities
• Any expenses not specifically listed as included
  

EQUIPMENT

Divers should bring properly maintained personal scuba equipment appropriate for freshwater diving.

Recommended dive equipment includes:

• BCD
  
• Regulator
• Dive computer
• Mask
• Fins
• Appropriate exposure protection
• Dive light
• Certification card
  

Remember that spring water can feel considerably cooler after you've been submerged for a while, so choose your exposure protection accordingly.

Rental equipment and tanks may be available, but any group rental arrangements will be announced once the package is finalized.

CERTIFICATION & EXPERIENCE

Participants wishing to scuba dive must hold a recognized Open Water Diver certification or higher.

Divers must remain within the limits of their certification, experience, equipment, and the site's rules.

Divers who haven't been in the water recently are encouraged to complete a refresher or PADI ReActivate before the trip.

If you're looking to use the weekend to improve a particular skill, talk with the American Pro team before the trip. We may be able to help you identify training opportunities that fit your goals.

PRICE

Final American Pro Diving Center package price: To Be Announced

Final pricing will depend on camping arrangements, admission, diving inclusions, tanks/fills, meals, and other final trip details.

This trip is currently listed as TENTATIVE on our 2027 Dive Travel Calendar.

Once final arrangements with Vortex Spring are confirmed, we'll announce pricing and open full reservations.

A deposit may be required to secure your place once booking officially opens.

Final payment schedules, cancellation terms, and participant policies will be provided with the confirmed package.

WEATHER & CONDITIONS

Spring diving is generally less affected by offshore sea conditions than our boat-diving trips, but weather and other circumstances can still affect the weekend.

Diving activities, schedules, site access, camping arrangements, and other portions of the itinerary may change because of weather, facility operations, safety considerations, or circumstances outside American Pro Diving Center's control.

All participants must follow Vortex Spring's current rules and procedures while on the property.

Safety always comes first.

CAMP. DIVE. HANG OUT. REPEAT.

Not every great dive trip needs an airport, hotel, or offshore charter.

Sometimes you just need a tent, a set of dive gear, clear water, and a bunch of people who love diving as much as you do.

Join us for a relaxed fall weekend at Vortex Spring and enjoy some time underwater—and around the campsite—with your American Pro dive family.

October 15–17, 2027 — Tentative

Contact American Pro Diving Center for information about our 2027 Vortex Spring Camping & Diving Weekend.

American Pro Diving Center
821 SE US Hwy 19
Crystal River, FL
352-563-0041
[email protected]
AmericanProDiving.com