Rainbow River

Rainbow River is a spring-fed freshwater river with exceptionally clear turquoise water, broad white-sand bottoms, expansive beds of eelgrass and tape grass, scattered limestone outcrops, and occasional spring vents or sand boils that create an underwater "light show" as sunlight penetrates the water. Small caves and cracks in the limestone and submerged tree trunks add varied topography and visual interest. Diving is typically a drift dive with depths up to about 25 feet at the deepest holes and much of the river around 6 to 7 feet. Water temperature is a steady 72°F year-round and visibility can reach 150 to 200 feet on a good day. Many groups board a boat or water taxi at KP Hole County Park, enter the water upstream, and drift downstream for roughly an hour; divers commonly wear at least 5mm wetsuits. Boat traffic is heavy in peak seasons so a dive flag is required, and divers often use a safety reel or anchor when pausing. Park regulations prohibit diving in buoy-marked protected areas near the head springs, private property borders much of one bank so land exits must be made at the park boat ramp, and the steady ~1.5-knot current plus boat wash make buoyancy and drift control important.