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Idiot's Delight, United States

Stay in Crystal River: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Fresh water: lake, river or quarry

About Idiot's Delight

A cave dive in fresh water: a lake, quarry or spring. It goes down to 6 m. You get in from a boat. It suits Open Water divers and up, as a dive guide states it. 2 dive centres or shops within 10 km, the nearest 0.5 km away. For Open Water divers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 7 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Crystal River.

  • Water Fresh water: a lake, river or quarry, not the sea. It is scored on its wind and rain only.
  • What it is Cave.
  • How deep Down to 6 m.
  • Getting in From a boat.
  • Who it suits Suits Open Water divers and up, as a dive guide states it.
  • Dive centres 2 dive centres or shops within 10 km, the nearest 0.5 km away.

Facts: verified.

Dive centres nearby

The nearest named dive centres and shops within 25 km, in a straight line; training agencies where the map states them. Listings, not a recommendation. Dive centres: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits

What is under the water (visibility, current, life) no free forecast gives. Ask a dive centre before you book.

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Book the trip

From Chicago: about 6 h 35 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to TPA, direct.

    See flights MDW → TPA · Skyscanner from about £155 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 2 h 05 from the airport to Idiot's Delight.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in Crystal RiverAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Distances are straight lines unless a drive is given: a site out at sea is reached by boat.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Dives and courses in Crystal River · GetYourGuideAdDive gear hire in Crystal River · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Idiot's Delight on Google Maps · Directions

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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

Fresh water: lake, river or quarry: scored by other rules.

Fresh water has no waves to forecast, so the 48 points out of 80 that a sea site gets for a calm sea are given in full. The day turns on the wind (24 points) and the rain (8); gusts of 25 kn or more still score it nothing.

No sea temperature is read for it: nothing forecasts a lake's water, and it is often much colder at depth than at the top. Ask a dive centre what suit to bring.

Best on Tue 20: Fresh water (a lake, river or quarry): no sea, so scored on wind and rain only. Wind 8 kn gusting 14.

The score for Open Water divers, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

DayScoreWindGustsRain
Sun 18Oct3911 kn21knboats in0 mm
Mon 19Oct7811 kn22knboats in0 mm
Tue 20Oct808 kn14kn0 mm
Wed 21Oct806 kn12kn0 mm
Thu 22Oct806 kn12kn0 mm
Fri 23Oct808 kn13kn0 mm
Sat 24Oct7710 kn18knboats in1.5 mm
Sun 25Oct3812 kn23knboats in0 mm
Mon 26Oct3713 kn24knboats in0 mm
Tue 27Oct809 kn17kn0 mm

Day scores are the conditions out of 80, from the two best daylight readings: a morning and an afternoon dive. Fresh water (a lake, river or quarry): no sea, so scored on wind and rain only. Wind and gusts are in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); rain is over the daylight readings, in mm. Water has no reading: no sea temperature is read for a lake. What is under the water (visibility, current, life) no free forecast gives.

The season

Good diving days in a typical week, each month, for Open Water divers, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan7of 7
  2. Feb7of 7
  3. Mar7of 7
  4. Apr7of 7
  5. May7of 7
  6. Jun7of 7
  7. Jul7of 7
  8. Aug7of 7
  9. Sep7of 7
  10. Oct7of 7
  11. Nov7of 7
  12. Dec7of 7

Typical, not a forecast: the mean wind of each day (a lake has no sea), with no gusts or rain in the history.

Rough cost

About £835–£1,515 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Dives are not priced yet: we have no sourced price for a guided dive, so they are not in it.

  • Flights £155–£325
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Hire car £115–£190
  • Stay £270–£455
  • Food £260–£480

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

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Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Dives and courses · GetYourGuide Dive gear hire · GetYourGuide

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