Daytona Beach is located in Volusia County and is famous world wide among the race fans for the Daytona International Speedway. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the city hosts an amazing coastline and beautiful sandy beaches, attracting visitors from all over the states. It is also known for the hard packed sand on which you can drive your vehicle and visit restricted areas.
With a humid subtropical climate, the average temperatures during summer are 90°F/33°C with brief tropical storms and the average temperatures during winter are 70°F/21°C with light freezes.
However, Daytona Beach has a lot to offer for the nature lovers, not very far away from the noisy city and the crowded beaches. Ocala National Forest is an incredible national park, with an abundance of lakes, rivers and streams and is home to the world’s largest sand pine forest.
One of the many activities available on the national park is scuba diving in Alexander Stream. The spring is a natural pool that looks like a huge aquarium with extraordinary clear water, being surrounded by floodplain lush forest and a sandy beach. The maximum depth of the spring is at 24.6 ft/7.5 m and there is a lot of wildlife and small caverns to explore. If you are lucky enough, you might come across an alligator. (No worries there, they are harmless!)
The temperature of the water is constantly at 72°F /22°C and diving there is suitable for all skill level divers. The park is open from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week and if you choose to camp there, you have a 24 hours access with an access code. There are also restrooms and picnic areas around Alexander Stream. You can dive this spot all year round, however, the best season to visit the spot is during spring.
