Among the first things visitors notice when seeing the Grotto for the first time is the waterfall sprouting from the top of the cliff, overlooking the water. This is actually the larger of two waterfalls. The second waterfall is directly in front of a chimney formed by a natural solution pipe on the right-hand side. If you have not yet seen them, check out this video.
Most people assume these are purely decorative. They aren’t. When first created nearly 60 years ago, they were meant to serve a very different purpose.
Why a constant flow of water is essential
Blue Grotto stays as clear as it does because of the constant influx of 22° C/72° F spring water from deep underground. Groundwater flow in this part of Florida pales compared to the fire-hydrant-like conditions found in springs adjoining the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers further north. But it’s enough to replenish the water in the basin before the sun can warm it.
However, when the groundwater flow stops, bad things happen. If the sun has the opportunity to warm the water just a few degrees, an algae bloom can start to form, decimating our normally good visibility. Fortunately, this is rare — but it can happen. In 2022, the Algae Bloom from Hell forced us to shut down for six weeks.
Tom’s dilemma
Tom McQuarrie’s purchase of the land that would become Blue Grotto in 1963 came right on the heels of not one but four major hurricanes that rocked the area in rapid succession. The water not only covered what is now the deck, it came halfway up what is currently the stairs.
This water was going nowhere fast. Complicating matters was the runoff from all the rain. Combined with the first Algae Bloom from Hell, the ordinarily clear Grotto became a cesspool.
Tom was at his wit’s end. His purchase would be a bust unless he could return the Grotto to crystal clarity.
Redneck engineering
Tom wasn’t exactly a redneck, but some of the things he tried to clear up the water could easily be part of a Jeff Foxworthy routine. Tom knew that while the water in the basin was dismally dark, the water in the cavern remained cool and clear.
Tom reasoned that moving some of the water from the cavern into the basin might cool things down and dilute the murk. Tom could have accomplished this with a simple pipe, but why not use this opportunity to create a thing of beauty? Thus, he established the first waterfall.
Did it work? Only marginally. Eventually, the water level dropped, and visibility returned to normal. However, Tom liked his waterfall so much that he decided it should stay.
Fast forward 60 years
Today, the waterfalls are some of visitors’ favorite things about the Grotto. They are pleasing to look at, and the sound is pleasant and relaxing.
One of the best views of the waterfalls is from just below the surface, as you saw in the video. Some divers will even lie on their backs on the surface and let the water hit their masks. You can also do this at most dive sites when it rains. It’s a helluva show.
So, where does the power come from?
Visitors often ask where we get the electricity to run the waterfalls and all the other things at the Grotto. They figure we must face a very stiff electrical bill each month.
The fact is, we don’t buy electricity from the power company; we sell it back to them. The power needed to run the waterfalls and everything else at the Grotto except the compressors comes from our large solar array and Tesla Powerwalls.
That little golf cart in which you see us zipping around the property? It, too, is indirectly powered by the sun.
So, as long as the sun keeps shining, we’ll keep the waterfalls turned on. People like them, and they are one more thing adding to the ambiance of Florida’s favorite freshwater dive.