Weeki Wachee is deepest spring in U.S.

WEEKI WACHEE - It's a world of sapphire blue, with boulders as big as houses and passages wide enough to accommodate a jumbo jet.

To a diver who has explored the deep, naturally formed Weeki Wachee Springs, there's one word to describe being 403 feet down.

"Humbling," said Brett Hemphill. "When you're that deep, you might as well be between the Earth and the moon."

As part of Tampa's Karst Underwater Research team, Hemphill, 40, and 19 other divers have confirmed that the home of the world-famous mermaids is indeed the deepest spring in the United States.

Though the spring water is mostly crystal clear with visibility of about 100 feet, below 350 feet it becomes a deep, rich blue. The water at that depth, Hemphill said, has not gotten light of any kind for perhaps hundreds of years.

"This really is amazing," said Jeff Petersen, president of the not-for-profit Karst group. "But to me, what's even more incredible is the beauty of the system. All of these caves across the state of Florida are like people. Each one is unique with its own type of rock and formations. Weeki Wachee is one of the few that are so big and majestic. It's on the Grand Canyon level."