Should you go?
Peacock Springs holds one of the longest underwater cave systems in the continental United States — more than 33,000 feet of mapped passage — and it is the training ground where a large share of the world's cave divers earned their certifications.
Above water it is quiet and unassuming: a small park with two major springs and several sinkholes under hardwood forest. Non-divers can swim at Peacock I, but this is fundamentally a diver's park.
Visiting
$4 per vehicle, 8am to sunset. Cave diving requires full cave certification and registration at the park; the systems here are unforgiving and have claimed lives among the untrained. Swimming is permitted in the main basin. Facilities are minimal — no concessions.
When to go
Weekday mornings for divers seeking parking near Orange Grove. Non-divers will find little to do here.
Local tips
Divers should arrive early for parking near Orange Grove sink. Non-divers will find more to do at Madison Blue or Troy Spring nearby.
Rules & restrictions
Cave certification is verified and enforced. Untrained divers have died in these systems. Swimming is limited to the designated area at Peacock I.
Good to know
Dogs: Park yes, not in water. Season: Year-round.
Facilities
Basic restrooms, parking areas at the main sinks, and interpretive signs. No concessions, no rentals, no camping.
Wildlife you may see
Little visible above water beyond woodland birds and turtles — the park's significance is entirely below the surface.
History & background
Named for the Peacock family who farmed the land, the park was renamed in 2012 for Wes Skiles, the pioneering cave diver and cinematographer who filmed here and died in 2010.
Map & directions
FAQs
Do you need cave certification at Peacock Springs?
Yes u2014 the cave systems are restricted to fully cave-certified divers, and the park verifies credentials. This is not a cavern site for open-water divers.
Can you swim at Peacock Springs?
Yes, in the designated area at Peacock I, though the park is primarily oriented toward cave diving.
How long is the Peacock cave system?
More than 33,000 feet of mapped underwater passage, making it one of the longest in the United States.
Visitor photos
See this week’s shots: Instagram #peacocksprings · TikTok #peacocksprings
Great for: Scuba Diving · Swimming
