Spending the day tanning in the sun, watching sunsets from the beach and walking on the boardwalk at night are all fun and popular activities for most Floridians. As fun as these activities are, there is a hidden gem of outdoor adventuring that many people fail to search for: diving under the sea.
With Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) courses, which are required to go diving, individuals can find local dive shops that offer certifications in open water diving, scuba diving, adventure diving, advanced open water diving, rescue diving and more. Certification isn’t needed for snorkeling, but for the diving locations, you must have an open water diver certification, and for advanced diving, you must have advanced open water diving certification.
There’s something about diving ― whether it be the ability to breathe underwater, the remarkable sensation of feeling weightless or the magnificent scenery that’s unlike any on land ― that is simply addicting. There are some diving areas that are just too beautiful for words. For those who are certified to dive on a regular basis, and for those who aren’t certified but still want to see the beauty of the sea, here are some go-to spots.
For snorkeling:
Snorkeling is for those who want to get a glimpse of the underwater world without having to dive deep into the sea. Snorkelers stay near the surface of the water and, typically, only submerge their heads. The only equipment required to go snorkeling is a full face mask, snorkel and fins.
Vista Park
The beautiful coral reef is off the shore of northern Ft. Lauderdale. The dive area features staghorn coral, turtles, tropical fish and even nurse sharks. The dive is typically between 10 and 18 feet and is about 80 yards from the shoreline.
Blue Heron Bridge
While this is a great place to go diving, it’s also wonderful site to go snorkeling for those who aren’t scuba-certified. Blue Heron Bridge, otherwise known as Phil Foster Park, is on Singer Island and is recognized as a top diving spot. In the past, snorkelers have seen manatees, tiny squids, eagle rays and seahorses.
Indian Key State Historic Site
Off of Islamorada in the Florida Keys lies this small island known for its historical ghost town where past residents salvaged cargo from shipwrecks. Snorkelers often see corals, sponges, barracudas, crabs, snappers and hogfish in the shallow waters.
For diving:
Diving is for those who are PADI-certified and want to get up close and personal with the underwater world. The diver’s entire body is underwater, and divers with open water certification typically only dive up to 60 or 70 feet. Required equipment includes an oxygen tank, single hose, open-circuit two-stage diving regulator, a diving suit, swim fins and a full face mask, which can often be rented from a dive shop.
Budweiser Bar
This shipwreck dive is in Boca Raton and features an artificial reef with numerous snapper, barracuda, angelfish, corals and even a 150-pound Jewfish. The average depth of the dive is 80 feet, with the 167-foot freighter’s structure beginning at about 70 feet.
Shark Canyon
Located off of Juno Beach, this is the perfect site to see Caribbean reef sharks up close and personal. The go-to spot of the dive is known as the Amphitheater, a horseshoe-shaped cut out in the reef ledge. This is where you can see the reef sharks swimming around you and your fellow divers. In the past, divers have seen spotted eagle rays, hammerhead sharks and a tagged Hawksbill turtle. The dive is approximately 70 feet.
For advanced diving:
Advanced divers must have an advanced open water certification, as dives are between 60 and 130 feet deep. These divers often visit shipwrecks and deep reefs. Required equipment is the same as that for regular diving.
Governors River Walk
River Walk is for the real diving adventurers ― it’s a series of shipwrecks that one can see in a single dive if you time the currents and let them push you along the way. Wrecks include the Sha Sha, St. Jacques, Thozina and the Gilbert Sea. The wrecks are about 90 feet deep and feature reefs, lemon sharks and other sea life.
Princess Anne Reef
This 100-foot dive off of Palm Beach features an artificial reef made from a 2400-ton ferry vessel. S.S. Princess Anne originally transported cars and people across Chesapeake Bay, and eventually, she ended up in Palm Beach County. Divers have seen grouper, spotted eagle ray, bull sharks, dog snappers and bass.
Tortuga
Sometimes called the Fair Game ship, the Tortuga is a 165-foot steel ship that is a part of the Pflueger Artificial Reef site. The ship sits upright in 110 feet of water and is easy for trained divers to navigate. Many divers see boxfish, snapper, barracuda and other under-the-sea fauna.
Before going out into open water, make sure to check the local weather and news reports for any closures or warnings. Avoid snorkeling or diving alone, and never go out on a night dive unless certified or with a certified scuba instructor.
