Spiny lobsters, turtles, green moray eels and the usual cast of reef fish are residents of the area. Joseph L. Meek Liberty Ship Depth: 80-95ft GPS Location: Latitude 30 16.384 N Longitude 87 09.574 W The Joseph L. Meek, a 480 foot long Liberty ship, was built for the Maritime Commission by the Oregon War Industries Ship Building Company in 1942. The structure of the 220-year-old HMS Endymion is long gone, but cannons, ballast stones and a trio of 12-foot anchors remain. Minutes from the dock, this iconic dive is your chance to view Palaus famous limestone from the inside. Emerald Reef feels like its own self-contained world. Call or email us! Were a free review guide run by passionate Divers, Sports, and Outdoor fanatics. USS Kittiwake, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 7. An 11-night trip starts from $5,060; a 13-night trip starts from $5,980. The out and back nature of diving jetties makes this ideal terrain to practice basicunderwater navigation, and the abundance of smaller organisms here is enough to keep anyones attention. An all-day excursion, including lunch and beverages, is $250 per person. Saltwater crocodile This site 150 miles south of Cozumel isnt your average wreck dive. Finding a sharks tooth is a perk of this site, as are the turtles, otters and bubbling spring beds. And if thats not enough, there are also turtles, eels, sharks, and a touch of history at sites like The Winch and Spanish Anchor. Sunk in 2002, the 510ft (155m) U.S. Navy Landing Ship Dock landed on its starboard side, and in 2005, Hurricane Dennis placed the wreck upright. The sanctuary is home to a rotating cast of turtles who float lazily along the pilings munching jellyfish, and stingrays nestled in the shallow, sandy waters. And while all the elements combine to create a surreal scene, if you time your dive correctly, youll get an added bonus as the seascape is lit by intense shafts of light squeezing through the congestion above. Aside from having coastline on both the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic, the Florida Peninsula also supports some impressive chains of sand and coral islands, as well as one of the most productive freshwater aquifers in the world. WebSHALLOW DIVE SITES Shallow Reef Diving on South Florida Reefs The following sites are used primarily for training dives or for snorkeling siteswe do not regularly visit them. The nine ships along this Shipwreck Trail have many tales to tell, from the stories of individuals who came before us to why they were here and their difficulties in navigating these waters. Spiny lobsters, moray eels, and purple urchins like to live underneath the shelves hovering above the sea floor. Once you hit the beach, the sun-heated lava will take away any chill. With the bow resting on its port side in 85 feet of water and stern (still upright) in 60 feet, the wreck is the Bracs most coveted dive site. If given the chance, dive Dickys Place once in the day and then again at night. On Monday, June 17th, the E/V Nautilus explored the wreck of German U-boat U-2513. The jungle overhangs the lagoon, adding to its otherworldly nature. Scuba Diving Make It Happen Bilikiki Cruises (bilikiki.com), with both the Bilikiki and Spirit of the Solomons, regularly visits Mirror Pond. Shallow In 2006, the sunken aircraft carrier, nicknamed the Great Carrier Reef, was purposely sunk in 200ft (60m) of water. The Amesbury was built for military combat and is better known in Key West as Alexander's Wreck. Just a giant stride from the resorts dock, the house reef combines junkyard chic with critter heaven. Amoray Dive Resort: relaxation Key Largo style - See 1,605 traveler reviews, 1,142 candid photos, and great deals for Amoray Dive Resort at Tripadvisor. Floridas climate and coastal waters have claimed many sea vessels over the centuries. The famed Molasses Reef also lies within the sanctuarys boundaries. If youre claustrophobic and dont like the idea of enclosed spaces, Blue Grotto is probably your best bet. After a long military career, she was converted to be a transport. Keep an eye out, even in the shallows, for turtles, octopuses and eels. Some of the deeper sites require mooring to submerged buoys. The Panhandle is culturally and ecologically very distinct from the rest of the state. A merchant freighter, the Benwood was carrying cargo between Tampa, Florida and Norfolk, Virginia. While proper dive training is essential to enjoying these wrecks safely, they are all located at depths that novice and experienced divers alike can feel comfortable with. WebThe Florida Keys is home to the United States only living coral barrier reef, making it an ideal scuba diving destination. Toothy fish like barracuda and oceanic jacks have made these sites their home base. Aside from the tropical fish you would see anywhere else in the Gulf, spotted eagle rays and sharks are frequent visitors to the reef and to the shelf below. If youre a seasoned wreck diver, the interior of the ship poses a technical challenge worthy of your respect. Browse information and trips on PADI Travel and contact a PADI Dive Shop to start your next adventure. Make It Happen Dickys Place, on Garove island, is accessible only by live-aboard. Coral structures start anywhere from 35 feet all the way to the bottom at 115 feet of water on the oceanic side of the ledge. The Gulf Stream current often flows close to the shoreline bathing the coral reefs in clear, warm water. 10. places to scuba dive in Florida WebShallow Dive Pelagic Drift Dive Blue Heron Bridge Its impossible to talk about diving in Florida without mentioning Blue Heron Bridge. Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach. Its a relatively easy wreck to enter with the proper training. Each wreck has its own history, which sometimes includes being intentionally scuttled to create an artificial reef. While proper dive training is essential to enjoying these wrecks safely, they are all located at depths that novice and experienced divers alike can feel comfortable with. Wave surges can bounce you into shallow coral stands causing damage to the delicate organisms and leaving you with nasty, slow-healing cuts. Nearly two decades later, the City of Washington sank when the tug towing her ran aground. Swim-throughs, coral-encrusted pillars, plentiful reef fish and passing pelagics (including bull sharks) provide unrivaled photo opportunities for adventurers diving in Florida. Shallow diving offers two immediate benefits. Over 50% of diving accidents involve the use of alcohol. Many in-ground pools are 10 feet deep in the diving end. Though it seems like a rather unlikely dive site, situated along the Palm Beach intercoastal waterway and nearly underneath an overpass, this aquatic park routinely makes best of lists for the whole United States. The Adelaide Baker Another thing to note is the ease of access to most of these sites. In 25 feet of water east of Key Largo, the remains of the City of Washington lie on Elbow Reef. If you dont get the tigers, gangs of toothy, photogenic lemon sharks maraud the bait box, as well as reef sharks, shy nurse sharks and the occasional hammerhead. Kick back on South Marco Beach and immerse yourself in the warmth of the shallow waters. An experienced and rushed diver can see everything in one dive. Divemasters will tell you thats a sign youve ventured too close to their topside harem, but its often a temptation thats impossible to resist. Your boat comes with fresh drinking water and ice. Before sinking, the ships hatches were opened and the holds pumped full of water to sink the ship. A halocline, caused by the mixing of salt and fresh water, produces an eerie underwater effect complemented by the ethereal dancing of light on the ceiling as divers surface into the cavernous air pocket. Wandering from dive site to dive site should feel like hopping between aquariums, take your time and enjoy the colors of every self-contained climate. Written by Scuba Instructors ~ DIVEIN.coms Complete Guide to: Florida is an incredibly diverse state when it comes to scuba diving. Keith Tibbetts Wreck, formally known as the Russian Frigate (#356) 330-foot vessel that was sunk in September 1996 on Cayman Bracs north side. Plus, with depths from 6-25ft (2-8m), divers are granted even more time to explore the attractions here. Then it hits you: This is so much better than it was down deep. WebFlorida Springs are world renown for cave & cavern diving. In the rest of the guide we provide a cursory overview of the regions we grouped our dives by, and what kind of sites and conditions you can generally expect from them. Best shallow shipwreck of Florida Keys Review of Benwood wreck Reviewed August 19, 2014 If you are there mainly for the shipwreck you will not see much because there is not much left of the ship. As long as humans have been sailing the oceans, their ships have been sinking. We gave our Dive Team one job: The calm grassy bottom is a nursery for juvenile reef fish, where octopi, flounder, skates and rays hide in the sand. The site is a great option for people looking to avoid the crowds, and an awesome novelty dive when the minnows are in full season. Admit it, this has happened to you before: surfacing to a beautiful, shallow reef, but with only enough air for a three-minute safety stop, you spend your time regretting not coming up sooner. Scuba Diving in Florida And the easy-to-access openings to the barge house schools of snappers, grunts and camera-ready angelfish. The reef itself is down around 35 feet at the deepest. The Gulf Stream keeps the visibility high, and the ledge offers views of large pelagic fish you wouldnt normally see while diving. The hypnotic show becomes more apparent as we descend to a shallow dive site just 22 feet deep in Biscayne National Park. If you find a good deal on DIVEIN, you click to the retailer, and you buy the product, we get a commission of the sale. Seasoned wreck divers can penetrate the ships cavernous hold. Florida Dive Sites This caused an accident between the Benwood and another blacked out ship, the Tuttle. The dive was in water considerably more shallow than we are used to operating in, so light and murky conditions posed a unique challenge. Unlimited shore diving is included in the package. The shallow waters of the Dry Tortugas have lured hundreds of ships to their watery graves; now they lure divers keen on experiencing crystal-clear waters and relaxed diving. There are unmissable opportunities here, whether you are a technical wreck diver looking for a logistic challenge, or someone looking to book their first open water course. Spearing Florida Keys fish can be relatively easy or very challenging, depending on what youre going after. She was intentionally sank as an artificial reef on May 17, 2006. Its also a historically significant area, littered with century old shipwrecks and masonry. As you enter the successively darker chambers, your light may very well illuminate a dozen or more legs as your buddies float on the surface inside the large air pockets that top off each of the four. Yet just a few feet lower, the sponges and corals erupt in colorful reef displays. Another of the artificial reefs of the Keys, The Eagle is another example of how well placed aids can create spectacular reefs that rocks cant. SS Yongala, Great Barrier Reef, Australia 2. Two other great wrecks not to be missed are the former Coast Guard cutters Bibb and Duane. Please help protect the sites on the Shipwreck Trail, and all the sanctuarys maritime heritage resources, so that they may be enjoyed by future generations. Go Now Xibalba Hotel, xibalbadivecenter.com, Stingray City, Grand Cayman Meandering among the fingers of lava that flow down-slope, youll be treated to a unique seascape rich in life and surprises. If you listened to the briefing you probably left the macro lens on the boat and wont be able to shoot these little critters the star of this show has teeth larger than the biggest of these miniature crabs. If you check out the Spiegel Grove, be prepared to be met with large schools of jacks, silent stalking barracuda, the occasional bull shark, and as always large hulking goliath grouper. The wreck of the All Alone makes a good additional point of attraction for more experienced divers. Greater Ft. Lauderdale accounts for 23 miles in the middle of the tract and the largest number of dive sites, with over 100 reef and wreck sites. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, off of Key Largo, is an attraction for snorkelers and divers due to colorful reefs and offers plenty of the best scuba diving in the Florida Keys. In 1985, theRigs to Reefsprogram sank five decommissioned oil platforms off Hallandale Beach (between Fort Lauderdale and Miami). Most Keys reef divers log a maximum depth of 20 to 30 feet. Not too far away lies a navy ship known as the USS Alligator. Timed correctly, you can get in 90 to 120 minutes of diving, depending upon conditions and your air consumption (which, at these depths, is likely not an issue). At Los Islotes, a colony of friendly and curious sea lions include visitors in an impromptu ballet performance often involving extreme audience interaction. Action continues throughout the day, so its all a matter of enjoying the first two-hour dive, popping up for a water break and tank change, then heading back down again. Measuring ten stories high and nearly two football fields long, highlights of this structure include the crows nest, part of the smokestack, and a weather balloon hangar at the stern. The most interesting thing about this site is how quiet and tranquil it can feel in comparison to busier, more traditional reefs. Stay away from the shallow coralline areas when it becomes choppy. A hurricane destroyed the entire fleet after they left Havana with additional passengers and cargo. Whether youre a novice diver who wants to see as much as they can while staying as close to the surface as possible, or a grizzled tech pro looking to explore insides of the largest artificial reef in the world, the Florida peninsula offers ample opportunities for every experience level. Find the best and most popular Dive Sites in Florida. Its a flourishing patch reef mixed with eelgrasses hosting a healthy assortment of juvenile reef fish, all in under 30 feet. The site takes its name from an amazing swim through that fills nearly completely up with Atlantic Silverside minnows during the summer. Economist Turned Conservationist Muditha Katuwawala Named May Sea Hero. Florida Roatan, Honduras. Here you go, now you should be all set for your next dive trip to Florida. This is how we pay ourselves. Key West diving also offers a great rarity for divers: a shallow wreck dive. Diving Spanish Anchor is a great place to get close to the coral. Some of the wrecks are in as little as 25 ft of water. WebNavy divers were sent from Key West to study and report on the wreck. It now sits upright in 115 ft (35 m) of water about 3.5 nautical miles (6 km) west of Looe Keys main dive sites. Benwood wreck: Decent shallow wreck dive - See 303 traveler reviews, 37 candid photos, and great deals for Key Largo, FL, at Tripadvisor. More, The Eagle Sea fans, sponges and soft corals reach almost to the surface. Florida WebThe iconic Florida Keys wreck dive, the Spiegel Grove, has been a must dive for Advanced Divers, Wreck Divers, and the occasional Open Water diver (if conditions are perfect) since the ship was sank in 2002 as part of an Artificial Reef project in the National Marine Sanctuary. Crews were unable to lift her off the ocean floor and decided to leave here where she now rests. The most prominent feature of this reef is a 15 foot tall reef ledge which rises dramatically from the sandy floor below. The underwater sculptures are made of sustainable concrete and cast from real people. Benwood wreck: Decent shallow wreck dive - See 303 traveler reviews, 37 candid photos, and great deals for Key Largo, FL, at Tripadvisor. If dive sites were judged purely by diversity, Ten Fathom Ledge would be at the top of this list. WebSouth Florida Diving 101 N. Riverside Dr. Suite 111 Pompano Beach, FL 33062 Phone: (800) 771-DIVE (3483) (Toll Free in U.S.) Phone: +1 (954) 783-2299 (Outside U.S.) E-mail: info@southfloridadiving.com Ginnie Springs also offers opportunities for real cave diving if you have the proper training. In the sand, youll sometimes find rays and flounders, seahorses, blennies and little eels; the shallows are well covered in turtle grass, which provides safe haven for jawfish. Diving Konas stair-step entry guides divers immediately into the rutted undersea lavascape at famous Honaunau Bay, home to some of Hawaiis most extensive shallow-water coral reefs. Pups in particular enjoy engaging neoprene-clad voyeurs, though the adults often join in the fun. However, the shallow dives are a special scuba experience in South Florida. The 911ft-long vessel now draws marine life and underwater photographers for its photogenic topography. Our reefs are all teaming with fish life. But what an amazing set of cannons it is. Wreck Dive: U-2513 Revealed Fujikawa Maru, Truk Lagoon, Micronesia Depth: 5 35 m Micronesia is one of the most popular liveaboard wreck diving destinations and the Fujikawa in Truk Lagoon is a great place to start. Its hard to tell which part of the Cayman Salvager is more interesting, the 187 feet of artificial reef in a little less than 90 feet of high visibility water, or the story of how it got there. Copyright 2023 Scuba Diving. Though it served many purposes, the former buoy tender is most famous for playing a role in the Mariel boatlift. Scuba Diving Options The Amesbury was an escort for destroyers in World War II. Whether its just a stop along your dive trip, or the focal point of your adventure, the Panhandle is not to be missed. The MV Capt. Crystal clear waters and easy access also make this destination a great choice for beginners. Inshore Dives Go Now Tufi Dive Resort, tufidive.com, Critter Corner, St. Vincent The dive itself is great, but what makes this place special is its proximity to other good beginner dive sites. Despite its reputation as a seaside paradise, the Florida aquifer is an absolutely massive network groundwater that feeds into over 750 springs across the peninsula. Take a look at all 20 sites to Dive in Florida. The American Red Cross recommends a minimum of 9 feet of water depth for head first dives including dives from pool decks. Florida Scuba Diving may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The shallower the better in two of Riviera Mayas most picturesque cenotes. Shallow Dives Game fish like wahoo, on the other hand, can be fast-moving targets. There are dives from the first and largest of the islands, Key Largo, running all the way down the island chain to Key West and the southernmost tip of the U.S. and west deeper into the Gulf on Dry Tortuga. The protected, sunlit canyons feature healthy coral growth and a veritable aquarium of Hawaiian reef fish. Devils Den, Blue Grotto, and Ginnie Springs all offer a relatively similar experience diving in caverns filled with water from underground aquifers. But thats only one reason why Hog Heaven, off Palm Beach, is a divers favorite while scuba diving in Florida. Diving By submitting above, you agree to Scuba Diving's privacy policy. Known for its wide white sand beaches, seagrass dune habitats, and wide brackish estuaries, here the natural beauty of the Gulf of Mexico is shown in its best light. Wreck The pilings themselves attract all manner of larger fish from snappers to barracuda. Typically these are very good places to explore if you are a new diver, or if you have interest in another of Floridas unique diving experiences. Sites like Dickys Place in Papua New Guinea (10 feet) or Two Steps in Hawaii (20 feet) along with 18 others offer hours of diving pleasure at safety-stop depths. Go Now Buddy Dive Dominica, www.buddydivedominica.com, Edithburgh Jetty, Australia Florida Keys Wreck Guide PADI Instructor Tom guided our divers this morning at the Hannah M. Bell and Acorn Shipwrecks. The shallow water can be a great opportunity for nitrox divers to get some serious bottom time. WebDives are geared to satisfy both the beginner and the advanced diver. Visitors are encouraged to explore the sites along the trail. Its the ultimate drift dive in a totally alien environment, who would have guessed that they could look over underwater and see birds darting by, or even a lumbering manatee. When you hear the words Prehistoric Sinkhole the first thing that comes to mind probably isnt that it would be a great place to dive. Running southwest off of the southernmost point of Florida south of Miami are the Florida Keys. At two miles in length and ranging in depth from 60 to 90 feet, this is a dive for people with some experience handling deep water and strong currents. The Duane sits upright on the sandy bottom at 120 feet offering nearly 70 feet of relief. Parrotfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, rays, starfish, octopus, and more can be seen in water averaging six to 10 feet deep, with maximum depths of 20 feet. When you think of Florida, you probably imagine crowded beaches and the routine bustle of Miami nightlife. Shipwreck uncovered in Daytona Beach Shores being investigated The wreck is one of 11 Florida underwater archaeological preserves; it became the state's fifth shipwreck preserve in June 1994 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. While there are options for any skill level essentially across the state, what youll see and the conditions you can expect vary widely from the Gulf to the Atlantic. Be sure to match your planned dive with your abilities. Feel free to charter the boat for your group if these sites appeal to your needs! Discovering the Wonders of Mexico's Cenotes for the First Time, Apeks Announces New DSX Technical Dive Computer, How Marine Animals Are Playing a Vital Role in Saving Our Planet. Blue Heron Bridge is host to an abundance of tropical life in all stages of development. Situated in theFlorida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the spur-and-groove reef is home to 600+ species of corals and critters. One of the final acts that triggered the Spanish-American War was the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. Lying upside down off the coast of Fort Lauderdale in around 70 feet of water is the scuttled wreck of a barge known as Hog Heaven. Its relatively calm and shallow waters harbor a wide variety of brightly colored blennies and small crustaceans. best shipwrecks to scuba dive Pick a destination or scroll down to read the entire list: 1. These 5 shallow shipwrecks have become homes for numerous sea animals as well as destinations for divers drawn to history. Scuba Diving On Florida's Gulf Coast Sarasota. Key West Spearfishing Dive sites consist of shallow reefs, deep reefs, drift dives, and wreck dives. The dives in and around this park range from beginner snorkeling on shallow reefs to advanced drift dives on the edge of the Gulf Stream in 100 feet or more of water with currents in excess of two knots. WebKey West, Florida is such an amazing place to visit for awesome scuba diving right off the coast. Travel time to the dive sites is normally 30-45 minutes. Two thousand years ago, King Herod built the city of Caesarea; today you can dive its ruins. The depth of the wreck and its proximity to Gulf Stream currents can make this a challenging dive, and is best left for divers with some experience. Hidden tunnels and grottoes await the adventurous diver. CoCo View Resort House Reef Sri Lankan conservationists group mobilizes and educates volunteers to address marine environment concerns in his home country. DIVEIN.com was founded in 2009 by the two brothers Torben and Nicolai. The quality of the coral here has been compared to that of more tropical areas, and definitely is at the top of the class for the Lauderdale area. Popping from one chamber to the next, divers progress deeper into the cave system to experience the Zen-like tranquility of waters completely cut off from current or sunlight, and filled with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. The San Pedro, a member of the 1733 Spanish treasure fleet caught by a hurricane in the Straits of Florida, sank in 18 feet of water one mile south of Indian Key. Invertebrates like octopus blend into the rubble, alongside cleverly disguised stone fish and seahorses. Make It Happen Stuart Coves (stuartcoves.com) offers Tiger Beach dives year-round from Old Bahama Bay Resort (oldbahama bay.com) on Grand Bahamas West End. Located 22 miles south of Pensacola is theUSS Oriskany. WebIn the Florida Keys, much reef diving is shallow, easy diving. SHALLOW DIVING Fish, birds, and turtles are as common here as in marine environments, but thats where the familiarity stops. Within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary lies a trail of historic shipwrecks, scattered along the coral reefs and buried in the sandy shallows a few miles off shore. Shipwreck uncovered in Daytona Beach Shores being investigated Dive boats often visit the shallow wreck, which is popular with local scuba divers and snorkelers. Disturbance and removal of artifacts is prohibited. All of the dive sites we visit are accessed by boat. WebUSS Spiegel Grove Wreck (LSD-32) A Florida Keys diving trip wouldnt be complete without stopping by the USS Spiegel Grove wreck. Florida And dont be surprised to find an octopus or two patrolling the sand. Its also another one of those wrecks whose position has changed dramatically with the pushing of storm currents. Three are within recreational limits (60-130ft/18-40m), while two are reserved for technical divers (around 200ft/60m deep). Another great option forshore divingon the Panhandle, the three reefs inside Navarre Beach Sanctuary require a manageable swim to reach, but are certainly worth the effort. Be on the lookout for the occasional turtle that will drift by, and reef sharks cruising off in the distance. Barracuda Reef is a great open water dive for newer divers, and another great shallow site to stop by if you have boat access. The man-made structures display the full food chain from juvenile fish to the full-grown pelagic fish, so its a favorite spot for fishermen and divers alike.