Tank PM Shallow Reef/Wreck Dive Trip Most Keys reef divers log a maximum depth of 20 to 30 feet. She now lies intact and upright on a sand bottom in 120 feet of water four miles south of Marathon and Key Colony Beach. All rights reserved. Dry Tortugas National Park is a cluster of islands in the Gulf of Mexico 70 miles from Key West. The easy-to-access first chamber, partially illuminated by sunlight from outside the entrance, provides an introduction. 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. Keep an eye out, even in the shallows, for turtles, octopuses and eels. More, Frequently Asked Questions about Submerged Cultural Resources (pdf, 138 kb), Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Maritime Heritage, Fathoming Our Past, the Historical Contexts of the National Marine Sanctuaries (pdf, 9.7 Mb), Frequently Asked Questions about Submerged Cultural Resources, Fathoming Our Past, the Historical Contexts of the National Marine Sanctuaries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Make It Happen Jacks Diving Locker (jacksdivinglocker.com) can give you a map (for a self-guided dive) or include it as part of a multiple-dive boat trip. Read on for 16 dive sites that promise some of the best scuba diving in Florida for beginners and experienced divers alike. All of the dive sites we visit are accessed by boat. The deeper waters are bountiful enough, but several dives can be spent just in the warm, clear shallows particularly the few feet of water bordering a field of sea grass. The Benwood Wreck has excellent day and night diving all year long. More, The Duane
Devils Den, Blue Grotto, and Ginnie Springs all offer a relatively similar experience diving in caverns filled with water from underground aquifers. These 5 shallow shipwrecks have become homes for numerous sea animals as well as destinations for divers drawn to history. The Amesbury was built for military combat and is better known in Key West as Alexander's Wreck. What if you spent your entire dive in the shallows? 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. Many in-ground pools are 10 feet deep in the diving end. Big sponges sway gently from any rocky surface. The reef itself is down around 35 feet at the deepest. From pristine, shallow coral reefs to epic wreck dives, the Keys offers something for every level of diver.There are plenty of shallow dives sites that can be enjoyed by both snorkelers and divers and each year thousands of divers flock However, Blue Heron Bridge, located off Riviera Beach, is the prime location for all of the smallest of treasures and some of the best diving in Florida. 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. It does not make the product pricier for you. The Panhandle is also the home of the Shipwreck Trail mentioned earlier in the guide, as well as the celebrated USS Oriskany. 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. She was intentionally sank as an artificial reef on May 17, 2006. With walls on both sides, these coral hallways twist about, with chance encounters at every turn. Make It Happen Sams Tours (samstours.com) offers Chandelier Caves as the third dive of the day for $40 extra. Hidden tunnels and grottoes await the adventurous diver. WebKey Largo dubs itself the Dive Capital of the World , and yes, it is home to some of the most renown dive sites in the Florida Keys. Its hard to say whichFlorida Keyhas thebestdiving. Though technically a cave, operators routinely bring open-water divers to what is considered an intermediate site. Crews were unable to lift her off the ocean floor and decided to leave here where she now rests. In 25 feet of water east of Key Largo, the remains of the City of Washington lie on Elbow Reef. Go Now Xibalba Hotel, xibalbadivecenter.com, Stingray City, Grand Cayman Copyright 2023 Scuba Diving. The reef lives in waters as shallow as five feet and as deep as 50 feet. Make It Happen Phil Foster Park provides parking and a convenient entry point for day diving, so call up your buddy and head over (after checking tide tables). Dive into the earth to experience an exhilarating adventure. Cuarenta Canones (40 Cannons) The protected reef boasts at least 189 fish species, according to local surveys. With a hard bottom of 20 feet, crystal-clear waters and 340 sunny days a year, youre almost guaranteed prime viewing conditions as the vividly striped tiger sharks hit the site. Those who look into crevices might be rewarded with the occasional octopus. Meeting the Wreck. The Eagle lies on her starboard side in 110 feet of water three miles northeast of Alligator Reef Light. But its theChrist of the Abyssdive site that is worth mentioning. 5 Riviera Maya Land of The cenotes. With every 6-day unlimited tank package, enjoy 5 boat dives for the price of 3 - a. Max depth of 40 feet makes this a great entry level dive, This end of Molasses Reef gets passing pelagic life, Sharks have been known to frequent the area, Among the best drift dives in the Miami area, Depth and strong current makes this best for advanced divers, Overhangs and crevices contain a great abundance of life, Great site for intermediate and advanced divers, Opportunity to see a wide variety of life, Bonus wreck dive for more advanced divers, Good opportunity to practice navigation and night dives, Abundant small oceanic life and invertebrates, Good beginner site with straightforward navigation, Top of the reef is still visible to snorkelers, Convoluted ledges means theres plenty of room for exploration, Three shallow shore dive sites present the opportunity for an all day adventure, Clear calm water and sites that are relatively close to shore, One of the most famous swim throughs in the Keys, Great dive for beginners looking for something different. The USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) also known as The Great Carrier Reef is a 904ft long US Navy aircraft carrier. You can see why this is known by many as the best scuba diving in Florida. Today, it attracts a healthy population of marine life from shimmering schools of silversides to massive grouper lurking in its shadows. 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. When youre diving here be prepared for hidden surprises. WebWreck diving is also available. USS Kittiwake, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 7. As you move from patch to patch, you can search the grasses and smaller rocks for brightly colored juvenile reef fish. Fins, hoods and danglies are all fair game for fun-loving sea lions that spin, somersault and playfully attack in the shallow waters at the islands edge. Named for the cargo it was carrying when it sank in Key West, the Tile Wreck is in extremely shallow water, resting only 5-15 feet below the surface so you can reach down and touch it. Spearing Florida Keys fish can be relatively easy or very challenging, depending on what youre going after. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. A second shipwreck has been uncovered in Daytona Beach Shores after the area suffered severe erosion during both hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Massive goliath groupers hover in open compartments. Sunk in 1990, its down around 90 to 110 feet. Diving Most Keys reef divers log a maximum depth of 20 to 30 feet. SHALLOW DIVING Scuttling crabs, cucumbers, and mindless pink meanies and moon jellyfish arent difficult to find. The eight-day trip, offered in late June, is priced at $1,795 for a standard room. 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. Maxing out at just over 20 feet during high tide, this site is divable only during slack tide. Good mixed environment dive, opportunity to see a lot of life! Ocean depths from the shoreline to the reef rarely reach 20 feet. Jellyfish are in the area seasonally, so be sure to cover up and watch beware when relevant. Travel time to the dive sites is normally 30-45 minutes. Scuba Diving may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. WebNavy divers were sent from Key West to study and report on the wreck. If you want a truly unique dive experience that emphasizes a diverse ecosystem in an atypical diving environment, Rainbow River may be the place youre looking for. WebThe wreck is a short boat ride from The Cayman Salvage Master, and the relatively shallow depth (19 metres/65 feet) make Joes Tug a popular second/afternoon dive. Imagine floating slowly toward a wreck through a cloud of dish sized moon jellies, and turning corners to be met with massive monochrome tarpon. Key Largo reefs and wrecks along with the cleanest and clearest water of the Florida Keys are a fish watchers Dream dive destination. Florida Depth: 80-95ft Sri Lankan conservationists group mobilizes and educates volunteers to address marine environment concerns in his home country. Key Largo Dive Sites Two other great wrecks not to be missed are the former Coast Guard cutters Bibb and Duane. On one head alone, a large colony of Paguritta coral crabs has taken over former wormholes. It wouldnt be a stretch to call Emerald Reef one of the best beginner dive sites in Florida. This shallow wreck is a popular dive site for divers of all experience levels. Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. 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.