Scuba Diving in Florida
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Destination Highlights
Scuba Dive Level
All Levels
Visibility
25 to 100 feet (8 to 30 meters)
Average Water Temperature
80
Wreck Diving
Stunning Reefs & Corals
Author
Katie Yonker
Katie is the most experienced travel advisor at Bluewater Travel, having been with the company since its inception. Her interest in scuba diving started many years ago while on vacation in the British Virgin Islands. Though not yet certified, she was mesmerized by the marine life below the surface. As soon as she returned to Los Angeles, she swapped her mask and snorkel for a regulator and BCD (and a mountain of other dive equipment) and hasn't looked back since!
Katie is no stranger to the Southern California waters, but prefers to travel around the world and experience new cultures, food, and marine environments. She has visited and led trips to many of the top liveaboard destinations. Her most memorable dive moment was swimming 20 feet from humpback whales off the coast of Moorea. At the top of the list for her next dive vacation: Alor.
When she's not in the office, you're likely to find Katie attending a concert in LA, snowboarding at Mammoth, attending to Sadie, or cheering on her alma mater, The Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue!
Katie's Underwater Camera Setup:
Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II with Nauticam housing. Olympus M.Zuiko ED 9-18mm lens with Nauticam 4" wide-angle port. Panasonic Lumix 8mm fisheye lens with Zen 170mm dome port. Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm lens with Nauticam macro port 65, with Bluewater +7 macro lens. Dual Sea&Sea YS-D2 strobes. Light & Motion Sola 800 photo light.
Scuba Diving in Florida Reviews
bevcollins
VENICE BEACH FLORIDA DIVING REVIEWA very different dive plan! Dive from the beach or take a charter from one of the local dive shops to collect fossilized shark teeth. You will find the most teeth and other fossils such as inner ear bones of whales, dugong rib bones, giant ground sloth bones, mastadon molars, turtle shell, and prehistoric horse teeth when you reach 21 feet of water from the shore line. The Venice Beach Pier makes a nice reference point as the end of the pier is about the right depth. You can park at the county park near the pier and use the boardwalk to access the beach. This treck is not for the deconditioned as the walk is long carrying tanks. I gave only two stars for marine life because it is sparse. You might see sea horses, scallops (but don't take in this area), sea robins, and jelly fish. Many "empty" shells contain small octopus so do be careful when fanning the sea floor for teeth. You will not see a coral reef. I recomend purchasing a fine mesh bag with velcro to store your finds and a paperback fossil book so that you know what you might find in Florida. I only gave conditions 2 stars because visiblity if very unpredictable. Winds kick up the silt in this shallow gulf area very easily. Top side the beaches are wide and there are a lot of restaurants and hotels to fit any budget.
Read Morebevcollins
VENICE BEACH FLORIDA DIVING REVIEWA very different dive plan! Dive from the beach or take a charter from one of the local dive shops to collect fossilized shark teeth. You will find the most teeth and other fossils such as inner ear bones of whales, dugong rib bones, giant ground sloth bones, mastadon molars, turtle shell, and prehistoric horse teeth when you reach 21 feet of water from the shore line. The Venice Beach Pier makes a nice reference point as the end of the pier is about the right depth. You can park at the county park near the pier and use the boardwalk to access the beach. This treck is not for the deconditioned as the walk is long carrying tanks. I gave only two stars for marine life because it is sparse. You might see sea horses, scallops (but don't take in this area), sea robins, and jelly fish. Many "empty" shells contain small octopus so do be careful when fanning the sea floor for teeth. You will not see a coral reef. I recomend purchasing a fine mesh bag with velcro to store your finds and a paperback fossil book so that you know what you might find in Florida. I only gave conditions 2 stars because visiblity if very unpredictable. Winds kick up the silt in this shallow gulf area very easily. Top side the beaches are wide and there are a lot of restaurants and hotels to fit any budget.
Read Morelyow
BLUE HERON BRIDGE DIVING REVIEWThis is my all time favorite "beach" dive. It is also the easiest beach dive I have ever gone on! At Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach, Florida. You are inside the intracoastal waterway, there are no waves. Max depth is 18 ft at a really high tide. Average is 14ft. Walk from your car to the waters edge is 40 ft. No stairs. This dive is only done about 1 hr before high tide to 1 hr after high tide during daylight hours. Otherwise the currents make the visibility horrible. This muck dive has so much to offer. I have seen spotted eagle rays in 3 ft of water, sea horses, flying guinards, red lipped bat fish, sea stars, octopus, fire worms, nudibranches, crabs, lobsters, eels, sargent majors, shrimp, spotted drums, and a whole host of other critters. This is muck diving so try not to stir up the bottom. By Florida law you have to drag around a dive flag., but you do dive very close to an active boat channel. Showers and bathrooms are available. Night diving is only allowed when a local dive shop sponsors the parking passes. Neighborhood around the park can be sketchy. Definitely rent a car. Lodging is available in West Palm Beach or Singer Island. Dive shops are available on either end of the bridge. Even if vis is 10 ft it is worth the dive.
Read Morelyow
BLUE HERON BRIDGE DIVING REVIEWThis is my all time favorite "beach" dive. It is also the easiest beach dive I have ever gone on! At Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach, Florida. You are inside the intracoastal waterway, there are no waves. Max depth is 18 ft at a really high tide. Average is 14ft. Walk from your car to the waters edge is 40 ft. No stairs. This dive is only done about 1 hr before high tide to 1 hr after high tide during daylight hours. Otherwise the currents make the visibility horrible. This muck dive has so much to offer. I have seen spotted eagle rays in 3 ft of water, sea horses, flying guinards, red lipped bat fish, sea stars, octopus, fire worms, nudibranches, crabs, lobsters, eels, sargent majors, shrimp, spotted drums, and a whole host of other critters. This is muck diving so try not to stir up the bottom. By Florida law you have to drag around a dive flag., but you do dive very close to an active boat channel. Showers and bathrooms are available. Night diving is only allowed when a local dive shop sponsors the parking passes. Neighborhood around the park can be sketchy. Definitely rent a car. Lodging is available in West Palm Beach or Singer Island. Dive shops are available on either end of the bridge. Even if vis is 10 ft it is worth the dive.
Read Morebnhamlin
SOUTH BEACH, FLORIDA DIVING REVIEWSouth Beach diving may not seem as sexy as many of the south seas locations, however if you want variety and easy diving access it is ideal. Known as the "Wreckreational" capitol because of its 35+ wrecks creating marvelous artificial reefs all along the south Florida coast line. Vast fields of Gorgonias, schools of rays, goliath groupers of Pleistocene proportions, are all the "regular" fare at most of the wrecks. Other pelagics often swing by in different seasons (lemon sharks, black tip reef, etc...). Wrecks vary in depth (60' to 270') and skill level so there is something for every diver at every level. Great macro opportunities since the wrecks all lie on a nice sandy bottom with relatively good visibility allow for easy shot set up with clean backgrounds. Boat captains are all well versed in the wrecks and the different wildlife that inhabits each. This is a great vacation spot for groups with all levels of dive experience and even those non-diver types.
Read Morebnhamlin
SOUTH BEACH, FLORIDA DIVING REVIEWSouth Beach diving may not seem as sexy as many of the south seas locations, however if you want variety and easy diving access it is ideal. Known as the "Wreckreational" capitol because of its 35+ wrecks creating marvelous artificial reefs all along the south Florida coast line. Vast fields of Gorgonias, schools of rays, goliath groupers of Pleistocene proportions, are all the "regular" fare at most of the wrecks. Other pelagics often swing by in different seasons (lemon sharks, black tip reef, etc...). Wrecks vary in depth (60' to 270') and skill level so there is something for every diver at every level. Great macro opportunities since the wrecks all lie on a nice sandy bottom with relatively good visibility allow for easy shot set up with clean backgrounds. Boat captains are all well versed in the wrecks and the different wildlife that inhabits each. This is a great vacation spot for groups with all levels of dive experience and even those non-diver types.
Read More