Who has the better diving and WHY? Miami vs. Ft Lauderdale

[Glock Diver]

Agree with alot of the posts here. Palm Beach Co. does have some great diving; I've dived Boca all the way up to Jupiter, and never had a "bad" dive. Good point about the drift diving. I don't leave the boat unattended. We'll be joined by a couple other dive buddies, so we usually do 2 down/2 up when possible. I've also done a bit of diving off Broward Co, which I thought was pretty comparable to Palm Beach. BUT, I've yet to dive out of Miami. Just wondering if I've been missing anything.

My friend has hotel connections in both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale (i.e. FREE place to stay), so that's why these 2 destinations are being considered.

 

[crd_kats]

To be more accurate, let's say Miami-Dade vs. Broward. Which has the better diving and why?

Here on ScubaBoard, I hear more about diving in the Ft. Lauderdale area, but maybe that's because there are more members from that area? I have a friend coming down for a long weekend in October, and she's trying to decide which city to stay in. We'd primarily be diving from my boat, doing reefs and wrecks. Thanks for the input!

Ok, you've been given some very good points on whether Dade or Broward.. now the question is: What's friend looking for in the City? Let's say you're based in Broward, why would friend stay in Dade unless he/she's willing to rent a car and travel to you and maybe he/she want's to hit the night clubs afterwards?

 

[crd_kats]

Agree with alot of the posts here. Palm Beach Co. does have some great diving; I've dived Boca all the way up to Jupiter, and never had a "bad" dive. Good point about the drift diving. I don't leave the boat unattended. We'll be joined by a couple other dive buddies, so we usually do 2 down/2 up when possible. I've also done a bit of diving off Broward Co, which I thought was pretty comparable to Palm Beach. BUT, I've yet to dive out of Miami. Just wondering if I've been missing anything.

My friend has hotel connections in both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale (i.e. FREE place to stay), so that's why these 2 destinations are being considered.

There's the answer to my question, thanks. However, it's a good 1 hour and 45 min for me (from Miami) to drive to Boynton to dive. Is your friend willing to do that?

 

[DebbyDiver]

Why not spend a couple days in both destinations?

 

[Glock Diver]

There's the answer to my question, thanks. However, it's a good 1 hour and 45 min for me (from Miami) to drive to Boynton to dive. Is your friend willing to do that?

No, that's wasted time that could be spent in the water! A day trip to Key Largo, however, is in the plans. (It's on her Must-Dive list).


Not looking for any nightlife this trip. We're divers, which means we're broke! And it's hard to get up at 6am with a hangover...

 

[Jupiter31]

The question was: who has better diving?

A - Broward

or

B - Dade??

Options for answering with C and D weren't given.

Oh, and BTW, most of MY good GPS numbers are in Dade County if that influences your decision, hint hint

Su Su Su Sorrrrrry

Jupiter sucks IMHO - or at least based on where I went.... there's a few decent sites - but it's mostly dusty and too deep to be appreciated for a full day...

Hole In the Wall is ok during aggregation - certainly an advanced dive. Everything just seemed patchy... Never had a dive up there blow my skirt up to warrant an excited return trip, and the current is always blowing steady to make any wreck dive spotty

Then you have not gone to the "right" spots - the "Hole" can be a world class dive, but its deep (135') and would not be #1 b/c it can be hit or miss - literaly

Tunnels, Cap't Mikes, Area 51, Spadefish, and some others are really great - I suspect you have not been at these sites, but urge you to go - they are really fantastic.

I do agree that the wrecks in Jupiter - except when the goliath grouper aggregation happens - well, there are better wrecks in Dade and Broward

The wrecks in PB, Broward (and sometimes Dade - but not as often) - should be done as "hot drops" and not anchored; so you need a boat driver as well as someone who knows what they are doing so the divers don't miss the wreck.

 

[Jupiter31]

There's the answer to my question, thanks. However, it's a good 1 hour and 45 min for me (from Miami) to drive to Boynton to dive. Is your friend willing to do that?

Carmen, you gotta start using I 95 vs US 1

From Coconut Grove to Boynton, takes me +/- 50 mins - to the place Brian does not want me to mention (Jupiter) - 1.20/1.30 tops :shocked2: (from your house be a few min's less)

 

[Chugwhump]

Why no mention of Tigertail?
Chug
!@#$% &*(

 

[Splitlip]

Jupiter sucks IMHO - or at least based on where I went.... there's a few decent sites - but it's mostly dusty and too deep to be appreciated for a full day...

How can you say that? Uninformed comment in my opinion.

Dusty?!?! I am guessing you pulled your own boat over and were on the deep sand?

I had a video for "Spadefish", which was one of the dives I did yesterday. Explosive color, but I can't get it loaded.

This link though gives an idea of the options. Plenty of dives in shallow water. I've done 4 a day.

Local Reef's:: Scuba diving lessons at a PADI 5 Star facility, daily scuba diving trips in  Jupiter, Florida.

 

[Chugwhump]

Splitlip vs Netmage!
Catfight!

I think Splitlips' kitty looks meaner.
Netmage's kitty however has that pink accenting that typically defeats all comers.

Chug


Oh man...I may be in trouble now.....