What is diving southeastern Florida like?

[Lee Taylor]

I traveled to Boynton Beach Florida twice this past dive season. I found the diving there to be excellent, in my opinion. It suited me just fine. Very short boat ride, excellent dive boats, captains, and crew, 80 feet of blue water only 2 miles offshore, mountainous reefs, lots of sealife.

Was wondering about the diving in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.

Descriptions and comments appreciated.

 

[DebbyDiver]

It's pretty damn awesome. I moved here 30 years ago for the diving and have yet to get bored. Broward County is the only place in the continental US where you can walk off the beach and swim to a live coral reef. There are many of us who kayak dive in the area as well.

My favorite local boat is Sea Experience.

Come on down and enjoy, we have world class diving!

 

[Lee Taylor]

Well I think so also Debby, but Jupiter, West Palm, and Boynton are the only places I have dove. I heard Boynton was "good" before I tried it, and I was not disappointed.

Thank you for your positive comment on Fort Lauderdale.

Walk-ins and Kayaks are cool but I am a very avid boat diver. Nothing against the other its just I an very use to diving from boats.

 

[Jupiter31]

Its great - I think Boynton has the best reefs in FL - but my favorite place to dive is Jupiter. Overall my favorite place is Palm Beach county.

Miami is also good; excellent for wrecks.

 

[diveprof]

Lauderdale to Jupiter - some of the best warm East coast diving. Wide variety o0f fish life. Jupiter is my fav though, well maybe, W. Palm, then there is Boward Co.....
It's all good! Best non-reef shore dive in the area - Blue Heron Bridge.

 

[Lee Taylor]

Tks Jupiter 31. I like wrecks so that is a good reason to plan on diving Miami.

I dont live there so I dont understand what you mean by Palm Beach County. When you say Palm Beach County are u speaking of a walk-in or a boat dive? I am not looking at a map so are you speaking of a particular town?

Funny thing.... I like Boynton better than Jupiter

 

[Lee Taylor]

Thanks Diveprof.... When you refer to Boward county are u speaking of walk-ins?

 

[diveprof]

Yeah, shore stuff. 'cuse the spelling, I meant Broward. Still, I like diving on the Narcosis out of west palm beach as he (Van) does Jupiter, West Palm and points a bit south (Horseshoe, Paul's ). No hand holding on this boat though. He respects experienced divers and will let you take your own flag. My favs are the Corridor (Mizpah, PC, China Barge and multiple wrecks in a single drift dive with penetration opportunities and multiple Goliath Groupers), Area 51 (sharks, sharks), Juno Ledge (sharks, goliath groupers), Capt. Kurl, N. Breakers, Pauls and Horseshoe. Turtles on all. Jupiter is the only true "wall type" diving in SE Florida. Last trip was 4 dives a day, nitrox 34-36 on all, hour long dives. Lauderdale has nice wrecks -capt. dan, Jim Atria, and others.

 

[DebbyDiver]

Walk-ins and Kayaks are cool but I am a very avid boat diver. Nothing against the other its just I an very use to diving from boats.

Gotcha, but if you think about my comments, it's another way of saying that the reefs are not real far offshore like they are in, say, Key Largo. :blinking:

 

[Lee Taylor]

Thanks for the recommendation DiveProf. I looked at the Narcosis website. Looks like a good outfit to me. Nice boat! The stern looks extremely heavy in the photo. May be hauling some unnecessary water. (I looked again, I think its my imagination) Will put them on the list. (long time ago I used the Scuba Club and Abernathy's)

Here is the link in case others want to have a look:

West Palm Beach Dive Trips with Narcosis Dive Charters

I have been diving Jupiter for many years. I don't recall seeing anything that resembled a "wall" or had a title that suggested a wall. That sounds like a dive site that I have not found yet. Which dive boat goes to the "wall"? I usually use Jupiter Dive Center. If they go there, then I was not on the boat that particular day.

Which dive boat or dive shop is Capt Dan and Jim Atria with in Lauderdale? (I like wrecks, reefs, ledges, fossil beds, and drifts)

Thank you for all the references.

ps: I like taking my own flag. Makes for a MUCH better dive in my opinion because you are not constantly occupied with following the flag carrier. It also makes a controlled ascent MUCH easier.