Delray Beach Dive Questions

[zuzanne]

I want to do an easy check out beach dive to get familiar with some new dive gear and understand that there is a wreck at the South end of Delray Beach about 150 yards out. I could use some advice from anyone who has done this beach dive. Need to know where to park for the easiest access to the site, and some basic idea of just where off the beach to find the wreck. Is there any other reef structure to see in the area? Other than boat traffic any other things we need to watch out for? We will also be diving off the beach at Lauderdale by the Sea, but want to try the Delray site as its closer to where we live.

Thanks,
Zuzanne

 

[scubadiverjunkie]

Well I don't know the Delray area at all, but I have dove the Lauderdale by the Sea numerous times....it's great for a very easy beach swim and usually has some good marine life (angels, turtles, nurse) - and catch a good day you can have great vis as well. Lauderdale by the Sea is an excellent "GET WET" spot.

 

[Scubakevdm]

I want to do an easy check out beach dive to get familiar with some new dive gear and understand that there is a wreck at the South end of Delray Beach about 150 yards out. I could use some advice from anyone who has done this beach dive. Need to know where to park for the easiest access to the site, and some basic idea of just where off the beach to find the wreck. Is there any other reef structure to see in the area? Other than boat traffic any other things we need to watch out for? We will also be diving off the beach at Lauderdale by the Sea, but want to try the Delray site as its closer to where we live.

Thanks,
Zuzanne

You can park on A1A. The way I find it is to line up a stop light with the side of a building. I think it would be alot easier to show it to you than to try to explain it on the board, especially if you live nearby. There is also a debris field that's kinda cool off of Gulfstream Park, another wreck in Manalapan, and the Blue Heron Bridge. Those are the beach dives. The reef proper is about 3/4 of a mile offshore here and is sensational but requires a boat. There are a number of charters in Boca, Boynton, and Lantana that operate on these reefs. If there's anything I can do, let me know. - Kev

 

[rab]

Well, I'm not surprised that you couldn't find out where it was. I was going to just say look on Google. This site popped up quickly:
http://www.personalscubainstruction.com/DiveSites/PalmBeach/DelrayWreck.html

However most sites said little more than this:

Delray Beach is also home to one of the area's premier diving spots, a state historical site and registered Florida landmark best known as the Delray Wreck. Located a few hundred yards offshore, divers can explore the wreck of the SS Inchulva which sank in a storm off the coast of Delray in 1903.

(and most said consideraly less!)

It took me a while to find this: http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/bar/scrmast.pdf

Here's an excerpt:

There are many prospects for shipwreck sites which could receive consideration for state historic markers. In 1990, the Historic Palm Beach County Preservation Board placed a bronze and stone state historic marker on the shore near the site of the Inchulva ("Delray Wreck") wrecked in 1903 near Delray Beach, Florida.

I guess everyone assumes you'll just see the marker so they don't bother to mention it.


I also found this thread http://www.scubaboard.com/t36528.html

I guess searching ScubaBoard should've been my first try!

-Rob