Diving FL bridges? Sarasota?

[FLCHRIS]

I recently dove the Blue Heron Bridge (Phil Foster) and was very pleased with this dive. The only problem is I live in Tampa.

Anyone know if there are any Tampa area bridges worth diving? Is it legal to dive any bridge? Boat traffic would likely keep you off of many larger bridges.

I have a bridge in mind in Sarasota Bay, there is a small bridge after the new Ringling Bridge on your way out to St Armands, I think it connects Bird Key to St Armonds. It is very smilar to the Blue Heron Bridge in terms of lenght and width, water depth, clarity from surface. It has very little boat traffic and no fishing per FDOT order.

Would that FDOT order keep you from diving as well?

 

[MantaRey]

If I understand correctly: technically it's illegal to dive underneath spans like bridges and piers. It all depends on whether or not authorities will look away. Keep in mind that Blue heron is a great site because the port is right there to clean it out, otherwise diving the intracoastal is not all that interesting. heh.

Another one is the 7 mile bridge in keys, lot's of bullsharks.