Florida Dive Spots

[SinkFloridaSink]

We've added Ocean Inlet Park in Boynton Beach, FL to our South Florida Beach Dive Sites + Locations page
TONS OF NURSE SHARKS! We saw 4!

[video=youtube;-WLw_0w3CBI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WLw_0w3CBI[/video]

 

[Paradise Dive Charter]

Name: Phil Foster Park
Address: 900 E Blue Heron Blvd, Riviera Beach, FL 33404 - Google Maps (Directions)
Description: Artificial Reef with a variety of dive areas spanning from snorkeling to a shipwreck area. Great for educational purposes but due to the wide variety of life, it's a great spot for any diver looking to witness marine life.
Blog Covering Our Open Water Certification Trip to Phil Foster Park: Steps to a Scuba Diving Certification
HOURS:
beach and playground: sunrise-sunset
boat ramps: 24 hours Boat Trailer Parking Permit Required ($10 daily permit available on site)
after hours parking: boat trailer and tow vehicle parking is permitted overnight (24-hour period only). Boaters requiring more extended stay periods must utilize alternate parking location.
fishing pier: sunrise - 10:00 pm

CLASS: Beach

ACREAGE: 14.65 acres

AMENITIES

beach frontage, guarded
saltwater fishing not permitted in guarded swimming area
boating improvements
boat docks
boat launching ramps (4) Boat Trailer Parking Permit Required ($10 daily permit available on site)
fishing (saltwater)
fishing platforms (2)
intracoastal waterway frontage(1000 feet)
non-motorized vessel launching beach
parking
boat/trailer parking
regular parking
picnic area with grills, single table
picnic shelters, family (4)
pier (fishing)
playground, including
play structure(ages 2-5 years)
play structure (ages 5-12 years)
restroom facilities
showers, outdoor
snorkeling
staging dock

 

[SinkFloridaSink]

We've added the Delray Wreck, in Delray Beach, FL to our South Florida Beach Dive Sites + Locations page.
This is a great snorkeling and beginner scuba site.

[video=youtube_share;QgalzSEitVg]http://youtu.be/QgalzSEitVg[/video]

 

[tarponchik]

From the north parking lot, it's about a third of a mile to the jacks. Note that the E and NE winds over the past few months have really kicked the sand up onto the beach, and the jacks on the beach are all but buried. On October 25th, there was only 4-6" of one Jack sticking out of the sand. It was slightly better when I was there on November 17th, but they are still tough to find at the moment... If you cannot find the jacks on the beach, you are in about the right spot when you are directly opposite some dead, stripped trees that you can see on the other side of the Intracoastal. We actually used them as a reference point when swimming out last time.

Best of all, look for a small flat pole with letters JAX on it. It is right opposite the erojacks line. Newcomers should look for the only small palm tree sticking out of sea grapes along the shore, and the JAX pole is nearby. The palm is also a good marker if you lost the erojacks while diving and surfaced to look around.

 

[SinkFloridaSink]

Gulfstream Park

[video=youtube;ctgWBior-GY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctgWBior-GY[/video]

Gulfstream Park
​

 

[buckled plates]

DIVE SPOT: ADOLPHUS BUSCH

TYPE DIVE: DEEP WRECK (80' - 110' fsw)

LOCATION: 6 NM Southeast of Big Pine Key

WHAT TO EXPECT: Since there's already an abundance of information and photos readily available online, I won't repeat it all here. Instead, here's some info about this wreck that may not be so common: The vessel lies oriented northwest to southeast. Four mooring lines are on or near the wreck. The two mooring balls marked "DIVE ONLY" are attached to the wreck; one to the bow the other the stern. The stern line accesses the aft deck and wheelhouse and is the furthest northwest. Generally speaking, the dive is best begun at the stern. The two other mooring lines are marked "FISHING," and those lines are NOT suitable for diving the wreck because they are positioned too far off. If either "DIVE" ball is occupied by and angler, usually a polite request to relocate will obtain the desired results. In addition to the normal hazards associated with deep, wreck diving, a few more are more or less particular to this wreck. This wreck receives a lot of fishing pressure and the mooring lines frequently have fish hooks embedded in them. For that reason we recommend gloves and a hand-over-hand method for descending/ascending on the lines (rather than sliding your hand). Also, because of fishing use, it's not uncommon to find clear monofilament line INSIDE the vessel's spaces. Anyone electing to penetrate the AB should be aware of this potential unseen hazard and be prepared to deal with it. Twice in recent years I've seen divers entangled and stopped suddenly and unexpectedly while traversing an enclosure. On both occasions the diver was easily cut loose, but remaining calm and having the assistance of a buddy is essential. Typical of most wrecks, the inner spaces are heavily silted so good buoyancy control and little disturbance is important to retain good visibility during passage. Finally, as with most Keys' wrecks, the current on the AB can be VERY strong and it pays to have a Plan B in the event the wreck gets thumbed. Fortunately, a good alternate dive site is only 5 NM north at the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. In fact, a very nice dive is a wreck/reef combo that includes a dive on the Busch followed by a dive on the reef. Because the reef dive is so shallow (generally about 20'), you can avoid most or all of the hour-long surface interval necessary for a double-dip on the wreck.

WHERE TO PARK: If you're diving with one of the dive boat operators serving the wreck, parking, air fills, and other support is available at their place of business. If you're towing a boat, Dolphin Marina at Little Torch Key has a great ramp and ready access to Pine Channel and the ocean. Some dive operators serving the AB: "Underseas," "Strike Zone Charters," and "Dieu LE Veut Diving" are on Big Pine Key. "Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center" is located on Ramrod Key.

AMENITIES: Hotels serving the area range in price from reasonable to outrageous (unless you're a rock star). The Big Pine Motel, Looe Key Reef Resort, and Palmer's Resort are a few of the "reasonable" choices. Food choices are about the same, from take-out to gourmet.

PROS AND CONS: The AB is a small vessel easy to navigate and rarely crowded. Its location is ideal for alternate dive plans if conditions on the wreck are unsafe. The only downside to this site is access which is limited by infrequent scheduling. If you're diving the AB with one of the larger operators, call ahead for dates and times.

www.dieuleveutdiving.com

 

[PBcatfish]

We've added the Delray Wreck, in Delray Beach, FL to our South Florida Beach Dive Sites + Locations page.
This is a great snorkeling and beginner scuba site.

[video=youtube_share;QgalzSEitVg]

Your website doesn't open for me

 

[adurso]

Your website doesn't open for me

Last post in this thread was 7 years ago; the poster last posted in 2018.

 

[Catito]

Type of Diving: Shore Dive

Overview: This dive site is excellent for those who love an easy dive and a not-so-crowded dive site.

Directions to site: I-95 to the Atlantic Blvd. Exit; go east across the intracostal bridge to Ocean Drive (a.k.a. A1A), then head south to SE 12th st. (look for the signs of the Fairfield Condominimum and the Best Western Beach Comber hotel); go east to the end of the street.

Parking: There are four (4) parking meters at the site (quarters only), $1.00 per hr. It's best to, especially on the weekends, be there between 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. as the meteres will be occupied if not there by then. If the meters are occupied, there are two benches on the other side of the meters; you can set up and get into your wetsuit (highly recommended as there are numerous areas of fire coral), and then go and park your car on the grass lot to the south of the shopping strip at the intersection of SE 12th St. and A1A, which is free. DO NOT PARK AT THE SHOPPING STRIP OR ON THE GUEST PARKING SPOTS OF THE CONDOMINIUMS; YOUR CAR WILL BE TOWED.

The diving: As in LBTS, this is a two tier reef, only that the first tier is much closer to shore, and a bit more varied in its topography. Do as best of a current assesment as you can and plan the dive accordingly. There is usually a gentle (.5 knot) north current there, but it can revert to a south current. The surface swim is about 75' to the buoy. My suggestion is to swim on your back to about 10 - 20' past the buoy; you should see the first part of the reef underneath you. The reef starts out patchy, but as you head east it opens up into a nice, healthy reef, with lots and lots of marine life. The reef is very nice if you start out going south, but it's even nicer if you start out going north. Keep the current in mind though. Bring your camera as this is a macro paradise with lots of juvenile damsels, blennys, neon gobys, wrasses, etc., as well as lots of fan and christmas tree worms and other criters. On occassion, a turtle might just come up and say hi, and I've seen two blue ring octopusses there (very highly poisonous). Max depth, between 20 - 25' depending on whether you make it east of the second tier. The dive is excellent for newly certified divers, as well as those who love a good shore dive. An excellent spot for night diving.

Amenities: There are two benches where you can sit and set up comfortably, and there is one shower. The beach is not usually crowded, and the walk from the benches to the ocean is no more than the surface swim. There are no restrooms or changing areas though. There are two dive shops within a 5 minute drive from the site; South Florida Diving Headquarters (just east of the bridge and 50' north of Atlantic Blvd.) and Force E, which is about 1/8 of a mile west of the bridge. Both of them can fill nitrox. Also, Fill Express is on Dixie Hwy (about 3 miles west and 1 mile north of Atlantic Blvd.) Plenty of places where to get something to eat, and a Bank of America ATM just south of Atlantic Blvd.

Pros & cons: The reef is healthy, close to shore, the beach is not crowded, and the walk to the shore is short. However, the parking is the biggest drawback, as there are only 4 meters. This is also an unattended beach, but a nice place to make it a day at the beach as well as a day of diving.

Most recently visited: August 26, 2004 (twilight dive)

Atlantic in Ft Lauderdale?

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Atlantic in Ft Lauderdale?

Pompano. 95 to Atlantic, east to A1A, south a couple blocks.
That post was written in 2004 before the east coast got hit with Francis, Jeanne, Katrina, Wilma, Irma, one that started with an M Micheal? and a bunch of other storms.

Some changes.

There used to be a beautiful pillar coral rising about 6ft. Gone.
Parking is hit and miss.
Fill Express is gone, and Force E moved to US 1 south of Sample.
There are no blue ring octopuses in the Atlantic.
Excellent for super macro, nudis, flatworms, etc.

There are also a couple side streets that you can park on, I think the next one north is 8th or 6th.