Lauderdale by the sea - east down commercial drive - has some of the best shore diving in the U.S. (I haven't done every shore dive in the U.S. but that's what I've read and heard, I really like this dive). I've seen all sorts of things there lots of cool octopus, sea turtles, eels, etc.
I've seen some sort of shark there about 90 out of every 100 dives!! Even a huge hammer head (maybe 10 feet) that came within 6 inches of my mask one night in low vis water. I instinctively punched at it cuz it was moving so fast right at me. My dive buddy thought I was crazy. When it turned and swam away all of a sudden, you could hear it's tail move through the water with a kinda pop - and it was gone - but I was still on the lookout for the rest of the dive. Looking up, down, around, back, side to side. A lot of fun that dive. I have actually heard that a record (for FL.) sized hammer was actually caught off that jetty. Something like 14'. But I've never confirmed it personally.
There are some other really good shore dives in that area. Actually I can (probably you too) swim out to most of the places that most dive boats take you to in that area. It's usually only about a mile out to the third reef ledge, which is where most dive boats go.
Come to think of it my dive buddy (who is ex-SF), hasn't dove since that shark incident. I know he was a little shook up at the time, as we both were, but I wonder if that scared him away from diving. hmmm. probably not though?
