Miami Diving- what's there to see?

[czervos]

I'm familiar with diving in the keys, but am going down to Miami next week for business and would like to sneak in some diving. Is shore diving popular or are boats the way to go? Any recommendations on operators who do regular trips?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[danvolker]

I'm familiar with diving in the keys, but am going down to Miami next week for business and would like to sneak in some diving. Is shore diving popular or are boats the way to go? Any recommendations on operators who do regular trips?

Thanks,
Chris

Diving in Miami is lame on the mostly dead reefs....the deep wrecks are good for tech divers, but for recreational divers, the much better choice is Palm Beach diving.

Shore diving IS possible in Palm Beach, but at this time of year, the surf could make this a poor "planning" choice.
Best shore diving is either the Palm Beach Inlet ( big schools of fish and far more life than you would imagine) by the Jetty on the Singer Island( north) side beginning at the pumphouse,.......
...... or the Blue Heron Bridge ( macro creature type diving).

How determined are you to shore dive? What do you want to see? What kind of diving skills do you have?

REgards,
DanV

 

[WetDawg]

Come on down Chris, there is a lot to see here.

Most local trips include wreck dives on artificial reefs (which we have plenty of down here). As far as sea life goes expect to see pretty much all the usual suspects you have seen in the Keys >> Jacks, snapper, hogfish, nurse sharks, Goliath grouper, grunts, rays, angel fish of all types, and yes even lionfish.

If you are going to be in Miami proper then check in with RJ Diving.

Most local folks on this board seem to hail from up around Fort Lauderdale and points north and you will get lots of suggestions for diving up there as well. Capt. Bill and the crew of the Sea Experience will take care of you if you venture north. Well worth the trip to Fort Lauderdale.

Ask about doing the "Wreck Trek" and tell them Wes sent you.

Have fun!

Wes

 

[WetDawg]

If you really want to do a quick beach dive you can hit the Jose Cuervo Bar off South Beach. Much better scenery on the beach there guaranteed.

Dan, thanks for the promo, I'm sure the Miami Chamber of Commerce will be calling you with a job offer in no time. Have you actually ever dived in Miami yourself? Or just repeating hearsay?

BTW, Palm Beach is about the same distance from Miami as Cincinnati to Cleveland.

 

[danvolker]

If you really want to do a quick beach dive you can hit the Jose Cuervo Bar off South Beach. Much better scenery on the beach there guaranteed.

Dan, thanks for the promo, I'm sure the Miami Chamber of Commerce will be calling you with a job offer in no time. Have you actually ever dived in Miami yourself? Or just repeating hearsay?

BTW, Palm Beach is about the same distance from Miami as Cincinnati to Cleveland.

Of course I dived Miami. Like I said, the only dives I liked there would be tech dives, like the Drydocks. If you want to push the reef dives, I can't stop you.
Just don't expect me to chime in about how vibrant the miami reefs are

DanV

 

[aue-mike]

Drydocks are actually FTL.

There are some great shallow and deep wrecks off Miami. There is some cool reef off Miami too, but you need to go south past Fowey and into Biscayne National Park for the good stuff. Not too long of a boat ride (albeit longer than the quick ride out front off Miami), but unfortunately the charters off Miami are a bit limited. RJ runs a good op out of South Miami, but has a pretty regimented schedule to a few regular sites. An option is to try and contact Steve Moore at Keys Mobile Diving.
Home
He lives in Miami and trailers his 27-foot Glacier Bay. He will run wherever you want.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[Jupiter31]

Shore diving is not an option in Miami - if you want to see anything but sand (FWIW, its not an option in the Keys either, for the same reason) b/c the reefs are too far offshore.

However....

The wrecks (and not just the real deep ones) are excellent - and the shallow reefs can be good too.

RJ Diving Ventures is the way to go - very reasonable trips ($50/55 per trip), great boat, out of Miami Beach nMarina in S. Beach.

I love Miami diving - we do a lot off our own boat and have since 1985 - But if you had to ask me which i prefer, Mia or Jupiter - Jupiter wins hands down - but if you don't want to drive 90 miles, or deal w/ the Keys - Miami is great.

 

[deepstops]

THE best reef diving in the state is in Biscayne National Park but there's only one unreliable operator that goes there since it's in a National Park.

Twisted steel in Miami far better than average.

Here's RJ Diving's schedule through Thanksgiving:

November 12th, Friday @ 8:30 AM......2 reefs (30') ***
November 12th, Friday @ 1:00 PM.......The Patricia (55') and the Tanks (45')
November 13th, Saturday @ 8:30 AM.....The Orion (100') and a reef (30')
November 13th, Saturday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30')
November 13th, Saturday @ 6:00 PM.....The Orion (100') and the Neptune Reef (40') NIGHT
November 14th, Sunday @ 8:30 AM...... the Belcher Barge (60') and a reef (30')
November 14th, Sunday @ 1:00 PM...... the Biscayne (60') and the Neptune site (40')
November 16th, Tuesday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30') ***
November 17th, Wednesday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30') ***
November 17th, Wednesday @ 6:00 PM......The Ophelia Brian (110') and the Neptune Site (40') NIGHT
November 18th, Thursday @ 1:00 PM.....2 reefs (30') ***
November 19th, Friday @ 8:30 AM......2 reefs (30') ***
November 19th, Friday @ 1:00 PM........The DEMA trader and the Neptune Site (40')
November 20th, Saturday @ 8:30 AM......2 reefs (30')
November 20th, Saturday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30')
November 21st, Sunday @ 8:30 AM.......The Patricia (55') and the Tanks (45')
November 21st, Sunday @ 1:00 PM..... the Belcher Barge (60') and a reef (30')
November 23rd, Tuesday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30') ***
November 24th, Wednesday @ 1:00 PM......2 reefs (30') ***
November 24th, Wednesday @ 6:00 PM.....The Princess Brittany (85') and the pipes (45') NIGHT
November 25th, Thursday HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

[skankpile]

+1 Palm Beach inlet near the Island, or just park at the marina over there and jump in...

I've seen people getting fish for the local aquarium stores under the docs.. its nice for a shallow dive if the tide is full.

 

[aue-mike]

THE best reef diving in the state is in Biscayne National Park but there's only one unreliable operator that goes there since it's in a National Park.

pffffffttt. yes, "officially" you need an Incidental Business Permit to conduct commercial activity in BNP. Aside from commercial fishing. And apparently charter boat fishing. Other boats do operate in there without permits though.
It should also be noted, that "officially" BNP requires a permit for all underwater photography (i.e., including non-commercial), which contradicts NPS policy for other National Parks.
BNP basically doesn't want anyone playing in *their* park.
whatever.