Pompano Beach diving?

[Scubaroo]

I'm probably heading over to FL at the end of March to meet the future in-laws, and father-in-law-to-be has mentioned a possible trip to Pompano Beach for some diving (he, my partner and myself all dive).

1. What are the "must-do" recreational dives (<100') if you're only there for a day? I'm guessing most diving is charter anyway, but if there's any say in what dive sites we can visit, I'd like to know what's about beforehand.

2. Water temp at the end of March? I have a 1mm skin, and 2mm shorty I can wear over it, and fairly tolerable of cold.

3. Any dive shops in the area that rent ScubaPro gear? Trying to track down a LadyHawk BC for my partner to try out.

thanks

 

[chris_b]

Scubaroo once bubbled...
1. What are the "must-do" recreational dives (<100') if you're only there for a day? I'm guessing most diving is charter anyway, but if there's any say in what dive sites we can visit, I'd like to know what's about beforehand.

There are a lot of wrecks in the ~80ft range in that area. Look here for nice concise list of some of the most popular. More details with some pics are here (left side of page has links to descriptions and pics of wrecks). Both websites belong to operations in Pompano Beach which are well run; if you haven't decided on a boat or a shop, check out the rest of their sites.

We didn't dive the whole list of wrecks, but I think I liked Sea Emperor the best; there's a swimthrough that traverses the wreck, but there's a lot to see outside, too. United Caribbean is relatively new and didn't have as much life as some other locations. I can't match up names with what we saw on the others, so maybe someone more familiar with the area can fill you in better.

2. Water temp at the end of March? I have a 1mm skin, and 2mm shorty I can wear over it, and fairly tolerable of cold..

Sounds a little thin for me, but as I'm sure you know sensitivity to water temps vary widely by individual. We were there end of December and water temps were 74-76. I was okay in a 3mm LS shortie the first day, but I just went to wearing a two-piece 3mm after that and was very comfortable.

Sorry, don't know anything about your third question.

Have fun!

Chris

 

[Stone]

The wreck is nothing more than an overturned barge with concrete pipe strewn about, but it was a feeding site before the ban.

Each time we go, we see southern rays, a Jewfish, a large green moray eel, and a big loggerhead turtle. Quite a photo-op.

 

[Stone]

From Mike Halprin's Seahorse

Reefs

Wrecks

 

[Scubaroo]

Thanks folks - I'll have a read through all those links.

Just bought tickets, I'll be going over the first weekend of April (first trip to Florida - yay!).

 

[kelpmermaid]

For rentals you might check out Lighthouse Dive Center - it's right at the Hillsboro inlet - www.lighthousedive.com I think. I think they sell Scubapro, but I don't know what they rent.

You might also consider a drive up to Boynton Beach - it is not that far.

I agree that the Sea Emperor is a good site -- that eel is huge!

 

[Scubaroo]

Found out I'll be diving from a boat called "Under Pressure". Anyone been out on it before?