Shore diving, flat sandy bottom?
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dkramer
Contributor
Well, I notice your location is Texas & I'm wondering if you posted in the right forum as this is Florida. If you are looking for an area in Florida, I'm sure we can find a spot for you but as we have a whole lot of coastline, it would be a help if you were a little more specific as to where in Florida............east coast..........west coast..........
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I'm in Texas, and I actually did mean to post in the FL forum. We need a saltwater training area, accessible from shore, for a week, with decent visibility; and we are willing to travel. As you know, we have a long coastline, too, but you have to wade out about three miles to get into 30-ft of clear water. 
Going to Cayman or somewhere is a possibility, but if we can find a good spot in FL, that would be easier and cheaper.
What do you think of the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea area? My impression is that there are not many spots that would suit us on the Gulf coast. And we don't want to be on a coral reef or other protected area. We are planning this little adventure for late September.
Going to Cayman or somewhere is a possibility, but if we can find a good spot in FL, that would be easier and cheaper.
What do you think of the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea area? My impression is that there are not many spots that would suit us on the Gulf coast. And we don't want to be on a coral reef or other protected area. We are planning this little adventure for late September.
dkramer
Contributor
Well, I'm a Gulf Coast person who mainly dives the Venice area. We have plenty of spots where you would be able to find sandy patches in about 14 - 18 ft. of water near shore. Our problem over here is the viz can be finicky. I've heard wonderful things about LBTS but I have no personal info on that area. Perhaps DebbyDiver or someone else from that side will jump in with more info.
Chugwhump
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40 to 50 feet means at least a 6/10th to 3/4 mile swim from shore in the northern half Broward County.
You will need a calm day.
You will need a big tank, like a steel 130 at a minimum.
Why do you need a shore entry?
Chug
Can find a 51' depth from shore on about 2 days a year, with perfect conditions, if I slam my gauges into the sand.
You will need a calm day.
You will need a big tank, like a steel 130 at a minimum.
Why do you need a shore entry?
Chug
Can find a 51' depth from shore on about 2 days a year, with perfect conditions, if I slam my gauges into the sand.
Believe it or not, there are very few shore diving locations in Florida even though we are basically surrounded by water. Our Gulf coast is no different than yours, to get deep you need a boat and as dkramer said, the viz is hit and miss. On the other side of the state we have excellent "blue" diving but again your shore entry dive spots are few and I still don't think you'll be hitting 40-50ft.
Ginny Springs has camping and offers a pool with a max depth of around 55ft but would be considered a "cavern". The cave entrance is grated off. It is beautiful clear water. We have some other springs like Devils Den and Blue Grotto that may meet your depth requirement but wouldn't be very exciting to dive more than once. Hudson Grotto has a depth of around 100ft but the water is like ice tea (like most of our fresh water lakes) and turns to salt water around 80ft. Hudson Grotto is dark but offers a controlled deep diving or simulated "night" or limited visibility diving.
What part of your training will require beach diving of 40 - 50ft of diving? Are you looking for the cheapest method of training in 40 - 50ft of water or is there a specific thing you're training for? Are these already certified divers?
Ginny Springs has camping and offers a pool with a max depth of around 55ft but would be considered a "cavern". The cave entrance is grated off. It is beautiful clear water. We have some other springs like Devils Den and Blue Grotto that may meet your depth requirement but wouldn't be very exciting to dive more than once. Hudson Grotto has a depth of around 100ft but the water is like ice tea (like most of our fresh water lakes) and turns to salt water around 80ft. Hudson Grotto is dark but offers a controlled deep diving or simulated "night" or limited visibility diving.
What part of your training will require beach diving of 40 - 50ft of diving? Are you looking for the cheapest method of training in 40 - 50ft of water or is there a specific thing you're training for? Are these already certified divers?
Thanks, y'all have given me a better understanding of the diving conditions there. We are experienced divers, and we will actually be testing some new equipment. So we need to be able to get in and out of the water easily, and sit down and evaluate on land as needed.
We really can't be tied to a regular boat-dive schedule. But chartering a boat is a possibility, though it adds an extra layer of complexity that we did not want. Naturally, we don't have unlimited funds, either, so there is a cost factor I have to watch.
We definitely are not looking for any excitement on this outing!
50-ft would be ideal, but its not critical. It would just give us a little better range. 30-ft is do-able.
We've thought about the Springs, etc, but really need to be in ocean water.
So, it sounds like the Gulf side is too shallow and questionable on visibility. And the East side may have good vis, but exactly where to go is not certain, and weather could be a factor. Do you find the Atlantic is starting to get rough in September (in the absence of a hurricane, of course)?
I really appreciate the feedback!
We really can't be tied to a regular boat-dive schedule. But chartering a boat is a possibility, though it adds an extra layer of complexity that we did not want. Naturally, we don't have unlimited funds, either, so there is a cost factor I have to watch.
We definitely are not looking for any excitement on this outing!
50-ft would be ideal, but its not critical. It would just give us a little better range. 30-ft is do-able.
We've thought about the Springs, etc, but really need to be in ocean water.
So, it sounds like the Gulf side is too shallow and questionable on visibility. And the East side may have good vis, but exactly where to go is not certain, and weather could be a factor. Do you find the Atlantic is starting to get rough in September (in the absence of a hurricane, of course)?
I really appreciate the feedback!
TheOnlyRae
Contributor
If you're married to the idea of a shore dive, then I would suggest anywhere along the coast in Broward County. I've done shore dives from Pompano Beach down to Hollywood. Clear blue water we can provide, if the conditions are present....but a depth to 50 feet might be a little harder to get on a easy beach dive. More likely 20-30ft. However, if you have a scooter - I guess you can head out to the "3rd reef" and then the depths are closer to what you're looking for.
Depending on what you're doing, you might even consider a kayak dive. I've never done it, but have heard good things.
Anyway you cut it, I would contact Gold Coast - Gold Coast Scuba - Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida - these guys do a lot of shore diving and can give you lots of advice. They also have a very active meetup group that dives almost every day.
Good luck,
Rae
Depending on what you're doing, you might even consider a kayak dive. I've never done it, but have heard good things.
Anyway you cut it, I would contact Gold Coast - Gold Coast Scuba - Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida - these guys do a lot of shore diving and can give you lots of advice. They also have a very active meetup group that dives almost every day.
Good luck,
Rae
bilsant
Contributor
What Rae said - especially about GCS. There are a lot of spots off Broward that you can have a shore entry and sandy bottom, but you'd still be in 30' max after a half hour surface swim.
While I get it that these are training dives, I personally find sandy bottoms (the terrain kind) kind of dull.
While I get it that these are training dives, I personally find sandy bottoms (the terrain kind) kind of dull.
jimw
Contributor
Consider CocoView Resort on Roatan--it does meet all your diving needs+has food and rooms!! There is sand from less than 10 ft to over 80 ft depth in various spots around the shore entry and before or off the stern of the wreck out front. You might be disturbing the Garden Eels though.
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