South Florida shore diving question: Ft. Lauderdale and Deerfield Beach

[Texasguy]

Hello,

I am going to Fort Lauderdale second week of September. I will be staying near commerce st, ft. lauderdale by the sea area.

I heard there one can rent the tanks and do some shore diving at the pier. I also heard there is some diving near the pier at Deerfield Beach.

I never dove in Florida, though, did visit these places some time in the past.

First, how is the "diver below flag" culture there? Do divers display them? I saw some youtube videos and have not seen anyone towing a flag.

Second, while I got multiple confirmations that commerce pier is dive-able, I cannot find much info on Deerfield pier diving.

Third, are there any other shore diving places not far from commerce st?

Forth, I presume a 3mm shorty will be enough?

 

[TheOnlyRae]

1) Yes, you need a flag.
2) Yes, I've heard of people diving at Deerfield, but I have never done it. From what I understand, there isn't much to see unless you go very far out and deep (using a scooter or some such apparatus).
3) You can comfortably shore dive from Pompano to Hollywood. The Yellow Brick Road in Hollywood is a nice place to dive.
4) In September, a 3mm or skin should be fine.

Check out Gold Coast Scuba - Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida - they have a very active meetup group that has lots of shore dives in the area - and are located off commerical ave - close to where I think you'll be staying. I'm sure you can rent tanks and probably a dive flag there.

Good luck!

Rae

PS - what part of Houston? I moved here from Bellaire 3 years ago.

 

[Texasguy]

PS - what part of Houston? I moved here from Bellaire 3 years ago.

Memorial.

---------- Post added July 30th, 2013 at 04:13 PM ----------

Already answered: Do you know if high capacity steel tanks are available for rent?

Answer: $20/day for 120cu

 

[iluvtheocean]

i believe GCS can rent the gear/tank/flag and i think a camera as well (no card). rough guess would at least 8-12 popular sites between pompano and hollywood. counting 1st & 2nd reefs as one. bring quarters for most places!!!! a few accept bills/cards.

currently is a night dive scheduled for Datura on 9/7 @7pm

 

[Texasguy]

What is the max time you can get out of a parking meter? How much of time can a quarter buy?

---------- Post added July 31st, 2013 at 12:02 PM ----------

BTW, general shore diving on public beaches, is it allowed? That is, not against the law or anything?

 

[tddfleming]

10 min per quarter. Some beaches are ok with it while others not allowed. Deerfield you need to enter from the private beach at the most southern point. No guards at lbts. Hollywood your ok to enter. Also. If you want to enter north oh the pier it has to be after guards are gone at night. You have to stay away from the piers.

 

[corvettejoe]

The main municipal parking lot in LBTS (across from the police station) takes $1 bills... easier to feed for unknown amounts of time. But it's north of the LBTS pier.
The reefs are slightly larger south of the pier.

North of the pier to the Pompano city line the reefs start to peter out ...so I would stay south of it for sure.

BEAUTIFUL diving though. We go multiple times a year, it's well worth the trip to be able to shore dive all day long and not pay for boat fees. Night diving there is amazing as well.

Diving a single tank you can easily make it to the 2nd reef... there's a 3rd reef line that drops down to 25ft, but you need doubles to get out there, or a real scooter.

 

[Texasguy]

So, what you are saying, South of LBTS pier is the best dive? How far out? My hotel is south of the pier (though not ocean front).

How much the second reef (east) is better? Really worth it?

PS: Any big-a$$ sharks?

 

[tddfleming]

First reef stsrts around the third yellow stay 300 feet from the pier
Kust keep going east can't miss it.

 

[sportxlh]

Here's a good thread on Lauderdale by the Sea: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/florida-diving/290550-lauderdale-sea-beach-dive.html

Further info on LBTS: Datura Avenue Beach - Go Dive Florida