close
3 Popular Dive Destinations in the Gulf of Mexico

3 Popular Dive Destinations in the Gulf of Mexico

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
|
Published on February 28, 2015

If you’re a SCUBA enthusiast, chances are good you enjoy experiencing the wonders beneath the waves anywhere you can.  The excellent news for you is that there are a number of dive destinations in the Gulf of Mexico.  While you can travel to other countries that border this unique body of water, in Mexico and Mesoamerica, there are also domestic sites that will satisfy your desire for a fresh dive destination.

Flower Garden Banks

This is a mid-water site, approximately a hundred miles off the Texas and Louisiana coastlines. So while you’ll need a good boat and crew to get there, it won’t require a passport. The site is actually two plateau regions—250 and 100 acres in respective dimensions—about 12 miles apart. They play host to some of the most breathtaking and exciting arrays of rich marine wildlife, because they stand at a confluence of warm, nutrient-rich Gulf Stream eddies. This National Marine Sanctuary is home to more than 20 species of corals and nearly 200 species of fish.

Florida Wreck Diving

Along the western coast of Florida, between Tampa and Naples, there are a number of artificial structures that have become homes for an amazing array of fish species. While there are no coral gardens or crystal-clear waters as you’ll find farther south, the sheer abundance of marine life that has colonized these sunken ships and Air Force communication tower pylons is an experience not to be missed. As well as wrecks, artificial reef projects make for interesting dive opportunities—everything from boats to bits of demolished bridges become homes for an array of wildlife.

Rig Reefs

Among the more popular dive destinations in the Gulf of Mexico are the many oil rigs scattered from the Louisiana coast along into Mexican territory. While these rigs were erected by oil companies to harvest maritime energy resources, they have become a maritime resource themselves. No longer active, they now host artificial reef communities, since the continental shelf doesn’t provide many natural formations of this type. Many are located in relatively shallow waters up to 150 feet, easily accessible from the mainland by boat.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro