Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog » Florida diving

Scuba Diving at Florida’s Deerfield Beach

Nevin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:00:36 +0000

Deerfield Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, and was named for the numerous deer that once roamed the area. Today Deerfield is known amongst Scuba Divers as a great dive destination.

Scuba Diving in the Deerfield Beach area arguably offers some of the best diving in North America. Situated very close to an ocean inlet, which gives quick access by boat to the stunning reef and several wrecks laying just a mile off shore Deerfield also offers a great climate. The water here is warm and clear. Most of the dive sites are within 15 minutes of the inlet. Weather-wise the area has a Tropical monsoon climate with hot summer days, frequent thunderstorms in the summer, with rain less frequent in the fall, and the occasional cold front during winters.

Deerfield is highly popular with Scuba Divers because there is something here for almost every kind of diver, from shallow protected reefs for beginners to ripping drift diving in the Gulfstream’s currents. There are also wrecks aplenty that should keep even the most diehard wreck divers satisfied. The Gulf Stream comes closest to Florida’s shoreline here. It causes an average current of about one knot running parallel to the reef line. Most divers & snorkelers travel to Pompano Beach to access Deerfield Beach dive sites from the Hillsboro Inlet.

Some of the popular dive-site in the area include:

North Rocks
Deerfield Beach North Rocks has a maximum diving depth of around 6.7 m / 22 ft and is suitable for all divers. This is a great beach dive for beginners and those learning to scuba dive as it is easy to get to and easy to dive when there is a low to mid range current. The average visibility is 10-20 meters and access to the dive site is a short distance from the shore and so shore diving from the beach is the best way in. The site comprises of the reef that runs parallel to the shore, and has a wide variety of marine life inhabiting the reef which makes this a great site for underwater photography as well.

Angels Reef
Angels Reef also known as Separated Rocks is another popular dive site off Deerfield Beach. This reef is a series of coral islands with two submerged angel statues commemorating fallen divers. The site is Located south of Deerfield Beach and can be accessed by Boat. The maximum depth is 15.2 m / 49.9 ft, and visibility is good ( 10 – 30 m), mostly a 1 knot current in the area so drift diving is recommended. The main attractions apart from the sectioned reef are the Angel statues that are both spectacular to behold and strangely out of place in the depths.

Ancient Mariner – Wreck
This is a beautiful wreck dive off the Miami, Ft. Lauderdale coast of Florida. It’s worth diving because it is a recreational dive and contains plenty of coral and fish. The Ancient Mariner was sunk in 1991 as an artificial reef. Max depth on this site is 21.9 m / 71.9 ft and visibility is fairly good. The wreck is located In front of Hillsboro Beach and is Accessible only by boat.

Sea Emperor – Wreck
Approx one mile SE of the Boca Raton Inlet the Sea Emperor is a hopper barge 171′ long and 45′ wide which has settled on the sea bed upside down. Inside the wreck and to the east lie 1600 tons of concrete drainage culverts which were its cargo. The barge is also home to Goliath Groupers, eels, stingrays, nurse sharks and hundreds of other fish. Max depth at this site is 21.9 m / 71.9 ft ,and current is often quite strong ( > 2 knots)

United Caribbean – Wreck
The Caribbean is a steel cargo ship 147′ long which rests at 50 feet. The residents of the wreck are the same as those of the Sea Emperor, lots of Groupers, eels and tiny fish. The was a part of the Palm Beach Artificial Reef Program and was deliberately sunk on August 22, 2000, and so it makes a great wreck to dive.

photos from flickr by: hherbzilla, Harvey S. Cohen, andrewl04

Whack-a-Lionfish at Florida’s National Lionfish hunting Derby

Nevin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:02:44 +0000

The reefs around the Florida Keys and the Caribbean have over recent years been invaded by the Red Lionfish, which is a species not known to be native to these waters, and as a result of not having any natural predators has been multiplying with shocking speed and has been killing off native reef fish of the Caribbean. No one knows how these fish were introduced to these waters, however their prolific numbers and the fact that this species has no predators in these waters to control their multiplication, means that conservationists have had to resort to drastic measures to control the Red Lionfish.

Florida’s 3 part National Lionfish Hunting Derby is one such event organized by Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to have participant scuba divers and local residents from all over help round-up and help remove the red lionfish from the Florida waters.

Arranged in the disguise of a competition, the first event was held on September 11^th 2010 at Key Largo where more than 100 scuba divers collected 534 venomous Indo-Pacific red lionfish during the first tournament itself! 27 teams competed for cash and prizes to collect the most lionfish as well as prizes for the largest and smallest lionfish caught. Teams were allowed to use any technique to capture the lionfish using spear, hand net, spear gun or hook and line, and all catches were to be turned in to the scoring station at the end of the day. The winning team that day was said to have caught 111 lionfish alone earning the $1000 grand prize for most fish caught. Each team were provided by the organizers a pair of puncture resistant gloves, since catching Lionfish is no easy feat. Lionfish possess several highly venomous spines along their dorsal fins, which makes briefing participants on proper capturing techniques mandatory.

For those interested in participating in this competition and reef conservation effort, the second lionfish derby will be held on October 16 at Keys Fisheries Market and Marina in Marathon, FL. Participants (scuba divers or snorkelers) can register online at www.reef.org. Those with their own boats are also encouraged to participate in the event. Participants are required to bring their own scuba diving equipment or snorkelling gear.

The Third and final Lionfish Derby will be held November 13 at Hurricane Hole Marina, in Key West, FL. Where volunteers will also the opportunity to try eating dishes prepared from Lionfish after the event at the evening social.

photos from flickr by gigi_h, & WIlly Volk

Unusual Wreckreational Diving: Boeing Aircraft Dive Sites

Noreen — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:00:32 +0000

Tired of diving regular shipwrecks? Well, how about diving some planes instead, Boeing commercial aircrafts to be specific. Here’s a look at three pretty unusual dive sites that use old Boeing aircrafts to create artificial reefs and ofcourse cool dive sites!

The first located of the coast of Miami in Florida, is a Boeing 727 jet that was sunk as part of the Key Biscayne Artificial Reef Site in 1993. The jet was meticulously cleaned, disassemble for transportation over land and reassembled for placement on a barge by its owner, Steve O’Neal. It was then lowered to the bottom of the ocean floor and anchored at depth of 82 ft. Unfortunately, the plane was hit during the Hurricane Gordon in the summer of 1995 and now lies in two sections with the main body of the jet in 82 feet of water and the tail section in 110 feet of water. Called the Spirit of Miami, the pieces of the wreck are now covered with soft corals and dotted with spiny oysters that snap their shells closed when divers approach making this dive site a favorite of Miami area divers. Another interesting story surrounding this wreck is that it’s rumored to have a time capsule hidden somewhere in the wreckage, due to be opened in 2043 or when a diver finds it whichever happens first!

Our second Boeing dive site lies in the middle of an abandoned quarry lake in Southern Illinois. The folks at Mermet Springs have more than just any Boeing 727 aircraft to boast of, the aircraft was the very same that was used in the movie US Marshals starring Tommy Lee Jone. To add to the attractions this 8.5 acre spring fed stone quarry that goes down to a max depth of 120 ft also feature a sunken school bus and ambulance to add to their repertoire underwater. While there’s no tropical fish in the Mermet Springs it does have some unusual life including some giant albino catfish as well as some crazy looking Paddlefish that even got the attention of the Nation Geographic team who have been spotted up there shooting some footage.

To top our list of airliner dive sites is the Boeing 737 in Chemainus, Vancouver- Canada. This artificial reef sunk in January or 2006, now sits at 3m/10ft off the bottom and gives the appearance of “flying” over the ocean floor. Despite rumors, the aircraft is actually in top-notch shape and very much intact with little signs of corrosion or deterioration. This recreational dive site initiated by the Artificial Reef Society of British Colombia has been rated some of the best wreck diving in North America.

*Photo credits: photo by David M* on flickr. Other picture sources- robinburr.com, deepblueadventure.com and divebuddy.com

Dive The Neptune Memorial Reef, An Underwater Cemetery

Noreen — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:30:04 +0000

The term ‘Burials at sea’ have taken on a brand new meaning in Miami, Florida. The Neptune Memorial Reef is not your average cemetery, but the first of it’s kind underwater cemetery. Situated about 45 feet beneath the ocean’s surface the cemetery with gates, pathways, plaques and even benches is not only a great final resting spot for those who loved the sea but also the world’s largest man-made reef (covering over 600,000 sq feet) and unique and unusual site for scuba diving.

An incredible amount of planning and execution went into what was initially supposed to be a “replica” of Lost City of Atlantis, but the project shifted towards a more profitable goal by becoming the world’s first underwater cemetery and memorial park that still resembles an underwater city covering 16 acres of ocean floor. Instead of spreading ashes over ocean waters, at the Neptune Memorial Reef the ashes of loved ones are mixed with cement designed for underwater use and fitted into a mold, which a diver then places and secures into the reef. A copper and bronze plaque is then installed with the person’s name, date of birth and death with some space for an epithet.

Located 3-1/2 miles east of Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida (GPS coordinates N25º 42.036′, W80º 05.409′), the memorial site is free for any certified scuba divers to visit. What some may find strange and bizarre, scuba divers actually see in a another light and are flocking to the unusual dive site to see for themselves. The reef sits in 50 feet of water and with the interesting structures that are slowly growing coral life to soon become a thriving artificial reef, there’s no shortage of things to keep the interest of divers. In less than a year, large numbers of schooling fish such as grunts and snappers have begun to congregate around the site. Spotted eagle rays cruise through regularly while smaller tropical fish like damsels, tangs, triggers and puffers seek refuge and forage around the statues. Sponges and a few soft coral species have already begun their colonization so hard corals certainly won’t be far behind. While most of the structures adorning the site are 90 percent cement, some are in bronze and steel. What’s more are the interesting plaques that bear sweet sayings such as ‘we committed grandma to the dolphins and the angels.’

To visit friends and family below, it costs about $80 a dive with local dive shops. However, to swim with the fishes eternally (a memorial spot at the reef) it’s a little more expensive as it starts at $2,000.

*Photo credits: Headlining photo courtesy of Neptune Memorial Reef. Other photos by Elkman on flickr

Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Florida

Nevin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:04:44 +0000

As strange as it may sound, on the weekend of the 10th July in Florida, the stage was set for one of the most unique underwater events ever, the 26th annual Underwater Music Festival, at Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.

Each year as many as 600 enthusiastic divers and snorkelers gather at the Looe Keys National Marine Sanctuary, an area of the reef located approximately six miles south of Big Pine Key to take part in this one-of-a-kind event where underwater musicians “perform” music which is broadcast underwater using Lubell Laboratory underwater loudspeakers suspended beneath boats. While actual underwater instruments aren’t used, divers dressed in costumes instead of wetsuits with mock instruments designed after underwater creatures “play” along to the tunes much to the entertainment of the snorkelers and divers gathered. All of the music played at the festival is water themed such as “under the sea” from the little mermaid, or “Octopuses Garden” by the Beatles and songs are chosen based on how well they sound acoustically underwater as well.

Looe Key is known as the most spectacular living reef in North America for its diverse population of corals and its colorful array of tropical fish, and the Music Festival celebrated each year carries with it a serious message of coral reef preservation and diver awareness built into the entrainment.

The 26th annual Underwater Music Festival was held Saturday, July 10 and each year a different theme is given to the event. Last year was the Silver anniversary celebration or the 25^th Annual Music Festival and was themed in honor of the Beatles Yellow Submarine.

The 2010 festival this year pays homage to the classic children’s tale “Alice in Wonderland” with the festivities dubbed “Alice in Waterland”, and will feature divers dressed up in costumes from the story ranging from the Mad Hatter dubbed the “Mad Haddock” the “March Herring” and several other memorable characters from the recently released film.

Divers and snorkelers eager dive in to in the 2010 Underwater Music Festival just need to grab their scuba gear and reserve space aboard boats run by private charters from Lower Keys dive operators, or launch their own boats and participate. Where else in the world can you spend the weekend diving in pristine coral reefs of the Florida Keys and unwind by attending an underwater music festival.

Don’t just Dive Underwater in Florida, Stay Underwater too!

Noreen — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 07:31:49 +0000

The Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo Florida gives new meaning to the phrase “sleeping with the fishes”. Aptly named an Undersea lodge, this underwater hotel is lies 21 feet below the surface of the sea and offers an Ocean view unlike any other hotel in the United States.

Named after the science fiction pioneer Jules Verne, author of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” The Jules’ Undersea Lodge is located in a tropical mangrove and once used to be the ‘La Chalupa’ marine biology research lab. Sounds like vaguely like something from the hit TV show ‘Lost’ doesn’t it? …Well, it’s surely a surreal experience.

Guests staying at the lodge must scuba dive into a deep green mangrove lagoon, housing tropical angelfish, parrotfish, barracuda, and snappers on their way to their rooms. The ex-underwater research facility that has been converted into a hotel features two bedrooms, a common room and a kitchenette. Not your fancy 5 star luxury decor by any standards, but air-conditioning, hot showers, a well stocked kitchen and a common room which doubles as a galley, dining and entertainment area with a DVD player make it a comfortable stay. But the biggest treat of staying here has to be the wet-room where one can slip seamlessly into and out of the ocean as the owners offer unlimited access to air tanks and scuba equipment to go diving from the hotel and explore the surrounding marine life which is quite stunning.

The Lodge structure itself has turned into an artificial reef with its outer walls clothed in a living blanket of colorful anemones, shells and sponges. A replica of a Spanish galleon wreck makes for an interesting dive site not far from the lodge and provides a wonderful opportunity to study the techniques of marine archaeology. And when you’re not Scuba diving, you can gaze into the light filtered green waters through one of the the big 42 inch round windows to see the incredible biodiversity surrounding as angelfish and juvenile reef fish swim by doing their own thing.

As if the unlimited diving is not cool enough, you can order room service or have the Jules’ scuba diving staff deliver a pizza from a local shop. For a little extra you can indulge in the services of a “mer-chef” who scuba dives down to the hotel to prepare and serve you gourmet dinner. Couples can even request the delivery of a surprise bouquet or cake to celebrate an anniversary or birthday of their loved one.

Rates start at $375 for an overnight stay

Contact details:
Jules’ Undersea Lodge
Key Largo, Florida
Phone: (305) 451-2353
Website: http://www.jul.com/

*Photo Credits: photos by Lee Turner on flickr

Dive Florida’s Museums in the Sea

Nevin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:43:27 +0000

The State of Florida, has so much to offer divers that it simply becomes overwhelming when you have to decide which activity to pick. One of the great activities for a Scuba Diving enthusiasts who loves a combination of history and diving or whether you simply want to dive at an interesting a site that has and even more interesting back story, then visit any one of Florida’s Underwater Archaeological Preserves also known as the Museums in the sea and you are sure not leave disappointed.

In 1987 Florida began to develop a system of underwater state park featuring historical wrecks and sites across the state. Currently there are 11 preserves comprising mostly of shipwrecks just off the coast of Florida. The preserves contain archaeological sites ranging in age from hundreds-of-years-old colonial Spanish shipwrecks, to World War II wrecks. Each site is marked by an underwater plaque which provides divers with the details of the site and the history. Brochures and laminated underwater guides are also available from local dive shops that provide divers with extensive information about each wreck and how to view the site. The underwater parks are open to the public year round, and free of charge. The Museums of the sea website is a great place to start gathering information about the dive sites nearest to the city you are visiting in Florida, and offer videos footage on each wreck as well.

Some of the more interesting wrecks that form a part of the Archaeological preserve are the USS Massachusetts which lies off the coast of Pensacola, which is a 340 foot battleship that was scuttled in 1921. The wreck is teeming with marine life, and the spectacle of this warship with its majestic gun turrets is simply breathtaking.

The wreck of the Spanish merchant Galleon “San Pedro” located in just 18 feet of water off the Indian Key south Florida is one of the oldest wrecks. Sunk during a hurricane in 1733 while the San Pedro was headed for Spain, this wreck offers divers a spectacular view of cannons and anchors lying in the surrounding turtle grass.

The other preserves that form a part of the Museums of the sea are the SS Tarpon, Vamar, City of Hawkinsville, Regina, Half Moon, SS Copenhagen, Lofthus, Georges Valentine and the Urca De Lima. Each site is easily accessible using local dive operators, and be sure to read up on your wreck to make the experience a more meaningful one.

Photos By: andrewl04 , doug.deep

Scuba Diving with Jesus Christ In The Keys, Florida

Noreen — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:20 +0000

A unique and unusual dive site off the coast of Key Largo, Florida has been drawing attention and attracting thousands of Scuba divers and snorkelers alike for more than just its reef and marine life. In the midst of this dive site, a spectacular bronze sculpture of Jesus Christ stands 81/2 feet tall in 25 feet of water with a grandeur like no other. Christ’s arms raised towards the surface in a pose offering peace, the underwater statue has a presence that has made it one of the most famous and visited underwater sites on Earth.

Created by Guido Galletti, the original “Il Cristo degli Abissi” or ‘Christ of the Abyss’ was made after an idea from Italian swimmer / diver Duilio Marcante. The First statue was placed near the spot where Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use SCUBA gear, died in 1947. Placed in 1954, this Statue of Christ is located in the Mediterranean sea off San Fruttuoso between Camogli and Portofino on the Italian Riviera, where it still stands today.

The Second statue cast from the same mold was placed underwater off the coast of St George in the Caribbean. The Third Christ sculpture presented to the Underwater Society of America in New York in 1962 is the one that lies in Dry Rocks, around six miles North east of Key Largo in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida.

Also known as ‘Christ of the Deep’ the 400 pound statue attached to a 20,000 pound concrete base, stands in a shallow reef and has splendid and massive brain coral formations flanking it’s surroundings. The sandy clearing it lies in is home to large spotted Eagle Rays and Southern Stingrays, while it’s base is encrusted with flat coral and sponges.

One of the most heavily visited underwater structures of all times, the Christ dive site is very popular location for underwater weddings and nearly 200 couples say (or write) their “I do’s” here each year. However popular for good reason, the site can be a bit cumbersome to dive because of how shallow the water can be. A caution to fellow divers who wish to dive here, is a need to exercise good buoyancy control and not use your buoyancy compensators as much to avoid bumping into the coral. The tell tales signs of significant damage site has experienced from incompetent divers and snorkelers who stand on or touch the corals is clear and if proper care isn’t taken the site just won’t be the same for very long.

A true Jubilee for the divers, the Christ of Abyss is a must-dive site , if you can over come the crowd of snorkelers and divers present at any time. A spectacle that can only be experienced and not described, the Christ statue has a presence underwater which can be felt when you dive there.

* Photos by gergobacsi on flickr

Top 3 Extreme Dives in the World

Noreen — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:32:27 +0000

For those of you that think Scuba Diving is much to sedate to even be considered a sport, you have definitely not heard of people taking the plunge at these Extreme dive sites.

A far cry from the usual leisurely diving at tropical islands in the Caribbean or the coral reefs around the World, extreme diving is testing new waters to say the least. With many people looking to the sport for an adrenalin rush, divers are pushing the envelope of diving and challenging themselves with some pretty extreme conditions at the most unusual dive sites. Instead of heading to warmer waters they dive beneath the ice, from high visibility clear pristine waters they venture into murky dark caves and instead of avoiding the most feared creatures of the sea they’re swimming straight for the shark’s mouth.

Here’s our picks for the Top 3 Extreme Dives in the World:

Cave Diving at Eagle’s Nest Sinkhole, Florida

Considered the ‘Mount Everest’ or the ‘Grand Canyon’ of cave diving, the Eagle’s Nest is one of the most intricate and challenging dive sites one can dive. Located on the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area property, near Weeki Wachee, the sinkhole first appears to be a very unimpressive, scummy-looking pond. Hidden below it astounding depths of around 300 feet (91metres), the Eagle’s Nest Sinkhole in Florida has chambers as large as gymnasiums and crystal-clear water. Only for highly experienced cave divers and the technically sound, the descent the Eagle’s nest is similar to that of a chimney and hundreds of feet below it opens up into a large cavern called “the Main Ballroom”, beyond which are longer tunnels and crannies that go even deeper. While cave diving isn’t for everyone, a number of divers have perished attempting to explore this site in particular. The Sinkhole’s challenging caves and and harsh conditions are not to be taken lightly when considering to dive here. [*Above image- Times photo: Maurice Rivenbark]

Ice Diving at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Antarctica Scuba diving? Yes, in extreme temperatures that often drop below -40°C (-40°F), where no insects, plants nor major life exists here above the ground, people do the unthinkable and plunge into it’s icy waters! McMurdo Sound Antarctica is where divers break through the 1.3-3m (4-10ft) thick ice to enter the freezing cold waters, only to be rewarded by stunning visibility of about 300m (990 ft) and a rich marine life like no other anywhere else in the World. For more read: Extreme Diving: Ice Diving in Antarctica (*above image by high hat beaver moustache man on flickr)

Shark Diving in Nassau, the Bahamas

If you think you would pee in your wetsuit if you saw just one shark, then this dive destination is not for you. The warm Caribbean waters of the Bahama’s attracts plenty of sharks. Operators here offer a number of shark adventure dives including cage diving, watching professional shark wranglers hand-feed reef sharks on the ocean floor in front of you and even surface feeding. With dive sites such as ‘Shark Wall’, ‘Shark Arena’, ‘Runway Wall’ and ‘The Runway’ you will encounter dozens Caribbean Reef Sharks. Watching the sharks eat is amazing, but seeing them cruise by at arm’s length is incredible and and experience. Long Island (Southern Bahamas) is another such dive site for shark diving. Cage diving to feed swarms of mako, bull, and reef sharks is what draws adventurous divers here. The Bahamas is also home to the Tiger shark, Great Hammerhead shark, Lemon shark, Silky shark, Nurse shark and the notorious Bull shark all considered among the most dangerous sharks you can encounter.

(*above images by hankplank on flickr)

The Great Carrier Reef – Diving the USS Oriskany

Nevin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:01:11 +0000

Off the coast of Pensacola Florida, lies the former US Navy Aircraft carrier the USS Oriskany, after having served the US Navy in both Korea and Vietnam, the 900 foot, 30,000 ton carrier decommissioned in 1976 was deliberately sunk in the Gulf of Mexico in 2006 as part of a pilot program which aimed to create artificial reefs. Apart from being one of the first navy ships to be used to create an artificial reef, the Oriskany is also the largest artificial reef in the world created by sinking a ship. The Navy spent around 20 million dollars to clear up and make the ship environmentally friendly and accessible and safe to divers.

Nicknamed “the Great Carrier Reef”, The USS Oriskany sits upright in 212 feet of water and rises almost 164ft from the seabed, just over 20 meters below the surface and the breathtaking flight deck at 140 feet (40 m). The wreck Is now home to abundant marine life such as amber jacks, red snapper, groupers, dolphins and sharks. Large Barracuda often circle ominously around the towering superstructure keeping a watchful eye on divers as they make their way to the wreck.

The wreck is a dive for the more intermediate to advanced divers as reaching the site is quite challenging due to the strong currents. It is advisable to be fully briefed with the layout and carry the necessary Scuba diving equipment such as a dive light before making the dive. Vigilance is key as there’s a lot of things that you could hit your head on, or snag equipment. Equally important is monitoring your depth constantly as it is easy to get carried away in the superstructure. For those that can, Nitrox is recommended to be able to fully appreciate the sheer size of this wreck.

There are numerous dive operators in Pensacola that offer dives to the wreck, but choose one that handles smaller batches and lays greater emphasis to safety and briefings as there are several thousands of divers that make this dive each year often being herded to the site packed in overcrowded dive boats. Also try to ensure that you descend to the superstructure area where there is a lot more to see, or you’ll be in for a long swim trying to span those football field sized flight decks.

One way to make the trip more memorable is to ensure you do some research on the ship to understand the history of the vessel before you dive and I’m sure this dive will leave you somewhat speechless.