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

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

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.

Ever since I heard about them, I have always been fascinated by the oceans most unusual creature; the Manatee. Also known as the sea cow, this herbivorous marine mammal is related to that other equally unusual creature, the Dugong which is found in the eastern hemisphere.

Manatees which graze on sea grass normally inhabit the marshy coastal areas of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon Basin and West Africa. However the most popular place to spot manatees and even get a chance to scuba dive or snorkel with them is in Florida.

More specifically, the best place to spot manatees is Crystal River, Florida located 70 miles north of Tampa, which hosts several dive centers that provide you with the opportunity to swim up close and observe these gentle giants. Crystal River is known to have the highest concentration of Manatees recorded anywhere in the world and additionally boasts of  warm 72 degree water all year round which is the reason the area attracts Manatees and Scuba Divers!

Most dive centers in the Crystal River area serve to educate divers about the nature and habitat of manatees from a conservation point of view. Manatees are slow moving creatures and spend most of their day eating and resting. Once hunted for their skin and meat, Manatees are now an endangered species protected under federal law by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Specials Act of 1973, which make it illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal. Additionally the Manatee is specifically protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978 which imposes heavy fines and imprisonment for hunting or harassing them.

The official season for Florida Manatee is early October to the end of March, however manatee can be found in certain sites throughout the year. Apart from diving with Manatees, the Crystal River hosts several clear springs which are extremely popular with divers. The Hunter’s spring, the three sisters’ spring and the King’s spring are some of the favorites. Crystal River is fed by hot springs and has several, underwater caverns, and a wide variety of wildlife such as tarpons, redfish, grouper and dolphins.

So if you haven’t done so already, why not try this is a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity, where you can swim alongside these gentle giants as they play, eat, and socialize with one another in the true to its name Crystal River Florida.

photos by: Jim’s outside photos, TalkingTree

The Blue Grotto located in Williston Florida is then largest clear water cavern in the State.  Offering divers a unique cave diving experience and up to 100’ deep fresh spring water to dive in and explore.

The first thing that will strike you as unusual when you arrive at the Blue Grotto, is the park like atmosphere it is situated in. The area surrounding the cavern is covered in well manicured lawns and houses a dive shop, bathhouses with hot showers and  a score of picnic pavilions where you can enjoy a post dive BBQ with your dive buddies after exploring the caverns.

The second thing that will surprise you is the several ‘additions’ that have been made to the Blue Grotto itself to make it more diver friendly. One of the more unique aspects of Blue Grotto is their fresh compressed air filled “bell” at 30 feet, a safety and novelty feature that allows up to 6 divers to converse with their buddies underwater or stop to take a breather.

The cavern is also illuminated by a one million candle-watt lighting permanent system that illuminates a large part the cavern which is additional illumination to the flashlights provided to the divers. Also underwater are three man made platforms that serve as training areas for open water students and instructors. The grotto also has a system of guideline ropes that lead divers along the cavern  and a highly visible yellow demarcation at 50ft that cautions newer divers not to proceed on. Experienced divers however can explore the lower portions of the grotto.

The mouth of the cavern is around 80ft wide and 20ft high that opens up into a stunningly clear blue pool of fresh spring water that is enough to captivate anyone. It has a large population of fish constantly demanding to be fed by divers, and several turtles that are known to follow you around hoping for hand outs as well.

Admission to the blue Grotto is just $37.30 for the day, which does not include dive gear which can be rented at the dive shop on site. The price of admission includes a short instruction video briefing on the cave and cave diving procedures that are given to all divers before they dive

Overall the Blue Grotto is definitely a unique diving experience for any diver and certainly something you shouldn’t miss the next time you’re in Florida

Photos courtesy: wickity, highlander411 , bluegrotto