Florida has exceptional dive sites that have something to offer to scuba enthusiasts regardless of their level of ability. From shallow dives that offer plenty of bottom time to deeper more technical dives for the more experienced diver.

BLACKMAR’S REEF:

If you are looking for one location that will provide an entire week of diving, then Blackmar’s Reef might be just the place for you.

You will find Blackmar’s off the coast of Jacksonville. It’s a diverse scuba site that is both man-made and the work of nature. You will find five large wrecks that include airplanes, a super barge, a tug, and even a ferry boat.

To complement these, you will find natural limestone reefs with soft coral growth. Even though the reefs are not exceptionally large, it tends to be a magnet for a diverse range of  marine life. If you are interested in photography, this site is a must visit.

THE GATOR BOWL REEF:

If you are interested in a dive that is one of a kind, this site might be of interest to you. After being given a NFL franchise, someone in Jacksonville had the inspiring idea to drop the press boxes from the old stadium onto a group of small reefs.

Now they are a popular Florida diving site and the sprawling press boxes are home to huge schools of assorted game fish. Don’t forget your light, because there are plenty of caves to explore in the same area.

You will also discover that the gator bowl reef is a popular night diving spot.

COPPEDGE TUG:

As part of the Jacksonville artificial reef program, the Chippewa was sunk off the coast in 1988.

One advantage of this site is that it sits in only 75 feet of water. This makes it an excellent dive site for the beginner as the depth allows for plenty of bottom time.

You will find the tug sitting upright with it’s prop still in place. At first the wreck might be difficut to spot amongst the thousands and thousands of fish that occupy the reef.

THE HALSEY:

This world war II wreck can be found just offshore of Fort Pierce.

It may well be one of the state’s most interesting “natural” wrecks you will enounter.

It sits in the exact position it settled to the bottom after it was torpedoed. The bow, midships, and superstructure sit upright, but the stern settled upside down.

The ship is fairly intact, and is in about 90 feet of water.

Most likely the fish you will spot here will be of the large variety. That might include barcuda, nurse sharks, and big grouper.

If you look carefully at the sea bottom you may spot some extremely large lobster as well.

KINGFISH HOLE:

If your interests lean toward night diving, this site off the Treasure Coast might be just the dive for you.

It has the advantage of being quite shallow at 40 feet or so, and as a result you have the opportunity to spend lots of time on the bottom.

You’ll be able to observe lobsters, and large schools of snapper, and it you’re lucky, some nurse sharks having a nap under one of the many overhanging ledges.

THE PLAYGROUND:

This is for the more serious, experienced diver. The Playground is located in West Palm Beach and sits at 125 feet or so.

Pipes, and culverts are scattered across the sea bed. This provides an opportunity to see some very large, green moray eels. Barracuda are also in the neighborhood, as are some very big residents such as, eagle rays, whalesharks and even sunfish reaching weights over 500 pounds.

SAND KEY:

This tiny strip of land is located near the southwest of Key West. It has a huge variety of dive sites as the island that houses the Key Lighthouse is surrounded by reefs.

Off the South side, brilliant colored coral can be seen in every direction you look.

The area is simply teeming with fish and has interesting trenches that are fun to investigate.

As you venture further out, the bottom will begin to slope away. This is where you want to be sure and have a camera along as often eagle rays and huge morays can be spotted in the area.

Whatever your experience of interests when it comes to scuba, Florida is sure to have a site to make your next dive a memorable one.

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