Best Spots to

Scuba Dive inFlorida

By Kurt Kucera

www.kurtkucera.net

I want to see Manatees.

You’ll have to stick to snorkeling, but you’ll definitely want to headto Crystal River where the sea cows are a plenty. They congregate in

herds in the warm waters from November through about April. Youwon’t realize how impressive these animals are until you’re seeing one

of these 10 feet, 1,000 pound gentle giants in person. Remember, they areprotected and endangered, so don’t do anything that could harm themor their environment. Harassing or chasing them is strictly prohibited.

If you leave the posted manatee area and go for a dive, you canexperience dozens of freshwater springs that boil from the

underground aquifer, and you might spot tarpon, snapper, redfish,large mouth bass, and garfish.

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I want to cave dive.

Head to Blue Grotto, a large clear-water cavern open to divers of allskill levels. The cavern reaches depths of 100 ft, but there is a

compressed air-supplied bell at 30 ft where you can enter and take theregulator out of your mouth mid-dive and even have a quick

conversation.

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I want to swim with sea turtles.

Head to West Palm Beach for some gulf stream drift diving. Cast movingwater will take you past beautiful coral reefs filled with marine life.The current will take you effortlessly across miles of habitat, with

your best chance of catching some sea turtles during the seasonbetween May and September. Groups as big as a dozen will happily drift

alongside you.

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I want to find shark teeth.

Of the shores of Miami/Fort Lauderdale are a string of wrecks,including three retired oil platforms called Tenneco Towers. The rigs

are covered in corals and sponges and populated with a variety ofschools of fish. Miami’s “Wreck Trek” includes an 85-foot steel tug, twoM60 tanks, the 110-foot Billy’s Barge, Ben’s Antenna Reef and dozens of

100-foot plus freighters.

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There are plenty of beginners lessons and easy sites for those justgetting started. And if you’re really nervous, there’s still a ton of

nature you can discover sticking to your basic snorkel and flippers. I’drecommend looking up a tour or lessons with an instructor who can

lead you to the best spots if you’re a beginner or just not sure where togo.

There’s plenty to discover off the shores of Florida if you’readventurous enough to get out there. From living reefs and marine

animals to ship wrecks and historical sites, you’re just an air tank awayfrom exploring them up close and personal.

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