6 Reasons Why The Best SCUBA Diving Is In Florida
Why does Florida have the best scuba diving? The abundance and diversity of dives found throughout the state.
Florida scuba diving is perfect for beginner to advanced divers, and you can dive year-round.
With a rich diversity of diving spots and types, Florida is unmatched for its availability of scuba diving adventures.
The only living coral reef system in the continental U.S. calls Florida home, making it a top destination for diving enthusiasts.
From the vibrant reefs of the Keys to the prehistoric caves and springs inland to finding shark teeth in Venice, there is something for everyone.
Whether you’re interested in exploring shipwrecks, lobstering, spearfishing, manatees, or reefs – Florida has it all!
Article summary
- The Florida Keys
- The Atlantic Coast
- The Gulf Coast
- The Inland Springs and Caverns
- Ten Types of Specialty and Seasonal Diving
- Essential Information: Hurricanes, Cancelled Dives, Licenses, and Equipment
- A Few Last Thoughts
1. The Florida Keys
Reefs, Shipwrecks, Spearfishing, Lobstering, Coral Conservation
Exploring the Florida Keys offers some of the best diving in Florida, with distinct experiences in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys.
Each area of the Keys will tell you “They have the best diving”. There are beautiful reefs and interesting shipwrecks found throughout the FL Keys. I know this because I have been diving throughout the Keys for over 10 years now.
The Upper Keys, Key Largo and Islamorada are renowned for their spectacular reefs and wrecks.
The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Christ of the Abyss Statue, and the Spiegel Grove wreck, in Key Largo provide unforgettable dives. The Aquarius underwater base (the only one in the U.S.) is in this area.
The Middle Keys, including Marathon, is popular for its pristine reefs and marine sanctuaries.
You will not find as many dive sites as the Upper and Lower Keys- but bonus – this is the least crowded and touristy area of the Keys.
Dive sites like Sombrero Reef and Looe Key (about an hour south) are stunning coral reefs, and the wreck of the Thunderbolt, a popular artificial reef.
The Lower Keys (Key West) offers a mix of historical wrecks like the Vandenberg and vibrant reefs.
Shark, spearfishing, lobstering, and coral restoration are some specialty dives found throughout the Keys.
The Florida Keys have the warmest water in the continental U.S. during the winter months. Christmas to New Years, spring break, and holiday weekends are always the busiest times in the Keys.
Florida Keys Dive Shop Recommendations
1. Upper Keys (Key Largo Area): Conch Republic, Islamorada Dive Center, Captain Slates, and Amoray Dive Resort
2. Middle Keys (Marathon Area): Captain Hooks
3. Lower Keys (Key West Area): Captain Hooks, Captain’s Corner, and Southpoint Divers
2. The Atlantic Coast
Shark Migrations, Goliath Grouper Aggregation, Lobstering, Blue Heron Bridge, Reefs and Wrecks, and Blackwater Dives
The Atlantic Coast (or east coast) of Florida boasts some of the best Florida scuba diving spots, particularly Jupiter, West Palm Beach, and Pompano Beach.
These areas are renowned for their reefs, marine life and wrecks, including seasonal shark migrations that attract divers from around the world.
Jupiter is a hotspot for shark diving, offering an exhilarating experience for advanced divers.
West Palm Beach is famous for the Blue Heron Bridge (it has its own Facebook page), as well as the annual Goliath Grouper aggregation (in Aug/Sept), providing divers with incredible sightings of these massive fish.
Pompano Beach is perfect for exploring deep-water wrecks like the Lady Luck (an old casino boat turned artificial reef).
All the diving along the Atlantic Coast is primarily drift diving.
A dive boat will drop divers at the start of a reef or wreck, let the current carry them across the reef or wreck, then pick up at the end of the dive.
Dive flags (provided by the boat) and “safety sausages” (to signal the boat when done with the dive) are mandatory.
Along with night dives, blackwater photography dives are available in this area.
Best diving is in late spring, summer and fall with warmer water temperatures; however diving is available year round.
Dive Shop Recommendations
1. Jupiter: Jupiter Dive Center, Emerald Charters (Emerald is shark diving, not for beginners)
2. West Palm: Ocean Quest, Force-E Scuba, Kyalami
3. Pompano: Splashdown Divers, Aqualife Divers, Dixie Divers
3. The Gulf Coast
Manatees, Shark teeth, Reef and Wreck diving, Spearfishing, Scalloping, Circle of Heroes
Explore some of the best diving in Florida along the Gulf Coast, from Venice to Pensacola.
Venice is famous for its underwater shark tooth hunting, where divers can find fossilized teeth from ancient sharks at locations like Caspersen Beach and Venice Beach.
These areas are well-known for producing teeth from species such as the Megalodon and the Great White.
St. Pete and Clearwater offer excellent spearfishing opportunities and the chance to visit the Circle of Heroes, an underwater memorial in Tarpon Springs that honors military veterans with 12 statues placed 10 miles offshore.
Pensacola boasts the USS Oriskany, a decommissioned aircraft carrier that now serves as a massive artificial reef, attracting divers to its depths of up to 212 feet.
Scalloping is restricted to snorkeling, with popular spots being Homosassa and Crystal River, in July and August
Winter brings the opportunity to dive with manatees in Homosassa and Crystal River, where these gentle creatures congregate in the warmer spring waters.
The Gulf Coast is shallower and gets colder, faster than the east coast of Florida.
The best diving is in late spring, summer, and early fall with warmer water temperatures in Venice, St. Pete, Clearwater, and Pensacola.
Manatee dives are best conducted during winter months.
Dive Boat and/or Shop Recommendations
- Venice – Aquanutz (need to book 1-2 months in advance), Fossil Junkies, Venice Dive Center
- St. Pete – Gulfport Dive Center
- Clearwater – 2 Sheas Charters
- Crystal River – Birds Underwater
- Pensacola – H20 Below
4. The Inland Springs and Caverns
Freshwater Springs, Caves, Caverns, Fossils, Devils Den
Diving the inland springs and caverns of Florida offers some of the best diving in Florida, especially for those interested in freshwater caverns or cave diving.
Cave diving requires a specialty certification, but the caverns are open to everyone from beginner to advanced.
Sites like Devil’s Den provide a unique glimpse into prehistoric times, with fossils dating back to the Pleistocene era (16,000 years ago).
Inland Florida is famous for cave diving and technical training, due to its springs, geology, and sinkholes.
Always 72 degrees (I wear a 5-mil wetsuit) and crystal-clear blue water, these springs were used to film underwater scenes in Hollywood movies from the 50’s-70’s.
You don’t need to be a cave diver to enjoy FL springs. Some underwater caverns and rivers have unique rock formations, fossils, freshwater plants, fish and turtles.
Alligators are common in Florida and may be found in a river or spring. Generally, they want nothing to do with humans and will quickly swim away.
Recommended Springs
- Devils Den – on-site dive shop
- Blue Grotto – on-site dive shop
- Paradise Springs – private, literally in someone’s backyard
- Rainbow River – diving is run by a private company and in a different location than the state park
- Ginnie Springs – on-site dive shop and has a large campground
- Divethesprings.com – not a dive shop but a fantastic resource for all North Central FL spring dive sites
Recommended Dive Shops
The most popular springs have on-site dive shops.
However, if you are interested in cave diving, or taking a cave diving certification course this one of the best places in the world to do so.
- Florida Springs Scuba, Devils Den area (ask them about the time lighting struck one of their SCUBA tanks)
- Dayo Scuba Center, Orlando area
- Amigos Dive Center, Gainesville area
5. Ten Types of Specialty and Seasonal Diving
1. Manatee Season
Encounter manatees in rivers and springs from December to February, before they migrate back to the Gulf.
2. Blue Heron Bridge
Optimal conditions for these dives occur during “slack tide.” Slack tide, also known as slack water, refers to the period between high tide and low tide when the water is relatively still. Remember that slack water occurs approximately 30 minutes before and after high or low water, and it’s essential for safe navigation and enjoyable diving experiences.
3. Blackwater Dives
These dives are popular with underwater photographers.
A blackwater dive on the east coast of Florida is a nighttime scuba dive in the open ocean. Divers use lights to attract and see small, often strange-looking, marine creatures that come up from deep water at night. It’s a chance to see animals and behaviors that are not visible during the day.
4. Grouper Aggregation
Experience grouper aggregation from late summer to September, bearing in mind potential dive cancellations during hurricane season. The best locations are around Jupiter and West Palm Beach, FL.
5. Lobstering
Florida’s lobster season runs from August 6 through March 31. During this time, you can catch lobsters, especially the Caribbean spiny lobster. Additionally, there is a short 2-day mini lobster season at the end of July. This event is very popular and gets booked out months in advance.
6. Scallop Season
Plan your dives according to specific seasonal periods for scalloping. It varies by year and county. Here are three excellent resources: 1. SEA Magazine: Florida Scallop Season: Key Dates and Essential Tips, 2. Florida Travel + Life: Guide to Scalloping in Florida and 3. Trips To Discover: 8 Best Places to Go Scalloping in Florida
7. Lionfish Hunting
Enjoy year-round lionfish hunting without the need for a license. Lionfish hunting involves targeting these invasive species, which have become a threat to native marine ecosystems. They are delicious to eat too! Here’s what you need to know about lionfish hunting and the exciting derbies in Florida:
Lionfish Derbies:
A lionfish derby is a single-day competition aimed at collecting and removing as many lionfish as possible.
Participants attend a mandatory Captain’s Meeting, receiving essential information about lionfish and derby rules.
These derbies play a crucial role in controlling the lionfish population and raising awareness about their impact on native marine life.
What You Need for Lionfish Hunting:
Pole-Spear: A spear gun is not necessary, as the lionfish are territorial and stay in the area of the reef.
Lionfish Containment Unit: Consider using a Zookeeper or similar containment device. These containers allow you to handle lionfish without direct contact, reducing the risk of stings.
Puncture-Proof Gloves: Protect your hands from lionfish spines with sturdy gloves. Remember lionfish are venomous! Handle it with extreme care.
8. Coral Restoration Dives
Contribute to coral restoration efforts in the Keys, available year-round. Certainly! Coral restoration dives offer a unique opportunity for divers to actively contribute to the preservation and recovery of Florida’s magnificent coral reefs. Here’s what you need to know:
Year-Round Availability
Coral restoration dives are available year-round in the Florida Keys. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced diver, you can participate in these meaningful underwater experiences at any time.
9. Spearfishing
Check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for seasonal regulations and size limits, ensuring compliance with licensing requirements.
Spearfishing in Florida combines the thrill of underwater hunting with the beauty of marine exploration.
Every scuba diving area in Florida has dive shops that offer classes on spearfishing and spearfishing charters.
10. Shark Migration
During the spring shark migration in Florida, scuba divers have the chance to witness thousands of blacktip sharks as they migrate north along the coast.
This event typically occurs from February to April, offering a prime time to see these sharks in action, especially off the beaches of Palm Beach County.
Divers may also encounter other species, like great hammerheads and lemon sharks, drawn to the area for the abundance of prey during this period.
May brings the tiger shark migration to the east coast of Florida. Several tiger sharks have been migrating to the area for over 10 years, including Jenny who is 12 feet long and loves to surprise divers in the Jupiter and West Palm Beach area.
I’ve had the pleasure of having Jenny bump into me on a dive.
Initially, it was like something straight out of a movie with a shark coming out of the shadows straight for me.
I was frozen like a “deer in headlights” and I thought “That is a giant shark”. Additionally, I thought I might die of a shark attack- but it turned into one of my best memories. It wasn’t until after the dive, on the surface, when everyone yelped and hollered that it was Jenny – I found out that I had (at last) met the local celebrity.
6. Essential Information
Hurricanes, Cancelled Dives, Licenses, and Equipment
Even though Florida has the best scuba diving strong currents and/or high winds are the typical causes of dive cancellations, and occasionally boat malfunctions.
Dive sites are planned assuming optimal conditions. However, the dive operator will move a dive site if the current is too strong. The Lady Luck is a popular dive site on the East Coast that frequently gets moved (usually on the day of the dive) to a different site because of the strong currents around the wreck.
Hurricanes and tropical storm systems are the main reason for dive cancellations in late summer and early fall.
Check the weather report frequently and know your hotel’s cancellation policy. I always recommend finding a hotel that has a 24- 48-hour cancellation period.
It is not unusual for a dive shop to cancel a dive due to bad weather one or two days before a scheduled dive.
Dive Gear Essentials
While Florida’s warm climate might tempt you to dive without one, rash guards and/or wetsuits are recommended, especially during the cooler months (from November to April).
I wear full-body rash guards year-round to protect myself from fire coral and jelly stings.
Most scuba shops offer 3 mm and 5 mm wetsuit rentals, but finding a 7mm wetsuit to rent (or buy) is next to impossible.
Dive Light is good (even during the day) for exploring the nooks and crannies in reefs and looking at rock formations and fossils in the springs.
Knife or Line Cutter is a must-have in reef or wreck diving in case of entanglement with fishing lines.
Safety Sausages are mandatory for Atlantic coast drift dives. It serves as a signaling device for the boat.
Neon Glow Sticks, attached to tanks for night dives, provide visibility and safety. Additionally, two underwater lights are recommended on all night dives. If traveling to Florida make sure you take out the batteries and put them in your carry on bag.
It’s the law to always display a dive flag on beach and boat dives. Boats will have them, they can be purchased or rented from local dive shops for beach dives.
Lobstering Equipment and Spearguns: Local dive shops sell them. Dive boats often provide these items, either included in a package deal or for a rental fee.
If you plan to spearfish, lobster, or scallop, you’ll need the appropriate fishing licenses. These can be conveniently purchased online from the FWC.
Fish, Invertebrate, or Wreck ID Cards: While optional, these cards enhance your diving experience by helping you identify marine life and underwater wrecks.
I have a collection of them and consider them unique souvenirs.
Dive shops usually stock these cards, but you can purchase them online in advance.
7. A Few Last Thoughts
Florida is known for the best scuba diving in the U.S. because it offers the most diversity of types of diving.
Florida is home to manatees, an extensive network of underwater caves, the only reef system in the continental US, and the only underwater base in the United States.
Experience the best diving Florida offers with a plethora of dive spots including reefs, wrecks, manatees, lobstering, spearfishing, caverns, caves, and springs.
Diving is available year-round, offering hundreds of diving options from beginners to advanced divers.
Florida is underwater magic!
Bookmark this site, follow on social media, and let’s keep exploring together.
See you back here soon!
Remember, the best stories happen underwater.
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