Scuba diving has become an increasingly popular recreational water sport and enthusiast travel the world in their efforts to visit the most popular sites. While places like Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Thailand certainly hold an impressive reputation, Florida is home to impressive sites of their own. Whether you’re visiting the northern or southern coastline, Florida offers more than a thousand miles of marine habitats.
The Florida Keys are a 120 mile long chain made up of over 1700 islands that offer some of the best diving spots in the world! The islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other and is the home to the only living coral reef in the United States! John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, stretches over 200 miles long, just off the coast of Key Largo. While diving in the keys you’ll encounter a number of shipwreck sites that span from Key Largo to Key West. The Florida Keys offer both shallow and deep reefs for varying experienced divers.
If you’re planning on visiting northern coastlines, the Tampa area is famous for spear-fishing. Tampa began building an artificial reef back in 1960 and has since developed a rather impressive site! Here you’ll find kingfish, snapper, cobia, and grouper, which live amongst concrete culverts, shipwrecks, and constructed fish havens. The depths here can ranges from 35 to 60 feet.
The current from the Gulf Stream makes for warm, clear waters just south of West Palm Beach, making it an excellent location for diving. The reefs here, which live just 2 miles off the coast, are covered with colorful coral and sponges. If you’re looking to spot a sea turtle, this region is home to several species.
Wherever you may find yourself, Florida offers some of the best diving spots in the country! Whether you’re an experienced diver interested in exploring deep shipwrecks, or you’re a beginner looking to spot a manatee, Florida has something to offer divers at every level!
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