Scuba diving for the first time can be quite scary and challenging. It might be easy for you to choose from plenty of dive destinations. Although there are lots of dive sites, Florida will always be on your top list. Florida is one of the best dive sites for beginners. In fact, it is considered one of the world’s best destinations for beginners. This article will discover more about Florida and why you should do your first diving adventures here.
Overview:
Florida is the main spot for scuba diving in the United States. The whole state was previously an ancient reef that has been secured over generally. Although numerous spots have disintegrated and opened up, there are caverns and cenotes even in the focal point of the express that are prime spots for some freshwater scuba diving in Florida.
Not exclusively are there some astonishing normal reefs, Florida is one of the main spots for counterfeit reef projects, and there are many these around the state too that are entrancing spots to explore. Likewise, the world’s biggest freshwater saves here to add to the unlimited open doors for the absolute best making a dive the world.
Being a landmass, Florida is encompassed by water on three sides, which causes the measure of dive areas to appear to be unending. The seashores are flawless, thus brimming with life and activities that you can do. Additionally, there are many spots you can discover if some other individuals, and you can have the opportunity to unwind and decompress. Obviously, you cannot explore the entirety of your energy underwater, so when not scuba diving, Florida has probably the best amusement of the entire US. Not all scuba diving in Florida is customized for beginners. However, it’s not astounding that peruses considered it the No. 1 in its area for beginner divers.
What’s more?
Reef fish, such as; yellowtail snapper, snorts, goatfish, and damselfish aplenty. The outstanding site is ideal for fledglings read like a study course in writing:
- Christ of the Deep statue in Key Largo in 25 feet of water.
- French Reef, likewise off Key Largo, in 15 to 40 feet of water;
- Islamorada’s Davis Reef in 25 feet;
- Sombrero Reef off Marathon in the 10-to 25-foot run;
- Looe Key, a prod and-furrow reef in five to 35 feet of water; and
- Key West’s Eastern Dry Rocks in around 35 feet of water.
How much it cost to travel to Florida?
The normal cost of a 7-day excursion to Florida is;
- $1,209 for an independent explorer.
- $1,764 for a couple,
- $3,918 for a group of 4.
Florida lodgings go from $67 to $328 every night with a normal of $109, while most excursion rentals will cost $200 to $560 every night for the whole home.
Normal overall flight expenses to Florida (from all air terminals) are somewhere in the range of $549 and $942 per individual for economy flights and $1,724 to $2,958 for five stars. Contingent upon exercises, we prescribe planning $51 to $104 per individual every day for transportation and appreciating neighborhood cafés.
Scuba Diving in Florida For Beginners
The Florida Keys and Key West Scuba Diving Sites for Beginners
If you have ever pondered figuring out how to dive, or maybe you’ve recently experienced diver, or even have a nice number of vast water dive under your (weight) belt.
Try to visit these intriguing waters that offer unending interest. For beginners and intermediate divers, the 125-mile chain of islands that interfaces the south tip of Florida by overland highways and arching bridges from Key Largo right to Key West coaxes with a wonderland of coral reefs offshores.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the third greatest coral reef on the planet, secures almost 3,000 nautical miles of water that stretches out from south of Miami right to the Dry Tortugas.
It’s a various territory that is home to approximately 6,000 unique types of marine life like parrotfish, seaturtles, different types of jellyfish, hogfish, dolphines etc. That implies on some random make a plunge the Florida Keys and Key West.
You’ll see all way of tropical fish and frequently greater animals, including the moray eels, nurture sharks, and even hawk beams. One thing you can generally rely on is a lot of wonder in one of the world’s best common play areas for all-year scuba diving.
Key Largo
This is likely the most mainstream reef in the state and is perfect for divers of all aptitude levels. It is, in actuality, the best spot for exploring enormous wrecks. The 510-foot Spiegel Grove is just like the previous Coast Guard cutters Bibb and Duane that anticipate the advanced divers.
Fish like the maritime jacks, silversides, and barracudas love it here. Close by Molasses Reef is ideal for beginner divers as it is a shallow reef. However, it is brimming with sound, beautiful coral overflowing with a wide assortment of various marine life such as; lobsters, moray eels, and nurture sharks.
Key Largo Water Temperature:
The flow water temperature
- Range of 77 °F.
Because of the tropical atmosphere, it enjoys throughout the entire year.
Key Largo is an easy warm spot to visit whenever of the year.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a perfect spot for beginner divers to scrutinize their abilities on smooth reefs. You will be wonderment motivated by a bronze statue of Jesus Christ with his hands raised toward paradise. It is said there are upwards of 40 living coral species and 650 assortments of fish that call this spot home, so you will need to take your camera! Additionally, many of vicinity region makes it more a magnificent spot to explore.
After an hour’s drive south of Miami International Airport, you land in Key Largo. A 33-mile-long island that is the northernmost in the Florida Keys. Here, in the upper Keys, is a perfect spot for beginner divers to scrutinize their abilities on smooth reefs inside the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. That is the place you’ll locate the celebrated Christ of the Abyss statue, where the bronze resemblance stands, arms outstretched to all divers and snorkelers in only 25 feet of water.
After you see the statue, your dive tour will probably take you to close by the reef, a spike and groove formation inside North Dry Rocks Reef where you can balance among stone and elkhorn corals that are statues of their own. Horizon Divers runs normal boat excursions to both dive destinations.
John Pennekamp Water Temperature
- The range around 70-75F.
Big Pine Key
Large Pine Key, a dependable, most loved dive site for beginner divers, is standing by.
This is home to what many think about the best wreck of the Keys, the Adolphus Busch Senior. It is right now the biggest wreck in the Lower Keys.
Initially named Ocean Alley from Haiti, this 210ft tanker was highlighted in the 1957 film “Fire Down Below.” In 1998, as a major aspect of the Artificial Reef Program, it was sunk into the ocean at 50-100ft depth. It is an interesting wreck, loaded with stunning marine life.
This is the dispatch point for dive to Looe Key Reef with Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center, which offers customary boat excursions to destinations inside the National Marine Sanctuary, the greater part of which are around 30 feet down.
Coral formations molded like fingers are anything but difficult to explore, and the shallow water makes the shades of the fish fly in the daylight.
As you enter the water, look under the boats, where tremendous goliath grouper regularly sneaks in the shadows. Parrotfish and angelfish are among the reef regulars. The waters around Looe Key; are also one of the more probable places in the Keys’ entirety to spotting falcon beams finning past.
Big Pine Key Water Temperature:
The average water temperature throughout the year is;
- The range around 26°C (80°F).
The best time for water activities is late summer since Big Pine Key is located in the northern hemisphere.
Key West
Key West isn’t just the biggest city in the Keys, yet it makes them astound wrecks that you will need to explore. The 187-foot steel-hulled transport Cayman Salvager once shipped Cuban exiles in the 1970s and ’80s.
It soaked in about 90ft of water simply off the coast. Likewise, here you will discover the USNS Vandenberg, which has been used to form a stupendous 520ft counterfeit reef.
Key West might be the stopping point in the Florida Keys for drivers. However, for divers, it’s simply the start.
Dive Key West offers trips for divers in all levels, yet a most loved spot to bring beginner and intermediate divers is the zone inside the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve; praised by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for having the best living space decent variety in the entirety of the lower Keys.
An adored site that local people call “the Cut” is a characteristic break in the reef with a sandy base, where divers have a good chance of sighting unique nurse sharks and patrolling parrotfish.
Dive Key West regularly visits a site called Haystacks as well, where little handles of pillarlike coral stretch up toward the water’s surface for a fascinating underwater scene.
Intermediate divers in Key West should take the risk to head down on one of the incredible take a dive in the Florida Keys Wreck Trek. The Cayman Salvager had its superstructure expelled by the Coast Guard and resembles a topsy turvy iron. It’s around 75 feet down to the deck, which completely vibrates, including barracudas and lionfish to grouper, moray eels, and jacks.
Key West Water Temperature:
The sea reaches at its hottest purpose of the year in;
- July and August
When the temperature midpoints;
- 87 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius).
The coolest month is;
- January
When the temperature is as a rule;
- The range around 69 °F (21 °C).
Conclusions:
Try to do some quick research on the internet, and you will see that Florida has many scuba diving opportunities.
You won’t regret diving in for some of its hottest dive spots.
So, what are you waiting for? Start your diving adventures in one of the best dive spots in Florida.
Don’t forget to take your PADI OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION. For more info, check here.