Divesites
SCUBA DIVING & DIVESITES
Greater Fort Lauderdale is not only home to 23 miles of golden sand beaches but also to an array of dive sites and marine life. From Deerfield Beach in the north to Hallandale Beach in the south, a unique natural three-tiered reef system begins in 20 feet of water just 100 yards from shore at its closest point. And more than 75 artificial reefs have been placed on the ocean's floor over the past 20 years as magnets for fish and reef life. Beginning in depths of 30 feet, there are more than 100 dive sites with permanent mooring buoys to reduce anchor damage. Greater Fort Lauderdale was named Top Ten World's Best Wreck Diving, Marine Life and Value Dive Destination by the readers of Scuba Diving magazine. Immerse yourself in our turquoise waters.
Deerfield Beach to Pompano Beach
Our
northernmost municipality offers great wreck diving at the freighter
Noula Express, the Ancient Mariner, a ‘30's vintage Coast Guard Cutter
whose last duty was as a floating restaurant, and the tug, Berry Patch.
In depths ranging from 65 to 71 feet, these artificial reefs are
teeming with life. Natural reefs such as the Cannon Mounds, Hillsboro
Ledge, Abbey Too and the Horseshoe provide excellent sites for a second
dive. On night dives, the famous Florida Spiny Lobster are often seen
walking north in groups from two to two hundred, single file, scurrying
across the sandy bottom. The area is also home to "Stingray Alley"
where guided interactive encounters with friendly southern stingrays
are offered. Beach diving is accessible from several public areas and
off shore from most oceanfront properties, primarily in the Deerfield
Beach area.
Pompano Beach to Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
Home
to a great diversity of artificial reefs in depths ranging from 15 to
over 200 feet, there are dive sites just perfect for the snorkeler, the
sport diver or the technical diver. Wrecks such as the Rodeo 25, the
RSB-1(Jim Torgeson), a retired navy research vessel, the Captain Dan, a
retired U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender whose last days were in the
service as a missionary ship, or the newest addition the freighter Guy
Harvey, are just some of the dozens of wrecks in the area. Among the
reefs here, the Pompano Drop Off leads south to miles of shallow diving
sites, easily found by the reef saving mooring buoys attached to them.
A night dive along the Dropoff with a full moon overhead is truly
magical, with the white sand bottom at the edge of the reef reflecting
the moonlight. A dive light almost seems unnecessary. The steel-hulled
Copenhagen ran aground on the first reef in the early part of the
century hauling coal to Cuba. Her superstructure stood tall in the
water for over 20 years and was eventually used as a bombing practice
in WWII to keep enemy U-Boats from hiding behind her. Beach diving is
available in many public areas and from most oceanfront properties and
starts usually only 100 yards from shore.
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea to Fort Lauderdale
Some
of the most famous wrecks lie in this area. The world renowned vessel
that lodged itself against a millionaires' Palm Beach home, the
Mercedes I, shares the neighborhood with the 97' tug Jay Scutti, the
270' freighter Jim Atria, a collection of barges, a lighthouse
structure and concrete culverts named Hog Heaven, the venerable 50"
Houseboat and more. Mooring buoys identify great diving while saving
the second of the three reefs from anchor damage. Beach diving is
available with lovely patch reefs sprinkled along the coast in varying
depths and distances from shore. South of the pier along the first
reef, several concrete "dummy bombs" left over from WWII lie amidst
potholes. These holes are home to lobsters, hard and soft corals and
every kind of fish. Huge, gentle Whale Sharks cruise over the wrecks in
their annual migratory sojourn. Surfacing from a night dive, off shore
Fort Lauderdale offers an amazing view of the beach area nightlife
scene.
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood to Hallandale
The
crown jewel in artificial reef diving in the area has to be the Tenneco
Towers. Three levels of a retired oil rig placed at graduating depths
provide a rich attraction for sea life. Almost every inch of the site
is a feast for the photographers' lens. Barracuda Reef runs for several
miles in the shallow waters near shore, dotted with mooring buoys that
mark the best spots. Mine Car and Paradise Reefs are two of the
prettiest in the region, teeming with marine life. Mine Car is aptly
marked by an antique mine car that no doubt slipped over the side of a
ship in transit to South American mines. Paradise offers a splendid
"spur & groove" formation with sand chutes leading from the top to
the lower outside edge. There are many beach dive sites available, from
both public areas and private properties. Dive opportunities are
usually no more than a half hour from hotel to dive site. After the
dive, you can plant your toes in sand and do nothing, or wander through
malls or down elegant museum halls. From world class shopping to world
class diving and world class relaxing, do as much or as little you wish.
Wreck of the ALPHA Pompano Beach 78-80’
A 85-foot, steel hulled schooner was sank in 78 feet of water on March,25 1989. This ship was originally built as the Bahamian Alpha in 1918. She sailed as a charter vessel throughout the Virgin Islands. During World War II, the Alpha was used as a submarine spotting ship. She sits on her side in 78 feet of water and is broken up.
Wreck of the ANCIENT MARINER Fort Lauderdale 70-75’
The former 165 foot Coast Guard Cutter Nemesis served as a sub chaser during WW II. The 337 ton, rivet steel ship was permanently stationed in St. Petersburg. She was perfectly designed for search and rescue missions in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. From 1934 to 1942, she saved hundreds of lives as well as millions of dollars worth of property. During World War II, the Nemesis was used for hunting down Nazi subs, and proved very good at it. After the war, she returned to station in St. Petersburg until her was decommissioning in 1964. In 1979, a local business bought the vessel and converted into a floating restaurant and bar. The owner ran into financial problems and sold the vessel. The new owner renames the ship/restaurant as the Ancient Mariner and was scheduled to reopen in 1981. Just before the reopening in 1981, she capsized and sank at the dock, for no apparent reason. It took more then $85,000 to re-float and renovate the water damaged restaurant. In 1986, however, an event still remembered by locals sealed the ship's fate. More than 100 customers and restaurant employees contracted hepatitis A from an infected salad maker employed at the restaurant. This was the largest outbreak of hepatitis A in Florida history. She was sunk as an artificial reef in June 9, 1991 as part of the Broward Reef program.
Wreck of the BERRY PATCH Fort Lauderdale 70-75’
Originally known as A.L. Spencer, a tugboat owned by Marcona Ocean Ind. Built in 1940 and sunk at August 15 of 1987 at depth 0f 70' feet. She was originally used to tow sand laden barges from the Bahamas to Florida. It has length of 65' feet with beam 16.5' feet. According to the Broward County Artificial Reef Program, there is a 40 foot steel boat hull and a 50 foot steel houseboat lying 100 feet southwest of this wreck. The Berry Patch lies only 150 feet away from the Ancient Mariner.
Wreck of the CAPT DAN Pompano Beach 100-110’
The 175-foot Coast Guard buoy tender Hollyhock was sunk in February, 20 1990 in memory of Capt DAN GARNSEY, a long time Broward County resident and owner of the drift fishing boat Helen S. These ships spend most of her 53 years career as a buoy tender. Captain Dan has been prepared with large access holes between the forepeak, cargo hold and engine room, providing certified wreck divers’ easy opportunity for penetration. It is a jewel of a wreck. She lies upright in 110 feet and her wheelhouse is 70 feet below the surface.
Wreck of the COPENHAGEN Pompano Beach 28-32’
Scattered wreckage lies between Pompano Ledge buoys nos. 3 & 4. The 325-foot single screw steamer Copenhagen was built in 1898 just two years before she ran aground on the rock ledge off of Pompano. She was caring a cargo of coal to Havana at the time of mishap. This is one of Florida's favorite historical shipwreck dives. The site was used for target practice by navy fighters stationed nearby. In June 1994, the site was named as Florida's fifth underwater archaeological preserve. A plaque commemorating this distinction is next to a large limestone boulder just to the south of the wreck. Even though the site is ideal for the novice diver, many experienced divers have had a wonderful time exploring the Copenhagen.
Wreck of the NOULA EXPRESS Boca Raton 80-90’
A steel-hulled Danish freighter was built in 1939 as the Dana Land and sunk in July 12, 1988. She was 114 feet long, had a 23 foot beam and an eight foot draft and now sits in 74 feet of water. She was sold in 1954 and renamed Trelan then Kormad; after being seized by the federal government in a drug case and she was then sunk as an artificial reef. In August 1992 Hurricane Andrew tore the vessel into three pieces. The bow section point at the sky, mid section is collapsed, and the aft section lies on it side. This is not a pretty or great wreck but the surrounding reef makes a great drift dive.
Wrecks of the QUALMANN TUGS Pompano Beach 75-80’
This site is actually a series of small wreck that make for an awesome drift dive. This dive site has two old 32' pusher tugs and 3 more dredge pipe pontoons. Just north two 32-foot tugboats were sunk in December 1984 in 80 feet of water. Just 40 feet south of the tugs is the 85-foot schooner Alfa. A 50-foot Mathis Motor yacht was sunk in 1986 in 82 feet of water. About 30 feet north are two dredge pontoons and a nearby hull of a 34-foot vessel. As the spear fisherman will tell you this is a great place to meet bull sharks which are not a problem for the recreation divers. This is a popular place for schools of fish that hang around the wrecks.
Wreck of the REBEL Fort Lauderdale 100-110’
She was sunk during the summer of 1985, a 150-foot Norwegian freighter, built in 1947, was placed in the sea floor to become another spectacular artificial reef site. Her original name was Andrea. This open wreck is easily penetrated and has a lot of soft coral all over with numerals bait fish. The maximum depth is 110 feet and the wheel house around 85 feet.
Wreck of the RODEO 25 Pompano Beach 110-120’
The 215-foot twin-mast Dutch freighter Windward Trader was sunk in May 1990 to celebrate the Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo's 25th anniversary. This Dutch freighter was built in 1956. She is 215 feet long and has a 33 foot beam. This freighter sits upright in 130 feet of water. The main deck is at 100 feet of water and the masts rise to within 52 feet of the surface.
Wreck of the RSB-1 Pompano Beach 110-120’
A 160-foot US Tender was sunk in 120 feet of water the bow facing North on May 14, 1994. There are large holes in the hold making this an easy wreck to penetrate. The deck is at 90 feet and the sand at 110 feet.
Wreck of the SEA EMPEROR Boca Raton 65-70’
A 171-foot barge rests upside down in 72 feet of water. The east side is littered with drainage pipes. Just to the East of the wreck lies a huge 1,600 ton pile of concrete piping that has attracted thousands of fish in the few short years since its sinking. These culverts were originally supposed to sit on top of the wreck. When the Sea Emperor sank, however, the barge flipped over, spilling all the concrete pieces onto the sand. We use to feed the Sting Rays, Nurse Sharks, Moray Eels, and huge Goliath groupers in what the called the Aqua Zoo. The state decided that we were encouraging the Nurse Sharks (think big catfish) to attack the poor populist and outlawed the practice. We have stopped the feeding but the fish have remained and it makes for a wonderful dive.
Wreck of the TRACY Fort Lauderdale 65-70’
The Tracy was sunk in 1998 in 70' feet of water and lies upright. Ken Vitale was well known instructor that die of heart attack after making sure all his students where safely back on the boat. The wreck has a plaque honoring this well liked local instructor. This wreck is in line with the Scutti and makes for an excellent string dive.
Wreck of the UNITED CARIBBEAN Boca Raton 65-70’
The United Caribbean is a 147-foot steel cargo ship sunk as part of the Artificial Reef Program of Palm Beach, in August 22 2000 at a depth of 70 feet. The ship had been built in 1969 and called the Golden Venture. She had a Panamanian registry to operate only in waters around Singapore. But by the early 1990's, it was being used by smugglers to illegally ferry people and drugs. In 1993 the smugglers stuffed 300 people to cramped quarters in the belly of the freighter and intended on taking them to New York. The crew instead steered it in circles until the vessel beached off Queens. After a four month voyage, ten people died trying to swim to shore. It is sitting upright just 250 feet south of the wreck Sea Emperor. When she was first sunk you could read the Chinese’s graffiti written all over the ships hold. There is a series of lime stone boulders that run north from the wreck that will take you to the Sea Emperor.
Wreck of the UNION EXPRESS Pompano Beach 100-110’
A 170-foot Dutch coastal freighter sits on her side broke in two major pieces bow and stern in 110 feet of sand facing north. The vessel spent its short life in the northern seas; then later carried food in the Caribbean and down the South American coast. She was confiscated by the U.S. Customs from running drugs and later purchased to become an artificial reef.