Florida

Escambia County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

Various marine life at site. Sea turtles have been sighted in the area. Other various tropical and typical Gulf fish present. 

Great shore dive site. Look for the two poles on the beach just east of the stairs to line up with. The artificial reef is located 300' off shore. A small buoy will mark the beginning and end of the reef.

Pensacola Beach

Navarre Beach Reef

One of the many liberty ships sunk in the Gulf.

Approximately 30 miles east south-east of Pensacola Pass. Approximately 19 miles south-west of Destin Pass.

Joseph E. Brown is also known as Navarre Liberty Ship.

Joseph E. Brown

Large area of natural limestone ledges, full of lobsters. A great dive site with abundant marine life.

Approximately 25 miles east south-east of Pensacola Pass

Timber holes is also known as Timberholes.

Timber holes

A classick wreck dive. The Brass Wreck is an unidentified 19th century schooner.It was given this name due to many brass pins being found on or near the site. The marine life is abundant:  Flounder, Snapper, Grouper, Barracudas, Trigger, Amberjack, etc. 

Characteristics:
Type: Wooden schooner
Length: 250 foot
Extra: Two large anchors 

Approximately 15 miles ESE of Pensacola Pass

Brass Wreck

Mohawk Chief is a 93-foot long tugboat; sunk June 23, 2003.



Mohawk Chief is also known as Sand Dollar Reef.

Mohawk Chief

The 400' hull of the Liberty Ship was sunk as an artificial reef in 90' of water , approximately 8 mile ESE of Pensacola pass.

7 miles ESE of the pass to Pensacola Bay

Liberty Ship is also known as Joseph Meek.

Liberty Ship

This is a barge sunk to make a reef. It is an easy dive that is always fun. Many types of fish, a sea turtle at times and a shark or two from time to time.

6.5 miles east of Pensacola Pass
N 30° 16.138' W 087° 10.157'
30.16.138N  	 87.10.157W

Tex Edwards

Recently( this February) I did a shore dive at the Destin Jetties in Destin, Florida.  I went there because the boat dives were all canceled due to bad weather. Of course that meant there was bad weather at the jetties too but I was so determined to dive in the ocean that weekend. I spent about 12 mins fighting the currents in 6 foot water and went about 9 yards. It was freezing cold and I had about 5 ft of visibility. It was a terrible dive but the locals I talked to said that on good days it can be incredible. I plan to try it again this summer. You are at the mercy of the tides for peek diving conditions. Obviously when I dove that mercy was not available.

There are jetties on both the east and west side of the pass - the east side is where people do most of their diving. To reach them, you'll want to get to Gulf Shore Drive and follow it past where it makes an "S" turn. At this point, be on watch for a gravel lane for public parking on the right side of the road. There will also be a single showerhead and a few signs that can be easy to miss marking the trail that leads out to the beach and the East Pass Jetties.

Destin Jetties

Destin, Florida, East Pass' east jetty is pretty much the only beach dive in the Destin area other than the Destin Marler bridge. Visibility can occasionally get above 30 feet but the average is more like 10 - 20 feet. 

This dive MUST be done during a slack tide period. This cannot be stressed enough! Check tides for Destin East Pass prior to attempting dive and plan your dive accordingly. A slack high tide will offer the best visibility as compared to a slack low tide after the bay has flushed through. Tidal flow through the pass can easily exceed 4 knots.



Access to the East Jetty can be by boat or by short walk to the beach by way of Holiday Isle.

East Jetty

Remains of 3 coal barges sunk as an artificial reef approximately 5 miles south east of Pensacola Pass. Depths range 45-60' . This large site is an area favorite for shell collecting and training new divers, and is home to an impressive array of marine life including resident sea turtles

1.8 miles off the beach, in 50 feet of water

Three Coal Barges is also known as Coal Barges.

Three Coal Barges

Unemployed oil rig deployed as an artificial reef in 1993. Depths range from 70-135'. The tremendous amount of marine life that inhabits and visits the rig makes this a spectacular dive and fishing site and a favorite for lobster hunters

Approximately 21 miles SE of Pensacola Pass

Chevron Rig is also known as Chevron Platform.

Navarre Beach Reef

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Navarre Beach Reef