Florida

Miami-Dade 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

The Mandalay was a 128-foot double-masted steel schooner in the Windjammer Cruises fleet. She ran aground on Long Reef near Elliott Key on New Years Eve 1966 at the end of a 10-day Bahamas cruise. Fortunately, all passengers and crew were rescued, but the Mandalay suffered a watery fate. When the wreck was hard aground, looters quickly stripped her clean. Tug boats arrived shortly thereafter to attempt to pull her off the reef, but they only succeeded in opening the ship's hull further. The Mandalay was pummeled by rough seas and quickly sank.

Resting in only 10 feet of water, the Mandalay is now considered to be one of the best wreck dives in Biscayne National Park. Large sections of the ship remain intact and are easily accessible to snorkelers. After almost a half-century under the sea, the schooner Mandalay is covered with hard corals, sea fans, and schools of colorful fish. This is a site not to be missed.

The Mandalay is one of five historic wrecks designated as part of the Biscayne National Park "Shipwreck Trail". The shallow waters and surrounding coral reef make this a fantastic snorkeling location.



Islandia

Mandalay

The Lugano was a 350-foot single screw, iron-hulled British steamer with a 40-foot beam. Built in 1882 by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company, she originally sailed under the name Navarro. In 1897, the Navarro underwent a major overhaul and was renamed Lugano.

On the afternoon of March 9, 1913, the Lugano ran hard aground on Long Reef while on a routine voyage from Liverpool to Havana. She was ferrying 116 passengers, most of whom were emigrating from Spain to Cuba, and her cargos where filled with wine, silks, and assorted goods. As high winds and heavy seas pounded the grounded ship, a tug was dispatched to the site and all passengers were safely transported from the ship. Wreckers managed to recover most of the cargo over the next several weeks. However, the Lugano herself could not be saved. The damage to the hull caused by the reef, and the heavy seas eventually flooded her holds. She was abandoned early in April, nearly one month after sealing her fate on Long Reef.

Today, the superstructure is essentially gone, but large portions of her skeletal hull and ribs remain. The remains are encrusted in beautiful and colorful corals and sponges. The site provides a habitat for large numbers of tropicals, small grouper, and schools of yellowtail. Spotted eels, morays, and lobster can be found under the collapsed hull plates.

There are three mooring buoys nearby. Boaters are advised to use caution as the shallow waters near the reef often create strong surge conditions.

The Lugano is one of five historic wrecks designated as part of the Biscayne National Park "Shipwreck Trail". The shallow waters and surrounding coral reef make this a fantastic snorkeling location.



Lugano

The vessel Erl King was a 305-foot three-masted, single screw, iron auxiliary steamer with a 34-foot beam. Built in 1865 by A. and J. Inglis Shipbuilders, the steamer displaced 2,180 tons.

On December 16, 1891, The Erl King ran aground on Long Reef during a voyage from Swansea, England to New Orleans, Louisiana. Wreckers were able to salvage much of her cargo, but the Erl King was declared a total loss. By early January 1892, the site was abandoned, though later scrap salvage expeditions were reported.

Today, the Erl King rests in 20 feet of water off Long Reef within Biscayne National Park. The site is a marine preserve offering both divers and snorkelers spectacular underwater vistas. The outline of the collapsed hull remains framed by metal hull plates and wreckage. Concrete, which was stored in wooden barrels, has solidified and can be found near the wreckage.

Boaters are advised to use caution as the shallow waters near the reef often create strong surge conditions.

The Erl King is one of five historic wrecks designated as part of the Biscayne National Park "Shipwreck Trail". The shallow waters and surrounding coral reef make this a fantastic snorkeling location.



Erl King

The Almirante wreck is a 200' steel freighter. It was sunk in 1974.

Off of Elliot Key.

Almirante

Built in 1883 at a shipyard in Scotland, the Alicia was a 345-foot iron-hulled, three-masted steamer with a 38-foot beam. The vessel had two decks and displaced 2,800 tons.

On April 20, 1905, the Alicia slammed onto the north end of Ajax Reef, just south of Long Reef within what is now Biscayne National Park. The ship was en route to Havana, Cuba from Liverpool, her cargo hulls filled with fine silks, furniture, and general merchandise. Salvors from the Keys and the Bahamas worked meticulously to recover most of the precious cargo, but the ship itself could not be refloated. The vessel was abandoned July 25th, then sold for scrap in September that same year. Explosives were used to break up the hull and to recover as much of the iron and machinery as possible.

The hull and superstructure have since collapsed, and the surrounding reef has absorbed much of the vessel. The wreck remains visible and largely inline, consisting of the hull and keel of the ship. The site is an impressive scene, alive with schools of colorful reef fish, sponges, and coral. Lobster and eel are often spotted taking refuge under the hull plates. The shallow depth makes it a great spot for snorkelers and novice divers.

The Alica is one of five historic wrecks designated as part of the Biscayne National Park "Shipwreck Trail". The shallow waters and surrounding coral reef make this a fantastic snorkeling location. Boaters are advised to use caution as the shallow waters near the reef often create strong surge conditions.



Alicia

The Doc de Milly is a steel freighter built in 1949. It was sunk in 1987 (military target).
Length: 287'
Relief: 50'

Lies on the Edge of the Gulf stream, so the current can be hit or miss.

Also a popular fishing spot, so carry a knife and be aware of lines and hooks.

0.25 mile E of the Pacific Reef Lighthouse.

Doc de Milly is also known as Doc de Mille, Nuvio Rio.

Doc de Milly

The Blue Fire, a 175-ft freighter, was sunk in January 1983 in 110-ft of water.

This vessel was seized by the Coast Guard during the Cuban Exodus. This wreck is fairly broken up, though sits fairly upright on a white sandy bottom. It is an easy and safe wreck to penetrate and abounds with sea life which reportedly includes cobia, grouper, amberjack, barracuda and parrotfish.

Great dive for photographers!

Located in the Dade Sport Fishing Council Site North. The Bluefire is slightly south and east of Fowey Lighthouse.

BlueFire Wreck is also known as Bluefire Wreck.

BlueFire Wreck

This is an unnamed fantastic spot on the south end of the patch reefs which are just east of Broad Creek, in the Biscayne National Park. This spot has two mooring buoys, and is sometimes referred to as simply Ball Buoys Reef.

Here you'll find shallow waters averaging 25 feet, suitable for both snorkeling and diving. The area has a beautiful white sandy bottom with large coral formations rising up to 10 feet from the sea floor. A few swim-throughs are present along with small caverns and coral overhangs. The reef is alive with large coral formations, sea fans, colorful tropical fish, and an occasional lobster.



Ball Buoys Reef is also known as Broad Creek Patch Reef.

Ball Buoys Reef

The Arratoon Apcar, named after her original owner, Apcar and Company, was built in 1861 at a shipyard in Scotland. She was a 260-foot iron-hulled screw steamer with a beam of 35 feet.

On February 17, 1878 while on a voyage from Liverpool, England to Havana, Cuba, the Arratoon Apcar slammed into Fowey Rocks nearly colliding with the Fowey Lighthouse which was currently under construction. Ironically, the lighthouse was being erected on that very spot to warn vessels of the dangerous reef line which had already claimed more than one ship, including the HMS Fowey in 1748. Heavy seas and strong winds pounded the grounded vessel, pushing her further onto the reef. Heavy swells continuously lifted the ship, and then dropped her back down onto the cutting rocks. She quickly tore apart and was abandoned as a total loss.

The Arratoon Apcar is one of five historic wrecks designated as part of the Biscayne National Park "Shipwreck Trail". The shallow waters and surrounding coral reef make this a fantastic snorkeling and dive location. Boaters are advised to use caution as the shallow waters near the reef often create strong surge conditions.



Arratoon Apcar

The Steane D'Auray, often referred to as the "St. Anne", is a 110 foot North Atlantic trawler, sunk in only 68 feet of water. It has over 28 feet of relief and is basically still intact. There is still a picturesque air vent on the port side, the perfect backdrop for the underwater photographer. Some of the wreck has been torn apart and scattered across the bottom in the sand after Hurricane Andrew in August of 1992.

The St. Anne was sunk on March 28, 1986 and has a tremendous amount of growth. The rich nutrients of the Gulfstream have brought an abundance of life to her structure. Brilliant soft corals undulate in the current while the dark passageways beckon you to investigate her inner structure.



Steane D'Auray is also known as St. Anne.

Steane D'Auray

The Ultra Freeze ia a steeled hulled, 195' freighter with 45 feet of superstructure still attached. She was placed in the RJ Diving Ventures artificial reef site by the South Florida Spearfishing Council in the summer of 1984.



2 miles north of Fowey Reef Lighthouse (into RJ Diving Ventures Site).

Mandalay

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Mandalay