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

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.

Islandia

Ball Buoys Reef

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

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

Wooden Ship 200ft lots of coral/sea fan sargent majors chub jack gray snapper west side of ship center is exposed at low tide no Knowledge of wreck but not speagal grove as marked on google. Great family dive 

From Angelfish Creek Southeast 8.25 mi. SW of Carysfort light.

200' Wooden Shipreck

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

Off of Elliot Key.

Almirante

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 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.



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 wreck site of the City of Washington is 325 feet long that sunk in 1891. An old and disintegrated wreck, but you'll find a plethora of marine life in and around this site.

The wreck is located offshore of Elbow Reef, approx 6 miles off Key Largo, directly ENE of the Lighthouse (between bouys E9 and E10). Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The City of Washington Wreck

Another area of wreckage at the Elbow. A tug and barge went aground in the 20s, dumping train track and wheels onto the reef. Little remains of the wrecks but the wheels. Huge formations of Elkhorn coral shelter schools of Goatfish, Snappers, and Porkfish. Colorful tropical fish are plentiful.

This site is accessed by one of the many dive charters in Key Largo Florida

Train Wheel Wreck is also known as Elbow Reef, Tug and Barge.

Train Wheel Wreck

If you plan to dive Key Largo, you'll find Mikes Wreck, or the now confirmed Hannah M. Bell, lying on Elbow Reef. Wreck.

Once a mystery ship, this vessel rests near two other popular Florida Keys shipwrecks, the City of Washington and the Tonawanda

The combination of Elbow Reef, along with three interesting wreck dives is why this is one of the best Florida Keys dive trips.

With so many other wrecks nearby, crystal clear water, and an amazing coral reef to explore, this is scuba diving Florida Keys at it's best.

When wreck diving the now confirmed Hannah M. Bell, you'll find her lying between buoy E2 and buoy E3. This position is only a few hundred feet from the Elbow Reef lighthouse which means night diving is possible.

The Hannah M. Bell is also shallow at a maximum depth of 25 feet. This makes this Florida Keys wreck perfect for those interested in Florida Keys snorkeling or for those who want to learn to scuba dive.

Ball Buoys Reef

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Ball Buoys Reef