Florida

Broward 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



Pompano Beach, Florida. Close to Hillsboro Inlet

Hillsboro Beach

Lighthouse Ledge

I snorkel the outside part of the jetty (the side facing AWAY from the inlet, towards the beach, and shielded from the tidal currents) all the time. It's an easy swim right off the beach,  and drops off quickly to about 20-30 feet of water. Lots of hard corals on boulders on the deeper sections; some ledges; some rubble, etc on bottom. Depending on the season, barracuda, a few jacks and even occasional snook. Always parrotfish, blowfish, stonefish, schools of minnows and pinfish. Some caveats: its dangerous and illegal to swim on the inlet-side of the jetty; currents are very swift, the inlet is narrow, and there's a near-constant flow of yachts, cigarette boats, and day-boaters going through. Also, for max visibility, try to time your dive 3-4 hours after the incoming tide. That brings in fresh clear ocean water (visibility typically 20-30 feet) and leaves time for the tide to push back all the tea-colored water that comes out of the Intercostals Waterway on the outgoing tide.

From I-95, exit at Atlantic Blvd (Pompano Beach) and drive east all the way to the coastal beach highway, A1A (about 3-4 miles). Turn left (north) up A1A about 2 miles; just past the traffic light at 14th Street is a small public beach park (at 16th Street), with metered parking, bathrooms + outdoor shower. From there, it's about a quarter-mile walk along the beach to the Inlet (you can't miss it because the Hillsboro lighthouse is on the other side).

Hillsboro Inlet Jetty

This is a beautiful wreck dive off the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale coast of Florida.  It's worth diving because it is a recreational dive and contains plenty of coral and fish.  Ancient Mariner is oned for your diving log.

Sunk in 1991 as an artificial reef.

In front of Hillsboro Beach.

Ancient Mariner is also known as Nemesis.

Ancient Mariner

I dove here in January 2002. I remember a large series of ledges inhabited by large numbers of fish. I really did not remember this as being as impressive as north Deerfield ledges were, but while I did not see any, I was told this is a good place to look for lobster.

get off of the 95 at Hillsboro Blvd in Deerfield Beach. Go east to the A1A. Then go south on the A1A until you get to SE 5th Street. Once there go east for a short distance, then go S on S. Ocean way Follow this road, it will curve to the east. there will be parking at meters near the Cove Beach Club

Deerfield Ledges

Two angels statues were sunk here.

Located south of Deerfield Beach

Angel's Reef

The Rodeo 25 is a great wreck of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.  Nice soft corals adorn the wreck and fish are plentiful.  The Rodeo 25 is among the more famous dive sites of the area.  Big fish are also seen and petite fish are around the nooks and crannies of the wreck.

The Rodeo 25 is accessible by dive boat only off of Pompano.

Rodeo 25 is also known as Windward Trader.

Rodeo 25

160-foot US tender,sunk in May 14 1994

Out of Pompano beach

RSB-1 is also known as RSB1, Fishamerica, Jim Torgerson.

RSB-1

Stern is almost over the third reef at deep maximum of 65 feet (19 Meters ) and I am guessing that this wreck is went down about four years ago. Some penetration to wreck is possible with proper training, some fishes on wreck like smalls Hog fish, jakes, barracudas and tropical fish but nothing spectacular. I just dove this wreck for the first time on October of 2002 after find out from looking the scanning done by Broward county, before that I never heard about this wreck. I Named Mystery Barge because I could not find any information about it. It looks like a working barge that we see inside of inter costals I estimate the size is 100 feet by 40 feet. Good dive to perform a combination of wreck and drift dive. If anybody has any information about this wreck please let me know i will be glade to post in this site. 

Almost a mile offshore inside the third reef line about 300 yards south-east of Ancient Mariner Wreck.

Noula Express

Nice small wreck dive.  Large school of Jew Fish and the same Eel from the Sea Emperor came to visit.

Ship rests East/West and is in the same neighborhood as the Sea Emperor and Noula Express.  Would be fun to do a little navigation adventure if the current is weak enough.



United Caribbean

Fun Beach Dive.  Parking is a pain so plan on a drop off and a good walk.



Deerfield Beach North Rocks is also known as Boca Beach Dive.

Lighthouse Ledge

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Lighthouse Ledge