For those people who love the water or who are newbies who want to see the amazing underwater life up close and personal, there are many things to keep in mind before going “all in” to the water. Indeed, one pertinent question to ask is this: What is the best time to scuba dive in Florida?
Source: Florida Keys Scuba Diving
While the Florida Keys are warm and enticing year round, it’s good to keep in mind that during the winter in Florida, a heavier, thicker wet suit may be good for November through February. That said, visiting Florida is not an issue when considering the best months of the year to check out the majestic Florida Barrier Reef or somewhere scuba diving amongst a National Marine Sanctuary in the Keys.
The farther south you go in Florida, the better the chance is that waters will be warm for scuba diving Florida. Hint: The waters that kiss the coast of Miami and the Keys are your best prospects during winter months, but it is best to stay aware of the Hurricane season, which goes from late June to November.
And scuba diving Florida is a very fun method to understand the vast, yet attractive underwater life that is a draw for “snowbirds” coming down from Canada to enjoy the warm, welcoming waters of the “Sunshine State.”
The great thing about scuba diving Florida, besides nearly year-round temps above 55° Fahrenheit is that the Florida peninsula includes the Atlantic Ocean. Sea life is abundant and there’s the Barrier Reef for scuba diving Florida. Due south of the Florida mainland is the attractive and very welcoming Florida Keys, with a plethora of diving opportunities.
For beginning scuba divers, there are plenty of locations in Florida to get your feet wet — so to speak — and get that training to gain confidence to drop anchor off that yacht or party boat to explore all the many locales underwater to see amazing reefs, fish, Manatees and more. Florida is known as a land-based diving state, which means that if you want to dive in the springs, you can grab your gear and walk in with your flippers to start scuba diving Florida.
Source: Check Out The Best Dive Sites In The Florida Gulf Coast
Scuba divers can also drop off the side of the boat in some areas, but you can figure out which is the best option for you for scuba diving Florida. The good news is that the Florida Keys is known for having the best locales for getting instruction through many courses. The Keys has plenty of different dive courses and levels of scuba diving that are suitable for all age groups.
Florida has many artificial reefs. The Neptune Memorial Reef is one of them. This reef, that’s near Miami, is a unique project for many reasons. For one, scuba divers can check out intriguing statues and other artworks that are a lot like underwater art museums, which may resemble a sunken city that would be located somewhere in the Mediterranean. Secondly, new scuba divers or veteran divers would be able to have fun in a designated area that is 40 feet deep.
Those who are advanced divers can also check out some of the more exciting areas of the USS Oriskany aka “Great Carrier” Reef. Yes, this upright carrier is not for the faint of heart to dive around. With an overall length of 900 feet, scuba divers might find this locale, which is 20-plus miles from Florida’s Gulf Stream to be worth an adventure.
If divers ever wanted to witness a stoic aircraft carrier that sits upright, the “Mighty O,” or the “O-boat” is worth it. One might find the waters around this monster craft, that is masking itself as a reef might be worth spending a day (or two) in the water to dive near. After diving this reef, you may be able to gloat about having some scuba diving bragging rights or gain a new perspective about scuba diving in these enticing waters.
Source: Diving the Florida Keys
For Manatee lovers and general wildlife fans, there is a National Wildlife Refuge that is excellent to scuba dive with sights of the Florida Manatees up close and personal. The Florida Manatee is considered to be related to the West Indian Manatee.
