11 Reasons to Dive in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is a world class diving destination as it’s home to the only natural coral reef in the continental United States! Dive in Fort Lauderdale to experience a truly unique adventure!

Why You Should Dive in Fort Lauderdale

After living and working as a Divemaster in the Florida Keys, I packed my bags and headed north to the “Yacht Capital of the World” hoping to land some gig on someone’s boat.

Well, I eventually did. And it opened a whole new world of scuba diving to me. A world I never knew existed in an urban area like Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale is more than just a cruise port. It’s more than a party town. But rather, the city is filled with ocean adventures with a unique location for a scuba diving scene like none other. So dive on in. The depths of south Florida await.

1. Fort Lauderdale is home to the only natural coral reef in the continental United States.

Who knew? In fact, Fort Lauderdale sits along the third largest barrier reef system in the world, the Florida Reef Tract!

The Florida Reef Tract extends from the Dry Tortugas (70 miles west of Key West) all the way north to the St Lucie Inlet in Martin County (approximately a 360 linear mile distance). Only Australia and Belize can boast a longer barrier reef.

Along the tract is the best scuba diving the continental United States has to offer; a slice of a Caribbean paradise right in our own backyard.

Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Reef Tract: a three tier system

Fort Lauderdale’s portion of the Florida Reef Tract offers something truly unique: a three tier coral reef system. Sounds strange, right? Let’s break it down:

• Each tier is its own coral reef line. A state within a country, if you will.
• The three tiers run parallel to shore on a north – south axis.
• The first tier is closest to shore and sits in about 15 feet of water. These coral reefs can usually be accessed simply by swimming from the beach. (Beach dives, anyone?)
• The second is farther east and rests between 20 – 30 feet of water. Most dive shops in the area will go to these sites as their second dive of the day.
• The third is farthest from shore at about 45 – 60 feet before dropping off into much deeper, offshore waters. Stronger currents, larger coral walls, and marvelous marine life are abundant here. Not to mention, the many shipwrecks peppered throughout.

Diving in Fort Lauderdale offers you the chance to visit this natural coral reef system – an experience found no where else in the United States.

2. Beach diving in Fort Lauderdale is second to none.

Step off the beach and you’ll find yourself over a vibrant coral reef after a short swim. What do I mean? Beach diving, of course!

The three tier coral reef allows divers in Fort Lauderdale to walk off the beach, swim approximately 400 feet, and find themselves in a completely different world. The best part: this coral reef can essentially be found at any beach in Fort Lauderdale! You can literally discover your own section of reef!

Pioneering aside, some of the best spots for beach diving in Fort Lauderdale are:

• Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach (Anglin’s Reef)
• Vista Park Reef at Vista Park or Loggerhead Park
• Oakland Park Reef at Early Lifshey Ocean Park
• EroJacks in Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

Bring your gear (or rent) and head to any dive shop in Fort Lauderdale for some tanks! Happy beach diving!

3. Shipwrecks are abound in Fort Lauderdale.

Exploring the remnants of a shipwreck are on most scuba divers’ bucket lists. What better place to do it then Fort Lauderdale?

Broward County (home to Fort Lauderdale) began an Artificial Reef Program back in 1982. The project introduced steel, limestone, and concrete structures to the depths of the ocean providing attachment sites for coral – the building blocks for coastal marine habitats.

Today, more than 150 artificial reefs have been created, including 76 shipwrecks. These wrecks are now some of the robust dive sites in south Florida!

The standard Fort Lauderdale dive charter trip begins with a popular shipwreck – so your chances of seeing something amazing are high!

Popular shipwrecks for diving in Fort Lauderdale are:

• Hog Heaven: a 180 foot barge sitting upside down. This wreck is perfect for divers of all experience levels and is one of the most popular in south Florida.
• Lady Luck: recently sunk in 2016, this ship’s deck is fitted with a casino! It sits in 130 feet of water so an Advanced Certification is necessary.
• Mercedes: Hurricane Andrew wasn’t kind to this ship wreck back in 1992. She moved to deeper waters where she sits along the third tier of reef. She’s mangled but remains one of Fort Lauderdale’s best ship wrecks.
• The Fort Lauderdale Wreck Trek: if the stars align, you might even get the chance to dive three wrecks on one tank! The current needs to be just right but it’s possible to dive the Jay Scutti, Tracey, and Merci Jesus on a drift dive, hopping from one ship to the next.
• SS Copenhagen: one of the few authentic ship wrecks in Fort Lauderdale (not intentionally sunk). The SS Copenhagen is a 325′ cargo steamer that struck the reef off of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea in 1900. The US Navy permanently put her underwater during WW2. Her remnants can be enjoyed by scuba divers visiting Fort Lauderdale!

For a full breakdown of shipwrecks in the area, we recommend the Reef Smart Guide to Fort Lauderdale Diving.

4. Marvelous marine life call the dive sites home.

Every so often you hear the unbelievable, “a whale shark spotted at Hog Heaven! Black tip sharks on Hammerhead Reef!” You have to be at the right time and right place, but it is possible. Honestly, we’ve seen a handful of species from our list, the coolest ocean animals in Florida. Not to mention a few sharks, too!

Aside from the rare marine life, plenty of fish in the sea call the waters of Fort Lauderdale home too! Oh, and don’t forget a few reptiles as well.

South Florida is one of the busiest sea turtle nesting beaches in the world, particularly for loggerhead and green sea turtles. Between the months of March and October, sea turtles come to the beaches to lay their eggs. Meaning, sightings of sea turtles during these months are likely while scuba diving!

Keep your eyes peeled off the coast in Fort Lauderdale. You never know what you might see!

5. Tales of environmental mistakes still haunt the waters.

I guess this isn’t so cool, but it’ll explain a legitimate question you’ll have while diving in Fort Lauderdale: “why are so many tires in the water?“

To make a long story short, millions of tires were deposited into the ocean to stimulate artificial reef growth back in the 1970s. Sounds good in theory, right? Turns out, tires are terrible structures for coral growth.

The remnants of the failed project are still spotted on every dive site in Fort Lauderdale.

6. You can even try your hand at underwater hunting.

After moving to Fort Lauderdale, our underwater hunting game has stepped up a notch. Primarily in the lobster and lionfish departments. If you haven’t tried either, diving in Fort Lauderdale may be the best place to start!

The first and second tiers of coral reef are the perfect stomping grounds for both lobster and lionfish. You can literally catch your dinner during a beach dive, swim back to shore, and throw it directly on the grill. Fresh, sustainable, AND delicious!

Lobster are only allowed to be harvested in Florida between August 6th and March 31st. So catch them while you can!

As for lionfish? It’s open season all day, every day! They’re an invasive species, after all. And believe it or not, hunting lionfish is easier than you think! All you need is a a few pieces of starter gear and you’re good to go! Just be sure to sharpen your skills after a few hunts so you can catch more lionfish on your next dive!

Spearfishing is plentiful in the area, as well. But it’s not something we’ve personally dived into, quite yet. We’ll keep you posted, though!

7. Fort Lauderdale has a year round subtropical climate – perfect for diving.

Hate the cold? Us too.

Who wants to go diving in cold weather anyway? Fort Lauderdale has nearly 250 days of sunshine per year and a yearly average temperature of 74.45°F. Not a bad place to go diving, if you ask us.

8. The water is always warm!

South Floridian divers are lucky; the Gulf Stream, a major ocean current, is constantly bringing warm water to the area! Almost without fail!

What is the Gulf Stream? The Gulf Stream is essentially a river within a sea. A warm, blue current collecting sparkling Caribbean water and bringing it elsewhere in the world. Fort Lauderdale, and other south Florida destinations like Jupiter, Miami, and the Florida Keys, are the beneficiaries of this river!

In fact, from January to mid March, the average water temperature is between 70°F and 74°F (21°C to 23°C). From March to November, it’s between 75°F and 78°F (23.8°C to 25.5°C). Ideal diving temperatures for those seeking constant warmth! Myself included!

South Florida is closer to the Gulf Stream than any where else in the United States. The result? Vibrant coral reef, spectacular marine life, and warm, turquoise water. Dive in Fort Lauderdale and you’ll discover exactly what we’re talking about.

9. Relax on pristine beaches when you’re not diving.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale area is home to 24 miles of beautiful coastline – each offering something unique. After your dive, kick your feet back and enjoy the sun, sand, and surf at one of Fort Lauderdale’s beautiful beaches.

Or take it a step further and explore these cheap outdoor activities throughout the city. What better way to spend your time when you’re not diving?!

10. Enjoy all the amenities of a big city.

Dive by day. Party by night. Or, at least enjoy a casual night on the town. Whichever you prefer, honestly.

Part of the draw to Fort Lauderdale is the big city aspect. Think about it, what other major metropolitan areas boast world class scuba diving and big city quite like south Florida? I certainly can’t think of any!

11. Dive Shops in Fort Lauderdale are safe and professional.

I’ve walked into most dive shops in the area and I’ve never been unimpressed. Everyone is kind, genuinely awesome, and seems to know exactly what they’re doing.

The same goes for dive charters and schools. Don’t hesitate to book your next dive trip (or learn to dive) with any of the dive shops in Fort Lauderdale!

Happy diving, explorers!

Resources for Diving in Fort Lauderdale

More Dive Cards for Dive Planning in Fort Lauderdale

Waterproof cards are critical for dive planning. Here’s a few for popular dive sites in Broward County:

• Hog Heaven Wreck
• Mercedes Wreck
• Anglin’s Pier Reef (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach Dive)
• SS Copenhagen Wreck
• Lady Luck Wreck
• Broward County Dive Sites and Recreation Overview Card

Traveling to Fort Lauderdale for a dive trip?

Use the resources below to help plan your trip!