5 Bucket List Dives in Fort Lauderdale

Every dive destination is known for its once-in-a-lifetime dives. These are the five bucket list dives in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Whale sharks in Mexico. Manta rays in Hawaii. And Great White Sharks in Australia. Every diving destination has its bucket-list-worthy dives. You know, those once-in-a-lifetime occurrences you can only witness in that specific location.

And surprisingly, Fort Lauderdale is no different.

Nestled in the southeastern corner of Florida is a city known more for its beaches and boating than anything else. However, scuba diving in Fort Lauderdale is incredibly epic. Deep shipwrecks are dotted along the coast. Three tiers of coral reefs running parallel to shore offer shore diving, drift dives, and deep coral reefs. The dive site prospects are endless.

But a few notable dives take the cake.

The rest of this article will highlight five epic diving excursions in Fort Lauderdale you need to add to your bucket list!

🐟 Bookmark for Later: Read our full article, The Complete Guide to Scuba Diving in Fort Lauderdale!

1. Lionfish Hunting on Third Reef

Fort Lauderdale ranks amongst the best in our lionfish destinations. The reason, it’s not so easy finding the dang invasive species like it is in places like Destin, Panama City Beach, and Pensacola.

You truly feel like a hunter.

Lionfish could be hiding anywhere on the coral reef or shipwreck you’re exploring. But with a bit of luck, the right hunting gear, and a few tips, you can find them. And it’s incredibly fun.

On Thursdays, Sea Experience makes a special trip to Hammerhead Reef, a deep ledge along the third reef line in Fort Lauderdale. It’s the perfect lionfish hunting ground: challenging, yet ripe with lionfish.

You’ll likely find some along the wall, and maybe even land the big one on the backside of the reef (this is where we shot a 16.5′ lionfish, check out the video here).

2. “Wreck and a Reef”

A curious diver asks, “Where are we diving today”? And Captain Mateo at Sea Experience responds, without missing a beat, “A wreck and a reef!”

It’s the standard procedure for every dive charter in Fort Lauderdale: the first dive consists of a shipwreck (typically in the 70′ range like the Hog Heaven or Miss Dania Beach) and the second dive is a drift dive on a shallow coral reef (in the 30′ range like Oakland Ridges or The Caves).

It’s a formula that’s been successfully performed for decades with little to no incident. And one that keeps divers interested, thrilled, and always curious to what they might discover down below.

🏴‍☠️ More Shipwrecks: 7 Best Shipwrecks in Fort Lauderdale

3. Shore Diving

The most distinct form of diving in Fort Lauderdale is from the shore. So few other places exist where you can do this, so it’s hard to overstate.

So if you’re ready, willing, and able, I highly recommend taking time for a shore dive before you leave the city! Some of the best shore dives right in Fort Lauderdale are:

• Vista Park Reef
• Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
• Oakland Park Reef
• 7 Best Shores Dives in Fort Lauderdale

🤿 Want more beach diving? Head north to Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach. It’s often regarded as the best beach dive in America and well worth the 45-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale.

4. Fort Lauderdale Wreck Trek

Three wrecks, one dive. The Fort Lauderdale Wreck Trek is one of few underwater trails in the world where you can hop from one wreck to the next on the same dive. Thankfully, the careful planning of the Broward Artificial Reef Program made it all possible.

The dive operator will drop you off on either the Merci Jesus or the Jay Scutti, depending on the current, where you’ll drift over to the Tracey and end on either the Merci Jesus or Jay Scutti (whichever you didn’t start on).

🤿 Read the Full Guide: Scuba Diving the Fort Lauderdale Wreck Trek

5. Tenneco Towers

The largest artificial reef in South Florida is surprisingly not a shipwreck, but rather an old oil rig.

This thing is absolutely massive, resembling an underwater skyscraper more than anything else. The abundance of marine life including large schools of French grunts, yellowtail snapper, barracuda, and the occasional bull shark make this heart-pounding deep dive all the more amazing.

🤿 Read the Full Guide: Scuba Diving Tenneco Towers

Scuba Diving Resources in Fort Lauderdale

So there you have it. Five absolutely incredible dives to do while visiting Fort Lauderdale, FL. Now, all you need to do is get there!