Florida is a top destination for diving. Blue Heron Bridge, the state's largest artificial reef, is the best place to dive in Florida. For the ultimate Florida diving experience, make sure to visit the USS Spiegel Grove as well as the USS Oriskany. The Blue Heron Bridge is also a popular dive spot.
Blue Heron Bridge is the prime location for scuba diving in Florida
There are many great places to scuba dive in Florida. But the Blue Heron Bridge stands out as one of the best. You can dive from this bridge if you have a boat or are comfortable taking a boat. The bridge has a boat ramp on the north side and a beach on the south. The easiest way to get water is from the bridge's southwestern end. The best parking spots are first-come first-serve. Be aware that weekends and holidays are crowded.
A must-dive is the USS Spiegel Grove
During the Gulf War, the USS Spiegel Grove served as a Navy supply ship and sank off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. It is now a landmark Florida dive site. The ship once weighed over nine thousand tons, but the sinking event caused it to flip over and become an artificial reef. It was saved by Hurricane Dennis.
The USS Oriskany is the largest artificial reef in the world
The USS Oriskany is the largest artificial reef on the planet and is an attraction that is very popular with scuba divers. The ship, which is located on Florida's Gulf Coast, was damaged by Hurricane Gustav in 2008. The ship was salvaged and turned into a reef. The USS Oriskany, which measures 900 ft in length and is 145 ft wide, is the largest artificial coral reef available to scuba divers. Although the reef has yet to be inhabited, it's becoming a popular destination among scuba divers. Mola molas frequent the ship’s bow. Octopus have been known to hide in the crevices of the reef, as well whale sharks and mantas.
The diversity of wrecks in the area
Divers from around the world are flocking to the state to experience the varied marine life at these wrecks, including a variety of tropical species. These wrecks often attract schools of baitfish as well as an Elvis, a resident Jewfish. These wrecks are also surrounded with sponges, soft coral and hard coral. All these elements contribute to diverse marine life on these wrecks. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides this information to guide public policy and public education efforts.
How to get from one dive site to another
Florida scuba diving has a long history and is a top-rated sport. It also boasts a booming tourism sector. If you are not from the state, getting to a dive site is relatively simple. A car is necessary if you are planning to visit the state. The easiest way to get from Tampa or St. Petersburg to Sarasota or Venice is by car.