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Florida's Top 5 Artificial Reef Dives
08/19/2008 - By Melissa Malka A quick review of popular Florida dive sites including the famous Hydro Atlantic and Duane Wreck dives. If you want your favorite dive site mentioned in a future article, send an e-mail to melissa@diveshops.com
(1) Hydro Atlantic, Boca Raton (SE FL) A wreck dive listed as one of the “Top 10 US Dives”, the 300 foot long Hydro sank accidentally on December 7, 1987 one mile east of Boca Inlet. Intact, the ship stands upright in 165 feet of water and those experienced enough to dive that deep are fortunate to lay eyes on a crane, still attached mid-ship, and a full engine room. A stark contrast to the intentionally sunken artificial wreck dives, the Hydro lacks the man-made access points but makes up for it in the abundance of soft corals and tropical fish in its midst.
(2) Duane Wreck, Key Largo (Upper Keys)Six miles offshore, another 1987 wreck provides ample housing for the resident barracudas that can be found up top on this 327-foot long cutter. Nothing to fear though, these barracudas scurry at the sight of bubbles pumping out of a reg and allow divers to enjoy the extensive sea life viewable while exploring the ship. The average depth of this dive is around 65 feet with a 121-foot max depth and a medium current. The Duane’s size allows for a supreme multi-level dive as the main deck rests at about 100 feet deep and the mast and crow’s nest around 60 feet, with plenty to see in between. This textbook perfect artificial reef houses yellowtail snapper, angelfish, trumpetfish, abundant plant life, and with luck – the occasional visiting sea turtle.
(3) ARC Radio Towers, Sanibel Island (Lee County)In the southwest Florida Gulf, 300-pound Goliath Groupers (aka Jewfish) inhabit the three steel radio towers that were donated to form an artificial reef, along with 129 other species of fish. The warm waters of the gulf make this 58-ft deep dive pleasurable and relaxing.
(4) Tenneco Towers, Fort Lauderdale (South FL)
In 1985, Tenneco Oil donated three outdated oil towers to encourage artificial reef development and helped create what is now the largest South Florida artificial reef system. The towers are home to several species of large pelagic fish, Spanish hogfish, sea turtles, soft corals, tarpon, and the occasional shark. Yellow cup and red encrusting coral adorn the buried towers, one of which has collapsed thanks to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The average depth here is 60 feet with a max depth of 120 feet. Divers are advised to plan their dive around high tide, as nearby Haulover Inlet can have an impact on visibility.
(5) Venice Beach, West Florida
Not officially considered a wreck dive, Venice Beach is frequented by divers hoping to find fossilized under-sea treasures like teeth from the prehistoric Megalodon shark. However, several small wrecks are accessible from this point and thanks to its great visibility and little current, Venice Beach is a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Four M60 US Army tanks secretly deposited there can be found at a depth of 50 feet and are relatively close to shore, if you have a boat! The Bay Ronto, another ship torpedoed by a German U-boat, is found at 105 feet deep and farther from shore – about 30 to 40 miles west.
---Mel
If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail melissa@diveshops.com