Kurt Kucera

Scuba Diver, Car Enthusiast, Outdoorsman

Diving Spotlight: Florida

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If you’re taking a vacation to Florida, or already live in the Sunshine State, activities like scuba diving and snorkeling might be on your agenda.  Don’t be too concerned about which coasts are nearest to you, fortunately for visitors and residents alike, Florida’s diving sites are located on multiple coasts throughout the peninsula.

 

Here are some of the best sites for scuba diving throughout Florida!

 

Biscayne Maritime Heritage Trail  

Biscayne National Park

Dive into some maritime history on the heritage trail at Biscayne National Park.  Groups of divers and snorkelers can take a visit here to experience an underwater history lesson spanned with shipwrecks dating back to the late 1800’s.  Provided with waterproof maps, divers can make their way to each separate wreck to explore the sites below.

 

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary

Big Pine Key

If you’re looking to experience one of the states beautiful living reefs, Looe Key is a great place to start.  A protected underwater ecosystem, this site is full of high rock ledges, colorful exotic marine life, and of course, miles worth of living coral reef structures that are more than just a site to see.  In fact, the reef was previously home to the HMS Looe shipwreck dating back to 1744. Though the wreck is no longer present in the reef, but it’s a great back story to how the site obtained its name!

 

Devil’s Den

Williston

A name with an interesting history, the Devils Den is a warm spring set in an underground cave with a ton of ancient history behind it.  It’s name was given by early settlers who, due to the warm steam coming up from the above ground at the caves location, thought that the site may be the pathway to hell.  While in the following years that theory was debunked, visitors can experience this underground wonderland while enjoying the warmth and scenery of this 2 million year old cavern.

 

Half Moon Preserve

Biscayne National Park

An early 1900’s racing yacht originally named the Germania, is the setting to this underwater diving site.  From it’s build date in 1908, the Germania had a number of different captains, homes, and two name changes, officially taking its final name “Half Moon” around 1920.  By 1930, the Half Moon was being used as a fishing vessel, until its ultimate demise during a storm.  Today, the wreck sits about 10 feet underwater, is a home for marine life, and a great attraction for divers looking to experience a little piece of history.  

 

Blue Grotto

Williston

Quite close to our previously mentioned diving site, the Devil’s Den, Blue Grotto is a stunning clear water cavern, that is open to divers and snorkelers of all experience levels.  With a maximum diving depth of 100 feet, divers can experience what is said to be one of the clearest waters in Florida.  An additional perk for divers is the diving bell at the 30 foot mark, where divers can take an opportunity to take a quick break and converse with their diving partner.

Oceanic Wonders Only Scuba Divers Can See

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When you become a fully certified Open Water Diver, it does not simply mark the end of your scuba diving course; it marks the beginning of the endless underwater adventures that are now available to you. Those who are now certified do not just go out and practice their skills in a swimming pool. This is your opportunity to break out the map and start creating your scuba diving bucket list to find the top spots where you will make your memories. You can explore historic shipwrecks, go up close and personal some of the world’s most feared underwater apex predators, and even venture into caverns and peruse underwater museums. Becoming a certified diver ensures that there will be something out there for you to explore. Let’s take a look at some of the oceanic wonders out there for scuba divers to explore.

 

Great Barrier Reef – Australia

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s largest coral reef system and has over 2,900 individual reefs along with 900 islands that stretch for over 2,300 kilometers and over an area of about 344,400 square kilometers. It’s not just the immense size of the area that makes for the unforgettable experience; it is also the diversity of the encounters you can have. From the scores of great humphead parrotfish swimming past to the spying giant clams, the Great Barrier Reef has so much at its disposal. Some of the best times come in June and July when there is the migration of the curious minke whales.

 

Underwater Museum – Cancun, Mexico

The Underwater Museum in Cancun was installed as the first underwater sculpture park in 2009 by sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. It includes life-size figures that act as a foundation. Each work in the underwater museum has become a habitat for many of the creatures in the surrounding area such as the budding coral, sponges, and shrimp and other crustaceans. Jason deCaires Taylor himself has recommended viewing his works at night as your view will be limited to what the light can illuminate which adds to the overall experience.

 

Ocean Cave – Palau

One of the most famous sites in Palau is Chandelier Cave which as mandarin fish who flit about near the entrance. Diving in this marine cave, you will find yourself along with stalactites and even find some reef fish as well. One of the things that make this place so spectacular is the four chambers that also have air pockets so that divers can travel through the dark tunnels and then pop their heads out to see a ceiling supported with formations that are as big as columns.

Diving Spotlight: Australia

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Scuba diving remains one of the most breathtaking and freeing activities a person can experience. The only problem at times is finding a safe and fun location to enjoy this hobby. Luckily, you can find an abundance of quality scuba diving destinations all over the world. Australia, in particular, is a hot spot for diving. The waters of Australia host some of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse environments on the planet. Divers can discover shipwrecks, caves, and even live coral reefs filled with colored sea life. Here are some of the best diving spots in Australia.

 

Fish Rock Cave

Located just two kilometers off Smoky Cape at South West Rocks on the New South Wales coast, Fish Rock Cave is a staple on most people’s must-do scuba diving list. It is home to a critically endangered species and includes a 125-meter cave which is actually the only true cave in all of Australia. In regards to the critically endangered species, the grey nurse shark, there is an estimated population of 1000-1500 left in Eastern Australia. They typically rally to Fish Rock Cave in bunches to feed, mate, and give birth. So, having the opportunity to watch these gentle giants swim in their natural environment is such a privilege for any diver. A great time to visit is between April and November as the ocean becomes home to Humpback whales and their calves who migrate to the area.

 

The Wreck of the SS Yongala

The wreck of the SS Yongala is another site on the bucket list for most divers. It boasts a plethora of sea life that define supersized and has a fascinating and slightly ghostly history. In 1911, the Yongala sank 89 kilometers offshore of Townsville. It took the lives of all 122 passengers on board and has remained undiscovered on the ocean floor for over 50 years. It is now a heritage site and artificial reef that hosts a variety of sea life and rivals many of the outer and more difficult to access parts of Queensland’s reefs. Due to the strength of the surface current, it would be best to have some diving experience and to be in good shape to handle it.

 

Osprey Reef

Osprey Reef is the volcanic atoll that lies beneath the ocean’s surface within the Great Barrier Reef. It does involve extra costs as compared to other diving sites. However, the benefit is experiencing the best diving offered at the Great Barrier Reef. There are large schools of pelagic fish, 40+ meters of visibility, and an abundance of shark actions. If you’re lucky, be sure to be on the lookout for giant potato cod, dogtooth tuna, and schooling hammerhead sharks. A quick tip would be to try a night dive where you would have the opportunity to see parrotfish asleep in their tailor-made mucous sleeping bags that masks their scent for potential predators.

Best Destinations for Beginner Scuba Divers

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When you’re starting out in any new activity, you want to make sure that you give yourself the best first experience possible. Scuba Diving is no different; you want to ensure that when choosing your site you consider not only your excitement but your safety as well. The scuba diving site you select should be somewhere that will give you all the features necessary for a memorable experience while also being appropriate for your skill level. Your first real dive trip is one of a kind, so you want the experience to be one that you remember for the rest of your life. With that in mind, here are some of the best destinations that deliver on the all the features necessary for beginner scuba divers.

 

Florida

The Sunshine state provides a plethora of diverse diving sites along with high-quality dive shops and operators. Water surrounds the state on three sides, and it boasts a number of freshwater springs in the interior. It appeals to many divers because of the variety of diving habitats. Divers can find wreck dives, shore dives, pier dives, drift diving, and even treasure-hunting diving off both of Florida’s coasts. In addition, just offshore of South Florida and down to the Florida Keys is the only living coral reef in North America. Divers will discover an abundance of marine life with the warm Gulf Stream current flowing through the area.

 

Bahamas

Located at the junction of the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans, the 700 islands, and 2,400 coral cays make up the Bahamas. The reef stretches 760 miles from Andros to Long Island, and it offers all types of world-class diving like shallow reefs, wrecks, blue holes, walls and shark dives. Plus with the warm water, high visibility, and gentle currents, the conditions make the Bahamas the ideal place for a beginner diver.

 

Hawaii

Beginners will love the chance to boost their skill set quickly due to the challenge of keeping neutral buoyancy while swimming through the lava-formed tunnel and arches at Tunnel Reef and First Cathedral in Hawaii. Divers can also enjoy the manta night dive of Kona which is a one of a kind nighttime experience that divers can have because of the site’s depth of 38 feet. Hawaii also calls to many families and couples and because of this, the instructors are frequently working with new divers and anyone looking to polish their skills.

Tips for Diving Safely with Sharks

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Diving with sharks can be one of the most exciting things you do in your life. However, it is still something you need to prepare for. Even if you have guides and safety equipment, it’s important to know what to do and not to do to keep you and your loved ones safe when going on the dive. Here are safety tips to keep in mind at all times:

Safety With the Pack

Stay with your pack. Don’t stray off. You could be a target if you’re alone.

Right Time

Read up on local shark times. Don’t go when it’s too dark. You don’t want to get lost in the deep blue.

Avoid Animal Groupings

Don’t swim near big schools of fish. They attract sharks. You could be caught in the action.

Choose the Right Operator

Your operator must be trustworthy. They should have experience. You are putting your life in their hands, after all.

Choose a Good Buddy

Your friends and fellow divers will help determine your experience. If they are too wacky, it’s best to find someone else who isn’t going to try to get a rise out of the sharks. After all, it’s all fun and game until someone gets bit.

Learn Behaviors of Sharks

Knowing how sharks behave is paramount to a successful dive. You can pick up on hints such as when they are getting hungry. Also, understand how to avoid them if they start targeting you.

Know Your Surroundings

Be aware of what’s going on around you at all times. Where is your boat? Where are your fellow divers? Maintain control of the situation to stay safe. This will also help you remain calm and steady your breathing. You don’t want to run out of air because you started to get anxious.

When it comes to diving with sharks, there are many things that you can do. You can enjoy yourself, immerse yourself in nature, and even stay completely safe. However, it is crucial that you follow the right safety tips. Without doing things the right way, you could put yourself and others around you at risk. So put the tips above to use and have complete peace of mind.