SCUBA DIVING IN FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
Diving in Fort Lauderdale means a combination of excellent shallow
reef sites, one of the country's best artificial reef programs, and
leisurely drift dives along the deeper reefs.  The dive sites are
scattered across the three distinct reef lines that run parallel to
the shore.
The first reef line lies approximately 100 to 300 yards offshore
with depths ranging from 10-30 feet and a terrific concentration
of marine life.  Beach diving is not allowed south of Oakland Park
Boulevard, but snorkelers are welcome anywhere.  Few large game fish
are found this close to shore, but the small multicolored tropicals
are found by the thousands.  The first reef also provides excellent
lobstering among the reef patches during the season which runs from
July through March.  Visibility is not always the best, as strong
winds will stir up the sand in the shallow waters.
The second reef lies about a half mile offshore with depths varying
from 30 to 60 feet, and usually excellent visibility.  The second
reef is a limestone ridge with spurs and grooves running east and
west across the reef.  The white sandy bottom between the reef spurs
makes this an excellent area for shell collectors.  This is also a
prime area for underwater photographers with gorgeous scenery and
plenty of schooling fish.
The third reef line starts about a mile offshore and runs at depths
of 60 to 150 feet.  Larger gamefish makes this area their home and
provide excellent spearfishing opportunities.  The visibility is
almost always outstanding in this region, and the current can be
strong depending on the winds pushing the Gulf Stream close to shore.
The dive boats in Ft. Lauderdale will typically schedule two-tank
dive trips with the first dive site at one of the deep wrecks on
the third reef, followed by a second dive at one of the shallow
reef sites near the first reef.
Here are some of the more popular dive sites in Fort Lauderdale:
Barracuda Reef -- Most folks who learn to dive in the Fort Lauderdale
                  area make their first ocean dives along this stretch
                  of the first reef.  Barracuda is a high-profile reef
                  ledge that  rises 10 to 15 feet off of the bottom.
                  The depth is 20 feet to the top of the ledge and no
                  more than 35 feet to the sand.  This is an excellent
                  spot for fishwatching.
Captain Dan  -- 175 foot Coast Guard buoy tender sitting upright
                in 110 feet of water.  Excellent penetration.
Erojack Reef -- Huge piles of concrete jacks (once used for protecting
                the beaches from invasion during WWII) provide a home
                for a multitude of critters.  The jacks start in about
                30 feet of water and run in a straight line back west
                towards the beach near the Sheraton Yankee Clipper Hotel.
                There is a second line of jacks to be found south of the
                entrance to Port Everglades in the area around the Dania
                Pier.
Hammerhead Reef -- An excellent deep drift dive site with a 15-20
                   foot reef profile in 60-90 feet of water.  You are
                   guaranteed to see some large pelagics on this dive.
Hog Heaven -- 180 foot barge flipped upside down while being deployed
              as an artificial reef.  The barge now rests in 65 feet of
              water near the remains of the Pacific Reef Lighthouse.
Jay Scutti -- 100 foot harbor tugboat sitting upright in 70 feet of
              water between three smaller sailboats.  The 95 foot
              sailboat Pride is 100 feet due south of the Scutti
              with the small 45 foot Moonshot lying alongside.  A
              40 foot yacht, the B. H. Lake, is 130 feet northeast of
              the Scutti.
Jim Atria -- 240 foot three-masted freighter sitting upright in
             135 feet of water.  One of the finest deep wrecks in
             the area, the Atria is for advanced divers only since
             the currents can be strong.  Complete penetration.
Mercedes -- 198 foot freighter best known when it was washed ashore
            during a storm near the oceanside pool of a Palm Beach
            socialite in 1984.  The ship was purchased the following
            year by Broward County and the South Florida Divers, Inc.
            dive club and intentionally sunk a half mile noth of
            Sunrise Boulevard along the third reef line.  The Mercedes
            was severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew, but still sits
            in 90 feet of water.  The wreck is split wide open and makes
            a very easy first wreck dive for intermediate divers.
Orange Reef -- Terrific shallow reef with depths from 20 to 30 feet.
               The reef is best known for a coral ledge that is 10
               feet high and over 50 feet long.  Several other reef
               "fingers" run east toward the sea.  The reef begins
               directly offshore from the orange roof of the Howard
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--- Dive, dive, dive!
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