Explore Florida

Diving in Florida offers a unique blend of vibrant marine life, diverse environments, and versatile dive styles, making it a truly special destination. The Florida Keys, with their tropical allure, are home to the world-renowned Great Florida Reef, one of the largest coral reefs globally, estimated to be around 7,000 years old. Here, divers can encounter colorful fish, sharks, rays, and even the occasional whale shark. From the thrill of exploring deep shipwrecks to the serenity of gliding over coral gardens, the Keys present an underwater paradise for divers of all levels.

Beyond the reefs, Florida boasts an impressive array of freshwater springs and intricate cave systems. Places like Ginnie Springs and Devil’s Den invite adventurous divers to delve into ancient underwater caverns, offering a different kind of thrill. During winter, Crystal River Springs becomes a haven for manatees, providing a unique opportunity to dive among these gentle giants. For those who enjoy a mix of shore, boat, and liveaboard diving, the state’s varied landscapes ensure a rich and rewarding experience that is both exciting and serene.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park adds another layer of biodiversity with its beautiful underwater landscapes. Whether you are exploring the vibrant reefs or discovering the secrets of submerged caves, Florida’s waters promise an engaging and unforgettable diving adventure, making it a must-visit destination for divers everywhere.

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Diving in Florida

Florida offers a diverse array of dive sites catering to both novice and experienced divers. The Spiegel Grove wreck in Key Largo is a must-see, providing an exciting exploration of a massive 510-foot vessel teeming with marine life. For those interested in shore dives, Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach boasts a vibrant underwater ecosystem, often showcasing unique critters like seahorses and octopuses.

Florida also stands out for its night diving opportunities, particularly around the Florida Keys, where bioluminescent life creates an enchanting underwater light show. While liveaboard options provide access to remote sites and extended dives, shore dives in locations like Venice Beach offer the chance to discover ancient shark teeth. This balance ensures that divers can tailor their experiences to suit their preferences, whether seeking the thrill of wreck diving or the tranquility of shore exploration.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Florida

Florida's marine life offers a vibrant underwater experience, especially around the coral reefs. Common reef fish include parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish, easily spotted by divers year-round. The warm waters also attract larger marine inhabitants. In spring and summer, sea turtles such as the loggerhead and green turtle are frequently seen nesting along the coast. Moreover, Florida is famous for its shark sightings. Nurse sharks are common residents, but during the winter months, divers might encounter larger species like the hammerhead or bull shark. Rays, including the graceful manta and stingray, are often observed gliding above sandy patches, particularly in the summer when they are more active. Overall, Florida's diverse marine life ensures a rich diving experience.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

9.9k Sightings
J
689
F
438
M
767
A
691
M
945
J
1.2k
J
1.5k
A
956
S
776
O
688
N
559
D
697

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

6.3k Sightings
J
472
F
319
M
485
A
423
M
543
J
759
J
922
A
529
S
419
O
415
N
463
D
537

Green Turtle

2.9k Sightings
J
160
F
103
M
180
A
238
M
240
J
356
J
423
A
297
S
205
O
204
N
271
D
246

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

1.9k Sightings
J
117
F
59
M
111
A
117
M
221
J
278
J
371
A
197
S
168
O
104
N
90
D
98

Loggerhead Turtle

1.7k Sightings
J
99
F
40
M
100
A
104
M
213
J
315
J
365
A
135
S
108
O
53
N
91
D
75

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

1.4k Sightings
J
98
F
75
M
78
A
56
M
174
J
153
J
215
A
157
S
114
O
77
N
69
D
95

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 360

Turtle

19k Sightings
J
1.6k
F
1.7k
M
1.8k
A
1.5k
M
1.4k
J
1.9k
J
1.8k
A
1.9k
S
1.4k
O
1.5k
N
1.3k
D
1.2k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 19

Bass

13k Sightings
J
917
F
1.1k
M
1.4k
A
1.1k
M
1.1k
J
1.4k
J
1.6k
A
1.3k
S
1k
O
1k
N
821
D
506

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

11k Sightings
J
643
F
462
M
696
A
694
M
936
J
1.4k
J
1.7k
A
1.2k
S
934
O
639
N
609
D
638

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Catfish

10k Sightings
J
992
F
906
M
962
A
729
M
727
J
799
J
900
A
870
S
734
O
774
N
818
D
739

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

9.7k Sightings
J
605
F
396
M
682
A
640
M
914
J
1.3k
J
1.6k
A
1.1k
S
783
O
542
N
544
D
606

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

Nurse Shark

6.1k Sightings
J
309
F
248
M
441
A
390
M
585
J
795
J
1.2k
A
637
S
464
O
354
N
372
D
355

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

6.1k Sightings
J
384
F
257
M
366
A
456
M
588
J
856
J
996
A
695
S
477
O
317
N
341
D
378

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

5.9k Sightings
J
358
F
290
M
340
A
377
M
567
J
863
J
1k
A
602
S
502
O
306
N
343
D
380

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

5.6k Sightings
J
351
F
262
M
395
A
396
M
483
J
744
J
861
A
601
S
425
O
336
N
336
D
400

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Perch

4.4k Sightings
J
210
F
220
M
323
A
362
M
403
J
475
J
575
A
543
S
424
O
346
N
276
D
198

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

4.2k Sightings
J
277
F
170
M
275
A
303
M
364
J
581
J
686
A
461
S
342
O
276
N
245
D
204

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

3.9k Sightings
J
302
F
182
M
291
A
257
M
385
J
542
J
604
A
366
S
301
O
203
N
213
D
284

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

3.8k Sightings
J
252
F
184
M
243
A
260
M
312
J
566
J
582
A
405
S
357
O
191
N
218
D
220

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

3k Sightings
J
194
F
132
M
191
A
197
M
291
J
459
J
474
A
312
S
250
O
165
N
179
D
173

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

3k Sightings
J
148
F
139
M
229
A
226
M
331
J
387
J
469
A
322
S
219
O
192
N
171
D
147

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

2.9k Sightings
J
159
F
129
M
193
A
188
M
277
J
482
J
493
A
334
S
241
O
136
N
147
D
156

Common Bream

2.8k Sightings
J
212
F
304
M
263
A
166
M
163
J
280
J
284
A
282
S
176
O
236
N
210
D
205

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

2.8k Sightings
J
203
F
95
M
144
A
175
M
244
J
440
J
486
A
293
S
196
O
152
N
172
D
178

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

Carp

2.7k Sightings
J
243
F
235
M
241
A
218
M
154
J
240
J
247
A
226
S
222
O
275
N
233
D
146

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

2.6k Sightings
J
211
F
108
M
131
A
223
M
262
J
258
J
409
A
227
S
167
O
172
N
175
D
225

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7

Gar

2.5k Sightings
J
249
F
308
M
318
A
185
M
147
J
214
J
223
A
177
S
143
O
245
N
207
D
121

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

Lobster

2.5k Sightings
J
162
F
114
M
250
A
170
M
236
J
365
J
372
A
235
S
151
O
144
N
154
D
138

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

2k Sightings
J
147
F
75
M
130
A
116
M
164
J
204
J
431
A
221
S
124
O
136
N
120
D
148

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

2k Sightings
J
133
F
62
M
77
A
99
M
206
J
341
J
352
A
194
S
185
O
95
N
107
D
116

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

1.8k Sightings
J
89
F
95
M
98
A
88
M
171
J
277
J
257
A
180
S
194
O
102
N
155
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

1.6k Sightings
J
97
F
67
M
82
A
76
M
167
J
197
J
281
A
170
S
188
O
73
N
134
D
80

Moon Jellyfish

1.5k Sightings
J
54
F
43
M
29
A
29
M
8
J
31
J
144
A
310
S
413
O
245
N
136
D
57

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

1.4k Sightings
J
104
F
73
M
73
A
68
M
120
J
246
J
228
A
73
S
118
O
75
N
77
D
131

Blacktip Reef Shark

1.1k Sightings
J
70
F
41
M
59
A
106
M
161
J
138
J
172
A
104
S
71
O
84
N
75
D
61

Common Seahorse

1k Sightings
J
81
F
71
M
142
A
66
M
82
J
112
J
137
A
103
S
52
O
40
N
48
D
66

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

975 Sightings
J
54
F
51
M
37
A
65
M
121
J
146
J
166
A
71
S
88
O
55
N
74
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

975 Sightings
J
90
F
27
M
47
A
70
M
73
J
139
J
165
A
69
S
92
O
75
N
81
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

966 Sightings
J
73
F
73
M
88
A
72
M
112
J
101
J
141
A
85
S
63
O
57
N
45
D
56

The best Months to dive in Florida

Florida offers diving opportunities year-round, with generally favorable conditions. Water temperatures range from 21°C–29°C/70°F–84°F depending on the season. Winter months see cooler waters, while summer brings warmer conditions, making wetsuits optional during peak summer dives.

Visibility is typically excellent, averaging 15–30 meters/49–98 feet, although it can be affected by local weather conditions. Winter and spring can bring stronger winds and currents due to seasonal weather patterns, potentially reducing visibility and increasing challenge levels. However, these conditions are usually manageable, allowing for diving all year. The most favorable conditions typically occur in late spring and early fall when the water is comfortable, and the weather is stable.

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