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Ft. Lauderdale and the Florida Keys
For full-wreck, reef and Sunshine State lifestyle overload, take on the full South Florida monty and start your dive excursion among the wrecks and reefs off Fort Lauderdale. This famous beach town boasts miles of reefs and more than 38 wrecks (both man- and nature-made) waiting in sport-diving depths, many more in the 130-foot plus technical range. Most are within sight of the skyline and bikini-clad beachgoers. Top descents include the Jim Atria, the Mercedes I, the Captain Dan and the Tenneco Towers. While you're on your total Florida immersion quest, continue south to the Conch Republic.
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WacKey West Go to the Mallory Square sunset celebration Key West's daily open-air party is the perfect kick-off for whatever kind of evening you have in mind. |
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1 The Spiegel Grove (Keys) 2 Looe Key (Keys) 3 The Jim Atria (Ft. L) 4 Tenneco Towers (Ft. L) 5 Christ of the Abyss (Keys) |
Four decades of marine-park protection have made a real difference in the Florida Keys. Jump in the water almost anywhere and you're swimming with hundreds of bluestriped grunts, yellow goatfish, surgeonfish, barracuda, bar jacks, midnight parrotfish, bluehead wrasse, sergeant majors and Bermuda chubs. You're also bound to see queen angelfish, rock beauties, trumpetfish, cocoa and yellowtail damselfish, butter hamlets and more gobies than you can count. The old saw "it's like diving in an aquarium" is really true here.
Wrecks are nearly as plentiful as reefs in the Florida Keys, providing dive sites for a variety of skill levels. The Benwood is an easy dive and crammed with life. The Spiegel Grove is immense; it's 510 feet long and reaches from the bottom, at 130 feet, up to 50 feet. Islamorada has the Eagle, Marathon the Thunderbolt. Big Pine Key has the Adolphus Busch and Key West has the Cayman Salvage Master. The Overseas Highway connects the islands of the Keys like the string of a pearl necklace; the freedom of a rental car is the way to travel this delightful ribbon.
www.sportdiver.com/floridakeys
