The Best Shore Dive in Florida

The area off Datura Avenue beach is regarded by many as the "Best Shore Dive in Florida." The REEF survey database for this area (www.reef.org) includes over 300 species of fish recorded by shore divers. This site is ranked #5 in species diversity for the Tropical Western Atlantic; the first four are shore dives in Bonaire.

Shipwreck Snorkel Trail off Datura Avenue

Created in 2002 because of Datura Avenue's popularity among divers, the Marine Archeology Council (MAC) and South Florida Reef Research Team (SFRRT) spent four years obtaining the permits necessary to place the Shipwreck Snorkel Trail just before the first reef line. This site is a replica of what would be left from a shipwreck in the early 1800s. All artifacts are within a 100' x 20' area. A set of two concrete replica cannons is on the North side and three on the South side of the site.

An authentic anchor has a pile of ballast stones in the middle. The ballast stones, made from limestone, have become home to a variety of juvenile tropical fish. Get your light out and spend some time looking around the pile and see how many different fish you can find. During the day you can find "Manny" the Mannytooth Conger Eel seeking shelter deep in the pile until dusk when he heads out to feed.

Directions to Datura Avenue and Parking

The Datura Avenue beach is one block South of Anglin's Pier on East Commercial Boulevard in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, just North of Fort Lauderdale and South of Pompano Beach.

Take I-95 to Commercial Blvd East in Fort Lauderdale
Turn South on A1A (Ocean Blvd)
Go one block to the traffic light & turn East on Datura Avenue
Cross El Mar Drive at the 4-way stop & head towards the beach

Parking enforcement is strict. Metered parking is $0.25/15 minutes. Bring a roll of quarters, as the average visit is about four hours or 16 quarters. Although this area is safe, always lock your car, and don't leave valuables in sight. Your choices for parking are:

10 spots right next to the beach. You need to be at Datura before 8:30 AM on weekends to get one of these great parking spots. You may not park here after 9 PM. You can park by the shower and unload gear.
Across El Mar Drive, there are 8 more spots on Datura Avenue. Park here if you are doing some late-night diving.
North on El Mar Drive and two blocks away is more parking.

View Larger Map

Dive Plans

for layout of Datura Avenue Dive Site and Shipwreck Snorkel Trail

Gearing Up

Carry your cylinders and gear past the shady pavilion to the two-foot seawall. Assemble your SCUBA unit. Set your fins, flags, and extra stuff right next to your rig. After you've tested and set up your gear, put on your wetsuit. You might wish to take a quick shower to remain cool. Then proceed to water's edge.

Average Conditions

Depth 18 ft on sand, 12 ft on top of the reef
25 ft of visibility (Usually morning is best)
Water Temperature 72°F winter, 84°F summer
1-2 foot waves
Slight North current at bottom (.25 knots)
Surface current from same direction as wind
Light surge (consistent with wave size)

To determine today's conditions:

Look at the people floating in the water. Which way are they moving? That's the surface current.
When you swim by the buoy, look at the rope. If it's straight, there is current. If it is dangling and bouncing, then it's just the waves.
When you descend on the snorkel trail, stop and hover next to a stationary object. If you are moving, that's current. If you are swaying side-to-side, that's surge.

Remain mindful of condition changes.

Returning to Shore

Walk up the beach and sit down on the wall next to the shower. Rinse your gear while breaking it down. Please share the shower with beach goers. Get ready for questions! "Did you see any sharks?" "What did you see out there?" "Is there anything out there?" " How many lobsters did you catch?" Now that you're there, enjoy the day. There are plenty of shops and restaurants on the corner of Commercial and El Mar Drive.

A: Out and Back South (Novice Dive)

		Swim out on your back 10 feet past the buoy. You should see the Shipwreck Snorkel Trail below you. Descend and swim due East. You will see the hard bottom for 75 feet, an area that looks like "Swiss Cheese" for 50 feet, and then patch areas for 25 feet. That is the first reef line. Then you cross 75 feet of pure sand. The sand will turn into rubble and shells as you get closer. Then the second reef line will appear. Hard corals the size of garbage cans will be in front of you. Note your pressure and the time it took you to swim out there! Add 400 psi to that amount for safety and subtract it from the gas you have left. Take half the remaining gas to swim South along the edge of the reef. Typically, a North current makes your swim home easier. When you reach your turn pressure, head back North.
		When you reach the "Alien Probe," a four-foot-long concrete cylinder along the reef's edge, head West back to the snorkel trail. Begin your easy underwater swim for shore from the first reef line and with about 1000 psi. Depending on how the dive goes, feel free to use some of the reserve gas to enjoy the dive. As with all diving, plan to surface with at least 300 psi in your cylinder.

B: Out and Back North (Intermediate Dive)

Start the same as for Plan "A." Swim out on your back 10 feet past the buoy. You should see the Shipwreck Snorkel Trail below you. Descend and swim due East. You will see the hard bottom for 75 feet, an area that looks like "Swiss Cheese" for 50 feet, and then patch areas for 25 feet. That is the first reef line. Then you cross 75 feet of pure sand. The sand will turn into rubble and shells as you get closer. Then the second reef line will appear.

Hard corals the size of garbage cans will be in front of you. Note your pressure and the time it took you to swim out there! Add 400 psi to that amount for safety and subtract it from the gas you have left. Take half the remaining gas to swim North along the edge of the reef. Remember, you are probably going WITH the current, so your swim home will require more gas and time. Generally reserve an extra five minutes or 200 psi. The North route has much bigger and denser hard coral populations. There are also more fish as you pass the pier. Again, if you follow the edge, you will hit the "Alien Probe" and turn West to head in.

C: 1st and 2nd Reef Combo (Advanced Dive)

Swim out on your back 10 feet past the buoy. You should see the Shipwreck Snorkel Trail below you. Descend and swim to the South group of three cannons. From there, take a heading of 150 degrees (SE) across the first reef line until you reach the "Swiss Cheese" then turn South and follow that edge. You should hit a large group of four coral colonies that have grown together. Continue South for 1000 psi or 25 minutes. Then turn East and swim across the rest of the first reef and the sand to the second reef edge.

If you make it a block South, you will find an excellent section of hard coral. Now turn North and ride the current while you explore the second reef line edge. There is a second "Alien Probe." You can distinguish between the two as the Southern one has soft corals and sea fans growing on top of it. It is very decorated. It's a nice easy 20-minute swim between the two probes. You will pass several car tires embedded in the reef along the way. Once you reach the second probe, turn West and head back in to Datura Avenue. Your first time, you might want to keep the dive to an hour, swimming 20-minute legs. As you get better at estimating your gas consumption, you can expand the dive to cover more ground.