One of the most enjoyable dives you can do is wreck diving. Because travel by ship was the main way to get from one continent to another before the development of air travel, and because the technology used in ships and weather forecasting was not advanced at all, many ships They plunged into waters from all over the world providing dives that are interesting and fun. There are so many wrecks that only Florida wreck diving will be covered in this article.
In fact, there are so many places available for wreck diving in Florida that you will have a hard time choosing which ones to dive. Hurricanes, coral reefs, shoals, and pirates help sink ships that are often quite close to shore.
During the Spanish colonial period, the Straits of Florida was the passage most used by ships to access the Gulf Stream and receive the impulse of these fast currents for their return trip through the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these ships never made it back home safely, but were caught up in one of the many tragedies that befell the ill-equipped ship when it challenged Mother Nature. Many of these unfortunate victims of the sea have been excavated and await your arrival.
A great wreck diving destination is Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle. There are many ships within a small area. In Pensacola Bay, eleven ships were to fall victim to a hurricane during 1500. Settlers settling the shoreline in what is now known as Pensacola Bay were unloading ships when the massive storm overtook them. Of course, there were no storm warnings like we have today and they were caught off guard. The result of the loss of the eleven ships would soon become the demise of the colony, which only lasted 60 years.
The Trinity is another great place to dive a wreck. This French shipwreck sits off St. Augustine and sank during a storm in 1565 as the French prepared to attack the Spanish who had colonized this section of Florida’s northeast coast. After the ship sank, the attack did not occur. Today you can not only scuba dive the St. Augustine wreck, but also see other sights like the oldest school in the country and the oldest pharmacy, tour the fort, and have fun in the sun.
At the resting place of the Tierra Firme fleet you can do a bit of wreck diving. Two ships of the 27-ship fleet, the Atocha and the Santa Margarita, went to their watery graves along with 380 sailors during a hurricane in 1622. The fleet had over $250 million in cargo between them and the Atocha proved to be quite the job. of profitable salvage once it was located and now you can see for yourself along with her sister ship in the Florida Keys.
In 1700, the Henneta Marie, a slave-trading ship that had unloaded slaves in Jamaica and was in Key West to load sugar from the plantations, sank. Today you can visit Key West during your wreck diving vacation and see the oldest known wreck of a slave trading ship that has been identified by name.
While you’re in the Florida Keys for wreck diving, go see the San Pedro, which was one of the last ships of the New Spain fleet to cross into what is now the United States. In 1733 this ship fell victim to a hurricane along with several other ships traveling with it. There are wrecks covering over 80 miles of the Florida Keys seascape from this storm. The Spanish saved this ship only to discover that she had been burned to the waterline so pirates couldn’t loot it.
In 1713, a Spanish-owned ship called the Urca de Lima ran aground on a shoal off the Atlantic coast of Florida during a hurricane. Nine other ships were lost during this hurricane, but because the Urca de Lima was stranded and did not sink like the others, it was used as a supply ship for the survivors of the other shipwrecks, as well as the remaining French ship that had been accompanying the Urca de Lima. More than 1,000 men lost their lives in this tragic hurricane.
You can find still dives and find wrecks under the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of Florida, as well as some in the calmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico that stretch along the western coast of Florida and the southern tip of the Panhandle. from Florida.
Florida is a great place for wreck diving and you will find waters warm enough for diving even in winter. In fact, winter is the peak season in this southern state. You can get discounted fares if you choose to travel to Florida during the low season, which is from May to November. You will also enjoy less crowded areas and beaches with fewer visitors.
As you plan your Florida wreck diving, make sure you have all your scuba equipment checked by a professional so you don’t experience any problems while visiting a wreck. If you don’t want to bring your own scuba equipment, there are many dive shops located along the Florida shorelines ready to meet your every need.
If you want to be sure of finding the wrecks, it’s handy to dive with a charter boat that specializes in wreck diving. These captains know exactly where to visit and quickly and easily locate the wrecks you want to visit. These locals can also point out other sights to see and things to do in the area during your vacation.
While wreck diving, remember that safety should always come first when in the water. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Be sure to stay with your dive group and your trip will be a great success.
