There is no reason why you should not be able to broaden your horizons while on vacation and learn something new. How about scuba diving? Any scuba instructor will tell you that the only necessary trait you must have to learn is the ability to have fun. They teach you everything else.
Scuba Diving
South Florida destinations provide plenty of scuba learning opportunities, since many diving expeditions will provide a quick certifications shortly before heading out. Once you have your diving skills in order, take time to explore South Florida, which is considered a premiere diving destination. There are many great, popular diving spots, including shipswrecks, offshore oil platforms, airplanes, tanks among others. These structures attract the growth of corals and a multitude of vibrant marine life, ensuring fantastic underwater photographs of artificial reefs. If you want to dive into the deep in unusual diving locations, get your GPS device ready and check these out:
Miami
Neptune Memorial Reef
(N25 41.41572 W80 5.44554)
This underwater cemetery is the first of its kind. It is an underwater mausoleum dedicated as a final resting spot for the cremated remains of those who loved the sea. It is located about 45 feet deep, approximately 3 1/2 miles east of Key Biscayne. As you swim through it, you will see actual gates, walkways, plot plaques, statues and benches. It is also the world’s largest man-made reef and makes for a strange, surreal and wonderful destination for certified divers. Among the cementary structures, schooling fish, sting rays, sponges and soft coral abound.
Boeing 727 Aircraft Wreck
(N25 41.880 W080 05.220)
Ever see a jet plane up close? Just off the coast of Miami, a broken up Boeing 727 jet is waiting for you in the deep. It was originally sunk as part of an artificial reef program in 1993. Going by the name of the Spirit of Miami, the pieces are covered with corals and snapping oysters. Urban legend says there is a time capsule hidden somewhere in this wreckage that will be unearthed and opened in 2043. If found by a diver, they have dibs to open it first.
Fort Lauderdale
MERCEDES I
(N26 09.370 W080 04.513)
This famous but rarely visited underwater wreck is a 198-foot freighter, approximately 97 feet offshore of Fort Lauderdale. The freighter’s deck can be reached at 60 feet and her tower at 45 feet. Florida hurricanes have, over time, almost torn her into two pieces. It is an enchanting dive for more advanced divers, as the current can sometimes be strong. For the serious recreational scuba diver, this would be in their short list of great dives. Sharks, turtles and other colorful marine life are common companions.
Capt. Dan Wreck
(N26 13.125 W80 3.975)
For all skill level divers, this 175-foot U.S. Coast Guard buoy has a long history, going back to 1937. Nowadays, she has been repurposed as an artificial reef. Named and reefed in the memory of Captain Dan Garnsey, a well-known local drift fishing boat owner, this vessel lies beneath 110 feet of sea water, with most of it under the sand. It is almost completely intact and has large access holes providing divers easy opportunity to enter and explore to their heart’s desire. Since there are many hiding spots, divers can expect to be surprised by the current marine residents.