Many Southeast Florida area dive boats welcome Nitrox divers, rebreather divers, technical divers, as well as recreational sport divers. Dive Gear Express is happy to recommend a local dive boat where your style of diving is welcome. There are many reasons to dive the Southeast Florida area:
Biodiversity - Our reefs are teaming with tropical fish, the same species seen throughout the Caribbean. You may also see larger pelagic species that migrate through our area.
Dive Conditions - Because of the close proximity of the Gulf Stream, our reefs are bathed in warm clear water year around.
Short Boat Rides - The reef track begins less than a quarter mile offshore; be in the water 20 minutes after leaving the inlet.
Wreck Diving Capitol - Our area has over 100 shipwrecks suitable for diving in a wide range of sport and technical depths.
Drift Dives - Lazily drift along the reef with the current and surface when you are ready.
ALWAYS CALL AHEAD TO THE BOAT OR SHOP FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
Broward County Dive Boats
This list is neither comprehensive, always up-to-date, or intended as an endorsement or recommendation.
Keep in mind that NOAA condition reports and forecasts are just guidelines and tend to be pessimistic. They are notoriously inaccurate for dive planning purposes. However, if you are very susceptible to seasickness, be wary when the NOAA Coastal Waters Marine Forecast text reports wave heights exceeding 5 feet with winds that exceed 15 knots especially if winds are out of the East.
Local dive boat captains prefer the Windfinder wind, wave and weather forecast for Deerfield Beach. Windfinder specializes in wind, waves, tides and weather reports & forecasts for wind related sports like kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, sailing or paragliding. Forecasts are computed 4 times a day, at about 1:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM Eastern Time. Predictions are available in time steps of 3 hours for up to 10 days into the future. The arrows point in the direction that the wind is blowing. As with NOAA forecasts, be wary going out in reports of wave heights exceeding 5 feet with winds that exceed 15 knots.
Live Streaming Cameras
Although it requires a bit of experience to observe near the shore line to estimate dive conditions at the reefs further out, many locals and boat captains do like to take look from the beach if there is any uncertainty in the forecast. The City of Deerfield Beach streams a live camera view of Deerfield Beach adjacent to the pier. The Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society also streams a live camera view of the Hillsboro Inlet. Although, depending on the wind direction and tide, the waves in the shallow inlet can be worse than on the open ocean.
Average Water & Air Temps for Greater Ft Lauderdale
Fahrenheit
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Water Temp. (°F)
71
73
75
78
80
84
86
84
83
79
76
73
Air Temp. (°F)
66.2
66.6
70.9
74.3
77.7
81.0
82.4
82.8
81.9
78.1
72.7
68.4
Celsius
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Water Temp. (°C)
21.6
22.8
23.9
25.6
26.7
28.9
30
28.9
28.3
26.1
24.4
22.8
Air Temp. (°C)
19
19.2
21.6
23.5
25.4
27.2
28
28.2
27.7
25.6
22.6
20.2
Typical Sport Diving Boat Trip in South East Florida
ALWAYS CALL AHEAD TO THE BOAT OR SHOP FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
Booking Policies of Area Dive Boats
We recommend making reservations a few days in advance. Weekends, holidays, technical trips and lobster mini-season often require earlier reservations. Please make reservations directly with the boat. Reservations may be guaranteed with a credit card.
Boats charge between $75 and $100 per person for the typical 'Two-Dive Half-Day' sport diving trip, with the largest boats having the lowest prices because they can distribute the fuel costs over more passengers.
Dive masters work for gratuities, typically $15 to $20 per diver, which is not included in the charter price.
Parking may not be free depending on boat dock location; public parking is typically $1.25 per hour.
You will be required to complete a detailed Assumption of Risk and Liability waiver before departure; in most cases these are completed on-line using your cell phone. These typically make clear that the trip charter fee is for transportation only and you alone are responsible for your safety while diving. You will be required to attest to a list of specific declarations regarding your current health, physical condition, dive training and recent experience. For legal reasons, trips must be paid in full prior to boarding boat.
You may cancel 48 hours prior to departure time and receive a full refund. Failure to show up may result in your being charged for the trip.
The captain reserves the right to cancel or change dive sites, profiles and surface interval due to weather and sea conditions, experience level of divers, and other charters already diving/fishing the planned site. If the captain cancels the trip prior to departure, you will receive a full refund.
Preparations
Make sure your dive equipment is complete and dive-ready.
Most boats can supply AL-80 tank rentals of air or 32% Nitrox.
If desired, pack a towel, sun block, sunglasses and hat, medications, special foods/beverages, cash for tips and parking, etc.
Check in at the dock with the captain at least 20 minutes before trip departure time.
Always ask about acceptable parking locations after unloading, rapid towing of improperly parked cars is commonplace.
Bring proof of qualification to dive.
Do not make any assumptions about weather or sea conditions. If you are concerned, call the boat.
If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend taking an over-the-counter motion sickness medication the night before your trip just prior to going to sleep.
Pre-Dive
Trip length is normally about 4 hours and departs on time.
Travel time to the first dive site usually takes less than 30 minutes, typically 15-20 minutes.
You hear a safety briefing and a report of present conditions at each dive site.
Captain is U.S. Coast Guard certified and has dived the area for many years.
Boats carrying more than six divers will have a divemaster/mate.
All boats carry marine radio, cell phone, first aid supplies and emergency oxygen on board.
All boats provide ice and drinking water. Some boats also provide free sodas and snacks.
All boats have an emergency marine head (toilet) on board.
All boats have a limited volume freshwater rinse on board.
Dives
Sport trips include two dive sites (usually a wreck and reef, or two reefs).
Wreck dives are usually made using a buoyed decent line attached to the wreck.
Reef dives are usually drift style, and Florida law requires a dive flag/float and line for each dive team.
Upon request, boats can provide free dive flag/float and line.
You determine your dive profile, however divers may be asked to be back on the boat in an hour.
Usual minimum surface intervals are 30 minutes for Nitrox divers and 1 hour for air divers.
Surface interval can vary depending upon depths of first and second dive.
Depending on the circumstances, some captains allow solo diving for very experienced and properly equipped divers.
