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 were They dove in waters around 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 available wreck dives in Florida that you will have a hard time choosing which ones to dive at. 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 were the most used passage for ships to access the Gulf Stream and receive the impetus of these fast currents for their return trip through the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these ships never made it home safely, but were caught up in one of the many tragedies that befell the ill-equipped ship when it defied 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 on the shoreline in what is now known as Pensacola Bay were unloading ships when the massive storm reached them. Of course, there were no storm warnings like we have today and they were taken by surprise. The result of the loss of the eleven ships would soon become the colony’s demise, which lasted only 60 years.
The Trinity is another great place to dive a wreck. This French shipwreck lies 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 dive the St. Augustine shipwreck, 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 some wreck diving. Two ships in the fleet of 27 ships, the Atocha and the Santa Margarita, went to their watery graves along with 380 sailors during a hurricane in 1622. The fleet had more than $250 million in cargo between them and the Atocha proved to be a big job. profitable salvage ship once 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 plantations, sank. Today you can visit Key West on 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 in 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 shipwrecks covering more than 80 miles of the Florida Keys seascape due to this storm. The Spanish saved this ship only to find that she had been burned to the waterline so the pirates couldn’t loot it.
In 1713, a ship called the Urca de Lima, owned by the Spanish, ran aground on a sandbar off Florida’s Atlantic coast during a hurricane. Nine other ships were lost during this hurricane, but because the Urca de Lima was beached and did not sink like the others, it was used as a supply ship for the survivors of the other wrecks, 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 to dive even in winter. In fact, winter is peak season in this southern state. You can get discount fares if you choose to travel to Florida during the low season, which is May through November. You will also enjoy less crowded areas and beaches with fewer visitors.
While planning your Florida wreck dive, make sure to have all of your scuba gear checked by a professional so that you don’t experience any problems while visiting a wreck. If you don’t want to bring your own dive gear, there are many dive shops located along Florida’s shores ready to cater to your every need.
If you want to make sure you find the wrecks, it’s handy to dive with a specialized wreck diving charter boat. 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 you are in the water. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Be sure to stay with your dive group and your trip will be a great success.