From:    Richard Blackburn <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: FL Sites

>>My wife wants to know which of the following is the nicer dive site: Ft.
Lauderdale area or 10,000
>>islands.

The 10,000 island area has little to offer dive site wise.   Shallow and estuarial,
and on the Gulf of Mexico side of the state, which tends to be mostly sand and
occasional low relief rock outcroppings.

Easily the best diving in Florida, and in some places it's world class, is found on
the SE Atlantic side, beginning just north of West Palm Beach and reaching all the
way to Key West, about 240 miles.   Some of those areas are noticeably better than
others.   Ft Lauderdale is not high on the list of great spots either, as the reefs
are better developed slightly north and south of them.

The best developed 60 foot reefs are from West Palm south to almost Boca Raton.
With a constant current nourishing them, the entire food chain lines up for view,
and with drift diving you can cover over a mile with little effort.  The best and
most colorful 30 foot reefs start at Key Biscayne (below Miami) and run to Key West,
but drop noticeably in quality below Islamorada.     Shallow and with only tidal
current, and in water that never feels the chill of winter,  the bloom with colorful
coral and myrids of tropical fish.   For beginners, it's a quick demonstration of
why they got certified.   For advance, it's an opportunity to see 300 species of
fish without too much searching.

Headstones,  Markers, ashes scattering, and even burials at sea are common on the
Atlantic side.   Practically any diveboat in the area has done it more than once.

There's a photo of a grave marker on one of the artificial reefs in West Palm, put
there by the reef team in honor of a member who was killed in an automobile
accident.

http://www.wadespage.com/PB020301.shtml

That particular link has scrolled off the team photo site menu, but is still active
is you know it's there.


Wade