Water Activities: Recreational Diving

Explore some of the best wreck dives in the state, where newcomers can too, with the Discover Scuba Program!

One of the best kept secrets of the Forgotten Coast is close access to numerous dive sites with many area dive operators offering trips, air and rental gear. Our coast has relatively shallow depths providing longer bottom times and good natural light for photography of tropical fish. Some of our best diving is between 55 and 65 foot depths including many artificial reefs and the Sherman Tug, a completely intact wreck sitting upright on the bottom.

For experienced divers, the 463-foot long Empire Mica is a British Tanker sunk by a German sub during World War II, and considered one of Florida's best wreck dives, at 108 feet deep. The Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) has established over 200 reefs since 1997, which have become a haven for our healthy fish population. Visit www.mbara.org to view photos, GPS locations and videos.

Even if you're not a certified diver you can still experience diving in the Discover Scuba Program, offered by Dalys' Dock & Dive, which consists of a 30-minute DVD classroom instruction, a skill review in 5-6 feet of water in our bay, then an actual dive on the historic shipwreck, The Vamar, resting at 25 feet—all under the supervision of a certified instructor.