Diving Florida’s East Coast
Some of the best diving on Florida’s east coast is from around Jupiter south to Miami. The Gulf Stream runs very close to shore in this area keeping water temperatures up in winter and visibility decent most of the year. Dives include reefs, ledges, oil rig platforms that were sunk offshore, and wrecks. Dive sites are easy to get to since you only have to go offshore a mile or so to get to the good stuff. Everything from small reef fish to large palagics run close to shore and can be seen on almost every dive. There is no shortage of diving in this area of Florida. Charter services are available throughout this area as well as some live-aboard charters that run to the Bahamas, which are only 60 miles east.
Best time to dive
Year-round diving is great. Summer months bring calm seas and some of the best visibility.
Visibility
Visibility ranges anywhere from 20 to 100 feet depending the time of year and what the Gulf Stream is doing. The best visibility is generally during late spring and all summer.
Water temperatures
Water temperatures rarely drop below 70 °F in winter and reach the mid 80s in summer.
Weather and climate
Florida has a semi-tropical climate. It is very hot and humid from June through August. Expect temperatures to exceed 90 degrees F and humidity to hover near 100 percent. Cooler temperatures are found during the winter months between December and March when temperatures are around 75 degrees and the humidity is much less. It rains nearly every day in the summer, but the showers are generally short and the sun usually quickly reappears. Florida is the sunshine state and also the thunderstorm and lightning state. Due to the abundance of warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the hot tropical sun, conditions are perfect for the formation of thunderstorms.
Language
English
Passport/Visa requirements
Canadians do not require a visa, only a valid passport or a birth certificate or citizenship certificate if arriving directly from Canada. Valid passports are required for all other nationalities. Visas are required for many nationalities. You should check current requirements before traveling as requirements can change very quickly. Visitors must have return or onward tickets and the necessary documents for further travel.
Currency
U.S. Dollar – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
110 volts AC, 50 cycles. Plugs are mainly the two, flat-pin type, though three-pin plugs are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter, which can be purchased in most major departure airports.
Capital
Tallahassee
General information
Florida is located in the southeastern United States. Florida is bordered on the west coast by the Gulf of Mexico and on the east coast by the Atlantic Ocean. Excellent beaches run up and down both coasts bringing travelers from around the world. Florida is flat and only several feet above sea level at any one spot. Florida is a water and boaters playground.
Florida is also the “sunshine” state and is known for many things: the Everglades; the sun, sand, and surf that make up Florida’s 900 miles of beaches; the Florida Keys; South Beach, the trendiest place in the world at the moment; and Disney World.
Map
Get a map of Florida from WorldAtlas.com.