Many thanks to Chris B. for this review of Bradenton Beach

Reviewer		Site Condition (1=worst, 5=best)
Name:	Chris B.	Entry:	4.00
Email:	Click Here	Bottom:	2.00
City:	Clearwater	Reef:	2.00
State:	FL	Animal:	3.00
Country:	USA	Plant:	3.00
Diving:	33 years	Facilities:	1.00
Dives:	519	Solitude:	1.00
		Roads:	2.00
Evaluation		*Average:	2.45
A very DIVER UNFRIENDLY place to visit. I parked at the dive shop (right in front), spoke to the dive shop owner, and walked across the street to the beach to check out the conditions. When I return 10 minutes later my car, full of dive gear, had been towed away. After a heated discussion with the restaurant owner in the same strip mall and a threat of a lawsuit for stealing my car from an authorized parking spot and the involvement of several police officers, they returned my car. I gave up diving the Sugar Barge and moved up the beach to a public parking spot to dive the 'so called' 2 ft ledge reef. It was 'public access' parking and no signs said anything about scuba so I assumed it was OK. After suiting up, we made a 300 yard swim out only to find the visibility was ZERO. We gave up on the dive and returned to shore to find a group of OLD FARTS standing there with a cop who told us we were not supposed to be diving there and the residents were complaining. I pointed out that it was 'public access' and no signs said what we were doing was not allowed. Fortunately the cop was agreeable enough that he just asked us to pack up and leave. Based on my experience, I will never return to this pathetic place again and I would not recommend it to other divers (or tourists) as well.
		Enjoyment Level
		Snorkel:	3.00
		Beginner:	4.00
		Intermediate:	3.00
		Advanced:	2.00
		Night diving:	3.00

		Seasonal Information
		Season:	Winter
		Year:	2012
		Visibility:	1.00
		Current:	2.00
		Surf:	2.00

Site Review by Chris B. Date: 07/22/2013

Site Review by
Chris B.
Date: 07/22/2013