Difficulty
Unrated
Viz (last reported 79098h ago)
Max Depth
Unknown
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Bradenton Beach
This is an easy beach dive and is especially well suited for beginners owing to ease of water entry and lack of strong currents. Depths are shallow, usually no more than 15 feet, and visibility is usually very good for this type of Gulf dive -- generally about 15 feet. Abundance of small marine life such as small reef fish, crabs, sheepshead, and snook (when they venture out from under the pier). Farther north of the pier (about a mile drive) is the "Molasses Reef" which is essentially the bowsprit of an old molasses steamer that sunk many years ago. All that is left is a small portion of the bow which sticks out of the flat surrounding sand. Not much as far as a "wreck" goes, but small reef fish seem to enjoy it.
On the north end of Bradenton Beach near the fishing pier. Take either I-75 or US19 to Bradenton and follow signs for the beach. There is free parking along the beach front as long as you get there early enough.
Access
shore
Nearby Shops
Tide Report
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Aaron Kelly
Jun 13, 2016, 12:00 AM
scuba
The sugar barge has been completely covered in sand due to a recent beach re-nourishment. The local dive shop told us that it's happened before and the site will recover some as the sand goes out to sea. They said maybe 6 months. When I was there, you could only see about 1 inch of a single piece of wood sticking out of the sand. It was the piece of wood that the marker was attached to. The vis was 2-3 feet. Flat seas, easy entry. Parking is available for free across the street at 'Sea Kat' divers. Until the sand erodes away some, I don't recommend bothering. Our group saw zero fish, and no boat remnants. Sea Kat does have a boat that you can buy a seat on to go to offshore sites that are worthwhile. The nearby Spanish rocks site was recommended to me as a nearby alternative; however it usually has worse visibility I am told.
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