|
|
Lauderdale by the Sea
|
|
Submitted By:
Wanda S. Rodriguez
Submitter Comments:
The very best shore dive place on the East Coast I have ever dove at has been Lauderdale by the Sea. I only made it out to the first reef but it was incredible. That should be your first stop.
Directions:
|
Diver
Reviews: (Please share your
own experiences by clicking
here!)
07/09/2008 Anonymous (Avg: 4.85 Review) - The reef was moderately populated with various ocean fish. While I observed a sting ray and sea turtle at this site on two separate visits to this location on two different days during the same week, don't expect to befriend any fellow snorkelers or divers. The people I met that were going to the reef were peculiarly unfriendly, and they rather be left to their own devices which was the opposite of what I had experienced in the past on vacations to other places.
01/01/2008 Breyn Fish (Avg: 3.92 Review) - My husband and I started out snorkeling on the South side of the pier and it progressed into diving! The first reef starts about 3/4 ways down the pier. It is very shallow with lots of life! The second reef is located due east. It our favorite and still not too deep...just a longer swim. Parking is $10 at the tiny little lot by the pier. There are restaurants and shops nearby for food and water. There is also a dive shop right there called Deep Blue (I think).
12/24/2007 Chris Harmon (Avg: 3.24 Review) - I live in South Florida and snorkel south of Anglin Pier all the time. For a while the pier was closed for hurricane renovations, but now it is open so keep 500 feet away. Looking at the pier, the covered structure in the middle marks the distance from shore where the old cannons are dropped. At the end of the pier is where the first reef or the "swiss cheese" is. This reef is only about 10 feet deep, so you can see all kinds of marine life. Turtles, nurse sharks, squid, angels and the usual small reef fish are all present. A great place for novice snorkelers and divers. Watch the direction of the currents which can be up to 5 MPH here. Swim in from the beach upstream of where you would like to drift over and let the current do the work. Also, someone in your group MUST have a dive flag, even when snorkeling, because South Florida has a lot of idiot boaters.
08/12/2007 Mike Walsh (Avg: 4.04 Review) - If you are coming from north to Lauderdale, take 95 south to mile maker 30. At the bottom of exit take a left [east] Go to RT.1. Take a right [south] about 3 miles. Find a parking spot on the beach, and bring quarters for parking!! Expect to spend 3 to 4 hours there. Depth is 20 FT so you will get 90 minutes from a tank. Have fun Its well worth the trip!!
07/16/2006 Cindy Thackston (Avg: 4.00 Review) - This was my and my husband's first time to the Anglin Pier beach dive at Lauderdale by the Sea. I am a novice diver and my husband is an advanced diver - we both enjoyed the 2nd reef off the Anglin Pier! We snorkeled out starting at 100 yards to the right of the pier as you face it from the beach, continued snorkeling for about 300 yards east and then we continued on scuba to about 100 yards north of the pier. We had been told by the Deep Blue Diving shop that this was the "sweet spot" and they were not exaggerating! We saw an electric ray, nurse shark, turtle, lobster, Queen Angle fish, Blue Tangs, etc. (the variety of reef life was in abundance) You have to take your time and look into the tongue and groove reef formation for the hidden surprises. We will be going back in the fall to continue our experience for 5 days.
05/24/2006 Tyler in Coral Springs (Avg: 3.29 Review) - I do about 200 dives a year at this site and many more times than that snorkeling. When arriving there, park to the right of the pier, in a small parking lot (think alleyway). That side of beach has sea turtles, squid, nurse sharks, skate, lobster, angel fish, parrot fish etc. Carry a dive flag as boats come close to pier (1st reef). I like this site because it's convenient, easy and peaceful. Weekends, get there before 9am to get parking in that alleyway.
03/25/2005 Matthew Bane (Avg: 3.13 Review) - Went to Lauderdale by the Sea to dive. My impressions was that it was really a bit overrated. Dove both first and second reef as shore dives, plus several boat dives. Reef is nothing like Mexico (or other places farther south) -- fewer fish, most coral is brown coral, vis for shore dives was maybe 30' on second reef, 15' on first. To be fair, we did the shore dives in the afternoon after boat diving so the water was more churned up than it might have been in the morning. Did see 1 nurse shark and an eel on the shore dives, but that's about it (besides some reef fish). Note that the shore dive depth is also only about 12' on the first reef, and maybe 20' on the second. If you are spending the money to fly to Lauderdale to dive and stay, do yourself a favor and go to the Riviera Maya south of Cancun instead. The cost of a decent all-inclusive there is roughly the same or less than paying full price for everything in South Florida, and you get world class diving rather than the over-hyped stuff you get in Florida. You can also easily take a $17.00 ferry ride to Cozumel from the Riviera Maya and dive in Cozumel for cheaper than it costs to go (boat diving) in Florida . . . Email me if you want any info, we go there all the time -- mmbane(at)indy.rr(dot)com.
12/23/2004 Bronwyn (Avg: 3.41 Review) - This was one of my first snorkeling experiences and it was wonderful! (Much better than the chartered dive I went on the day before) There was SO much to look at, the visibility was pretty good and the reef is SO accessible. I do have to note, however, that I was very sad to see fishing line crisscrossing the reef near the pier and also saw trash on the bottom like a cell phone and a large knife… let's hope this reef will be preserved because it is truly a treasure. Dreaming of Florida in St. Louis!
12/04/2004 Marvel (Avg: 3.10 Review) - As a resident of Lauderdale By The Sea, I have dived this site nearly 100 times or so. Max depth is less than 20 feet, visibility varies by time of year & conditions. Expect some surge & current. Depending on the time of year and the wind conditions, this is a great dive at any time. The reefs were damaged by last summer's hurricanes and many of the honeycombs are filled in halfway or more with sand but there is still plenty to see- turtles, nurse sharks, small eels, squid, grouper, parrot fish, & more. This site is located at the end of Commercial Blvd in Ft Lauderdale. Go past A1A one block, turn either left or right, go 1 or 2 blocks & park as close to the beach as you can.
10/29/2004 Jason NYC (Avg: 3.71 Review) - Lauderdale by The Sea is a lovely little town just outside of Ft. Lauderdale that boasts a very easy shore dive that can be truly heaven (for a Florida shore dive) if conditions are right. It's like Ft. Lauderdale but much slower and less crowded. We stayed in a waterfront hotel so suiting up was a matter of walking out of our room and into the water for a 50-100 yard swim out to the first reef line of three. Each reef line is another 100 yards and gets deeper as you go. We always dove the first reef line at a max depth of about 20 feet. We saw a few boats at the outer reef line. The first reef line, located at the fishing pier, is not spectacular as far as health is concerned but it does showcase all of the usuals like Angels, Grunts, Grouper, Turtles, and more. We had a blast poking around with dive times well over one hour! Winds=N, Viz=20ft, Water Temp=87 during the month of September. Small surf. Mild S. current. This would make a lovely weekend trip as hotels can be found from around $50-$60 in the off season. If you drive, a small parking lot is located by the pier. Bring a ton of quarters for the heavily monitored meters. Restrooms and beach showers are by the lot. Flag required. Boat traffic is moderate beyond the pier. Surf and current vary with wind speed and direction. Deep Blue Diver's rent gear, if needed, two blocks away from the pier. Don't underestimate this dive. It's a fish watchers fantasy and the price is right. Free!
10/22/2004 Anonymous (Avg: 3.54 Review) - Snorkeled the site the afternoon before diving with family, wife, 20 and 14 y/o. Snorkeled out past the end of the pier. Visibility the same both days 45 feet. Saw school of tarpon, 8-10 of them, each about 5 feet. Saw angel fish, cuda, various other tropicals. Long swim in and out until you see something, but I have been told this is probably the best shore dive in Florida. Saw many of the same fish we see on Key Largo Reefs, just not as many and poorer visibility.
10/17/2004 Jeff Mitchell (Avg: 3.27 Review) - Entry is straight out from Tides Inn Resort. Look for a line of buoys. Start right there and go North and South in about 15 feet of water.
09/08/2004 Ray Clark (Avg: 3.91 Review) - Disclaimer, no diving is allowed within 300' of the Commercial St. Pier but this was a clean-up dive, well at least 1 of the 3 I did here! Ask a LDS about doing a clean-up dive here, it's definitely worth it! Under the pier were bait fish being worked by Jacks, Permit, Blue runners and Cuda waiting. A moving wall of Lookdowns. There are sandcastle looking blocks that are home to cleaners, Arrow crabs and at least one Scorpion fish. On the Swiss cheese reef I saw Sharptail Eels, Turtles and Glassy Sweepers. Near shore are Southern Stingrays. The three blocks south are pretty much the same but without the big schools of fish. Instead of feeding the meters park at the Commercial St. Pier lot, $5 a day during the week and $7 on weekends. There are showers at the end of every street.
04/09/2004 Grier (Avg: 3.73 Review) - After several years of boat/quarry/spring diving, this site was a welcome change. Park your car right by the beach, set up your gear on the wide, concrete wall at the edge of the beach, walk 10 yards across smooth, flat sand, and you're diving.
I've only been to the first two out of three reef lines, but I've seen nurse sharks and lobsters on every trip, seen golden and spotted morays, seen cuttlefish, barracuda, and the usual reef fish (butterflies, sergeant majors, groupers, grunts and the occasional trumpet fish).
One other real positive aspect of this site is the number of divers who frequent it. We joke about getting together a "pick up" dive trip, because there are always people there who will let you buddy with them.
Surface swim is roughly 75 yards to the buoy that signals the start of the reef. Drop down along the line and expect to see thee reef just beyond the crossed cannon on the bottom.
One of the earlier review was accurate about the parking situation. Lots of beachgoers will covet your space as the day wears on. Be courteous and they'll leave you alone. The crowd does make an early arrival desirable. When I went at 0800, it was empty; when I arrived at 0930, I had to park two blocks away.
11/06/2003 Anonymous (Avg: 3.75 Review) - Good dive site. Entry over the sand ok. Third reef is great once you get there. Remember: Whatever reef you go to will determine your return swim
08/23/2003 Jackie (Avg: 3.71 Review) - Dive was Ok the first time- entry was easy over sand and no rocks. Second time the surf was up and fighting to clear the breakers was tough. Nice enough reef down there- fair amount of sea life and in fairly good condition. There is parking- but it is a pain if you need to drive off to get fills - you will lose your spot. There is and excellent concreted shower area to rinse gear.
08/18/2003 Anonymous (Avg: 3.86 Review) - Great place to go without leaving the country. The site has a wide range of animal and plant life. It's nice to stay in a hotel on the beach and walk right from the room into the ocean.
06/29/2003 Anonymous (Avg: 3.79 Review) - Once you park, put your quarters in the meter! Max on the meters is 4 hours (15 min for each quarter) The beach police are always checking up on the parking conditions so security is very good! (still use common sense!) There is a fresh water shower right there to rinse off. Gear up in the parking lot and a very short walk (about 100 feet to the water. Swim out towing your flag ( remember the beach police...) about 60 to 100 yards out to the first reef in about 14 fsw. Lots of juveniles, gorgonians, reef squids and other marine life. 2nd reef at about 150 to 200 yards out is in 20fsw and a lot more lively! The 3rd reef I would recommend a small boat. Dive at least 2 hours before high tide, go early in the morning. Be prepared to be approached by lots a people asking "What's down there?" I usually park on the south side of the pier in the 1st parking lot after turning right off of Commercial Blvd at the beach. be sure to stay at least 150 or more yards from the pier which is an excellent reference point. Great loc for night dives!
ShoreDiving Resources:
Additional Resources:
Dive Site Links: (If you have a
relevant link for Lauderdale by the Sea, please write us
here.)
No external links have been submitted.
Dive Site Pictures: (If you have pictures
for Lauderdale by the Sea, please send them
here.)
Anglin Pier.
Submitted by Raymond Clark
Underwater.
Submitted by Raymond Clark
Underwater.
Submitted by Raymond Clark
Diver
Averages for Lauderdale by the Sea (1=worst,
5=best) |
Number of reviews for this site: 18
453-6-5-25
|
4.50
3.89
3.06