New in Boca Raton

[Oceanborn829]

Hey all,
I just had a AB Biller 36" given to me as a gift since I've been wanting to start freediving. I currently attend FAU in Boca Raton, and I'm looking for some popular dive locations close by, and maybe some dive buddies too. I'm looking primarily for shoredive locations as opposed to some of the deeper dives you need a boat to get out to around here. Anything down to about 30-40 feet would be ideal.

I'd love any advice

[mattt]

There Is a good drop off just south of the Hillsborough inlet. It is 10-15 feet deep and drops to about 25-30. It's located about 500 yds offshore and is marked with white buoys. Kind of a long swim but its worth it. lots of fish there.

[Briguy]

I was out in boca for 2 days and found a good reef off of deerfield beach. Swam out and would just float for a mile scanning the reef, get out and repeat. Would love to go down there again but my friend no longer has that apartment and the drive is a little far from where i live just to do a single dive. For you though it's a simple shore dive and lots to look at. Good luck!

[Oceanborn829]

I was out in boca for 2 days and found a good reef off of deerfield beach. Swam out and would just float for a mile scanning the reef, get out and repeat. Would love to go down there again but my friend no longer has that apartment and the drive is a little far from where i live just to do a single dive. For you though it's a simple shore dive and lots to look at. Good luck!

That sounds pretty much like what I'm looking for. I'm guessing this was south of Deerfield's pier? And what kind of life were you finding, anything worth shooting?

[Cbuzo]

Sometimes I beach dive out of Boca and fort lauderdale , I got some decent spots up to 60 feet . Its a long swim but its definitely worth it for better fish . PM if you are interested in meeting up for a beach dive .

[FredT]

Step one:
Go to the campus library and check out the LIdar and NASA photo maps. These show hard Bottoms out to about 100', in a few cases they go out a bit farther.

Step 2 is to check out the beach road for public access point with parking and cross reference. Not many exist with good reef right off shore. My favorite for bubble diving without fighting the lifeguards is off SE 8Th in Pompano, with almost all of the reef being south of the entry. With the aid of a surfboard or kayak most of the second and third reefs are accessible too.

BTW I graduated with a BSOE from FAU in '73. Those near shore reefs were my grocery store for 3 years. Many reefs I dove back then have been either buried by beach replenishment, or the access closed due to condo and housing development but many others still exist. I knew most of the barnacles on the reefs between Boynton Beach and the Port Everglades jetty on a first name basis. Beware of diving too close to an inlet, especially on weekends, as many of the snowbird boat drivers have no clue what a divers flag is, and don't want to find out. I was run over close enough to watch the wobble due imbalance of the props several times.

[Briguy]

That sounds pretty much like what I'm looking for. I'm guessing this was south of Deerfield's pier? And what kind of life were you finding, anything worth shooting?
Yup would pretty much float up to the pier (even though you're not supposed to but nobody said anything). The day i went out didnt get anything special. Had a couple friends come out with me and one of them saw what he could best describe to me as being a mack or some kind of jack. He said it was big, i never got a look at it. Saw some nice sized nurse sharks and plenty of reef life. Would definately suggest giving it a try. I just got myself into spearfishing so basically i have a great time just looking at the reef life :p

[flspearin]

Hey, I'm at FAU too, hmu with a pm

[mattt]

At the pompano dropoff i was talking about, there is usually a good amount of
cero mackerel this time of year. Lots of big mangrove snapper, sometimes a hog or a mutton

[AndrewK]

Chatted with you on the other site bro!

Let me know if you need a dive buddy ever.... I can take the trirail up n meet with ya n get out. may be free before break depending on how finals week goes.

[Oceanborn829]

Chatted with you on the other site bro!

Let me know if you need a dive buddy ever.... I can take the trirail up n meet with ya n get out. may be free before break depending on how finals week goes.

I hear that, finals are already stating to take their toll. Haha