When people think of SCUBA diving in Florida they seem to immediately think of the Florida Keys. When I first started diving it was a surprise to learn there is good diving on the East Coast of Florida. Living on the Gulf of Mexico my entire life diving offshore of Naples never occurred to me until I started hunting big fish.
Diving here is different from the Florida Keys or the East Coast, but that is what makes it that much better. Southwest Florida has some very unique dive sites. Spots like the âBlue Holeâ spring that is in 70â and bottoms out at 225â and connects to the Florida Aquifers or the multiple radio towers that line our coast are both a must-dive. Other sites include the âBaja Californiaâ, a 250â Honduran freighter torpedoed by a German Nazi submarine during World War 2. Talk about some history! Once the gulf captives you, you will want to see all the dive sites it has to offer.
On a recent dive, out to one of the radio towers, we were met with a massive 30-foot whale shark. I was able to swim alongside this rare fish for a half-hour while it circled the tower. This was not my first whale shark sighting locally, but it was by far one of the best experiences of my lifetime. The whale shark seemingly had not a care in the world & had multiple schools of fish following it for who knows how long.
SCUBAdventures and Offshore Naples Fish & Dive Charters will be teaming up to organize trips out to the Blue Hole and the radio towers. If you would like to sign up contact me or visit SCUBAdventures.
Capt. Bill is a dive master at SCUBAdventures in Naples, FL. In 2013, his efforts helped to lift a 50-year ban on spearfishing in Collier County waters. He is the founder of the Naples Spearfishing League and is available as a local spearfishing guide. Contact Bill at naplesspearfishingleague@gmail.com – www.spearfishingnaplesFL.com or visit him at SCUBAdventures.