Looking for a scuba-diving vacation with breathtaking underwater views and tons of activities for all ages? Then Miami is the city for you.
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average ocean temperature
underwater reefs
water visibility
The tropical climate makes the city one of the best winter getaway spots in the U.S. and is key to its booming tourism.
Miami’s shoreline is teeming with yacht clubs, marinas and other attractions for every variety of water-sports enthusiast. The popularity of these water activities is due largely to the area’s heavy concentration of artificial reefs.
The area is known as a premier wreck-diving destination. It boasts more than 20 acres of carbon-based materials and approximately 90 acres of marine habitat.
The most commonly visited reef sites are the Rainbow Reef, Emerald Reef and RJ’s Ledge.
These popular reef sites are friendly to first-time divers, snorkelers and freedivers. For more eye-catching underwater discoveries, Neptune Memorial Reef, Belcher Barge and Patricia wreck are popular choices. They’re also beginner friendly and were made to resemble artifacts like sunken ships or the mythical lost city of Atlantis.
Rainbow Reef lies three miles offshore of Miami Beach. It’s a major hub for its collection of coral, gorgeous gorgonians and the critically endangered staghorn coral.
Emerald Reef overflows with marine life. Located south of Miami Beach, Emerald Reef houses grunts, barracudas, hard corals, gorgonians and sponges.
Farther north of these reefs lies RJ’s Ledge, which features marine life similar to that at Rainbow Reef and Emerald Reef. Its limestone rock outcroppings set it apart.
Sitting three miles off the coast, Neptune Memorial Reef is sure to leave an impression. The site is designed to resemble the remains of Atlantis, the mythical lost city.
If the aim of your trip is to uncover sunken ships, Belcher Barge has you covered. The site features a mammoth-sized, upside-down steel barge that measures 195 feet in length.
If Belcher Barge is too much to take on, consider the Patricia wreck. This 85-foot steel tug is part of a wreck trek that includes the Miss Karline, a police barge rock piles.
In addition to the six spots above, Miami has numerous diving destinations along the coral barrier. Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Key West are popular hotspots beyond the city limits.
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Dive Tours
You can enjoy the various eateries like the Yardbird Southern Table & Bar.
Enjoy bowling and retro music at Basement Miami.
Sip your favorite cocktails while surrounded by art deco at Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
Travelers of all ages can partake in shopping at Bayside Marketplace or enjoy Miami Seaquarium.
Open Water 20 is RAID’s most popular global certification program. It teaches divers everything they need to know to explore the underwater world within a depth of 66 ft. Upon completion of the academic portion of the course, divers go to the closest RAID dive center and complete the pool training and open water dives. This certification is internationally accepted.
Visit WebsiteThe RAID Wreck diving course is a specialty course designed to extend your knowledge and skills of diving to allow you to dive on wrecks safely without penetrating them. Before taking the Basic Wreck diving course, you'll have to be Open Water 20 certified.
Visit WebsiteThe Advanced 35 course is a quality course designed to train persons with diving experience, in the safe use of scuba diving without decompression, to a maximum depth of 99 feet. The Advanced 35 course is divided in two sections: theoretical and practical.
Visit WebsiteWater visibility is typically affected by storms, high winds, and rains. Aside from those factors, you can expect visibility between 30–50 feet year-round, which is pretty nice for deep-sea diving.
Because of Miami’s tropical location, you can expect the ocean temperatures to be pretty nice. From May to October, the water can range from 80–85 degrees Fahrenheit. From November to April, expect air temperatures to drop a little, but ocean temperatures will still hover around 72–79 degrees.
Despite Miami’s perfect weather and perfect water temperature, there can be trouble in paradise. The Atlantic hurricane season is a very real event that can foil the best-laid vacation plans. The season starts yearly on June 1 and concludes Nov. 30. However, it’s not common for tropical storms to hit outside of that timeframe.
If your goal for Miami Beach is to get some scuba diving in, consider visiting between March and May. However, if you’re not a fan of crowded beaches or want to skip the summer crowds, consider visiting between December and February. Scuba might not be on your to-do list, but at least you’ll be warm.
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Miami International Airport is the third-busiest airport in the U.S. The airport services all major airlines and is a short drive away from most Miami hotels. The downsides of using this international hub are the large crowds and intermittent flight delays.
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The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is 27 miles outside of Miami. As a smaller airport, it’s ideal if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of large crowds. The only downside here is the check-in crowds on Friday and Saturday evenings.
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Palm Beach International Airport is farther out from Miami, but it’s just 3½ miles from Palm Beach. Being closer to Palm Beach means easy access to beaches and other all attractions. The airport has limited parking, which could be a pain if you’re traveling with a group and waiting on somebody.
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