Josh Vignona: 9 Best Scuba Destinations in Florida
7. Panhandle Shipwreck Trail (Florida Panhandle)
Composed of 12 distinct shipwrecks stretched along the Florida Panhandle coastline, the Panhandle Shipwreck Trail offers a wide swath of artificial reef opportunities for the discreet to the daring diving adventurer.
The Shipwreck Trail features freighters, barges, tugboats and several decommissioned U.S. Navy vessels intentionally sunk to bolster tourism following the devastating 2010 oil spill (Deepwater Horizon). Since then, this remarkable collection of shipwrecks and developing ecosystems have become a major attraction among divers from around the world.
Notably helmed by the highly popular USS Oriskany, a sunken aircraft carrier now considered the biggest artificial reef on the globe, the Shipwreck Trail is a longtime Vignona favorite, providing a near-lifetime of diving adventure for even the most intrepid of deep-water diver.
8. Hog Heaven (near Ft. Lauderdale)
Josh Vignona’s next top diving destination takes us near the shores of Fort Lauderdale, where the scuttled barge Hog Heaven offers divers one of Florida’s most interesting combinations of dynamic sea life and manmade diving sites along the Atlantic coast.
A 180-foot-long vessel submerged upside down in more than 60 feet of water, Hog Heaven also boasts bridge beams and a concrete dredge pipe – each added to encourage the growth of its outstanding artificial reef.
Moray eels, parrotfish, barracuda and even spiny lobster reside in the overturned barge and make it one of the more entertaining offshore dives in the state.
The nearby remnants of the Pacific Reef Lighthouse and another sunken barge (the Wayne) help extend the scope of this enjoyable shipwreck adventure, providing an excuse to add another day or two to your diving itinerary.
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