This dive has been on my bucket list for quite some time, as it is one of the top dives to do in Florida. It is quite, amazing how so much sea life lives just underneath a highway bridge!
Guided tours are available, but we decided to go on our own and follow along with the course notated on a map.
I don't have all my own gear, so I rented a BCD, octopus, and weights from Force-E Scuba Center. They are located right before the bridge. I have rented gear many places, and their gear was top-notch. It was only about $30 for all that I needed to rent. The staff was really cool too!
Driving over the bridge, we parked at Phil Foster Park. We found a good parking space and then set up camp on the truck bed with our dive gear ready. The particular thing about Blue Heron Bridge, is you have to dive at a very specific time because of the tide. You can call the local dive shops or check on the website to get information about the time frame for high slack tide.
It was amusing to see all of us divers hanging around, waiting to jump on in the water. I decided to check out the water and this beach that is under a bridge. I was shocked! For being under a bridge, there was no odd smell, and the beach was so clean. The water was so clear too! I hadn't seen anything so clear since I was in Bora Bora. Just a few feet out from the beach, we saw an Eagle Ray swimming.
Now, if you are not comfortable with diving, you will see some sea life by snorkeling. But to get the full experience, I suggest diving.
Still waiting for the tide, we made friends with a divemaster. He was waiting around like us to take his student on a dive. He goes there all the time and gave us some tips on how to best see the sights the Blue Heron Bridge dive has to offer. He recommended starting on the east side of the bridge and then follow the trail of coral patches and statues west. There is a wreck on the far east side, which he warned us that the ocean current can be too strong over there. We attempted it, but he was correct the current was uber strong. There was a white pole he pointed out to us as the best starting point, which is where we truly began the dive. As I always say, it is always best to get as much info as you can from the locals.
The path is pretty easy to follow and notice. Slowly, making your way from one section of the artificial reef to the other.
Eventually, when you make it to the three shark statues, it is time to starting veering right or north toward the bridge.
Once you get to this section of the bridge, you have to be careful of fishing lines, but do take a decent amount of time to explore here. We saw so much sea life! The fish were huge, giant starfish scattered on the floor, and we even saw a spotted-snake eel!
My favorite part of diving is viewing all the amazing marine life that you can't see from above. It was a very simple and easy dive. We were down for about an hour with a max depth reached of 20 ft. If you are a lover of magnificent and mysterious sea creatures, this is a dive for you!
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