Southeast Florida
Dive Boats, Shops, and Conditions
A practical directory for Broward and Palm Beach County dive boats, local dive shops, marine forecast links, live camera links, seasonal water temperatures, and typical local boat-trip expectations.
Always call ahead to the boat or shop for up-to-date information. This page is provided as a practical local reference, not as an endorsement of any listed business. Directory details on this page were last reviewed on April 2026, but details change without notice.
Southeast Florida area dive boats welcome Nitrox divers, rebreather divers, technical divers, and recreational sport divers. The area has several practical advantages for visiting and local divers:
Why divers like this area
- Biodiversity: local reefs support tropical fish commonly seen throughout the Caribbean, along with larger pelagic species that migrate through the area.
- Dive conditions: the Gulf Stream's close proximity often brings warm, clear water, although visibility and surface conditions can change quickly.
- Short boat rides: the reef tract is close to shore in many areas, so boat rides are often short compared with many other dive destinations.
- Wreck diving: Southeast Florida has dozens of wrecks and artificial reefs across a wide range of sport and technical depths.
- Drift dives: many reef dives are conducted as drift dives, allowing divers to move with the current and surface when ready.
Broward County Dive Boats
| Dive Boat Name | Telephone | Boat Location | Length / Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Dream II | 954-577-0338 | Fort Lauderdale | 46-foot Newton dive boat / 24 |
| AquaLife Divers | 954-231-3483 | Pompano Beach | 38-foot custom dive boat / 18 |
| Aqua View | 954-783-2299 | Pompano Beach | 45-foot custom catamaran / 30 |
| Black Pearl | 954-783-2299 | Pompano Beach | 45-foot custom catamaran / 30 |
| Goliath | 954-783-2299 | Pompano Beach | 34-foot custom dive boat / 12 |
| Lady Go Diver | 954-420-0009 | Deerfield Beach | 46-foot Newton dive boat / call to confirm |
| Miss Conduct | 954-815-9424 | Pompano Beach | 30-foot custom dive boat / 6 |
| O Sea D | 954-942-7333 | Pompano Beach | 42-foot Burpee dive boat / 20 |
| Sea Experience II | 954-770-3483 | Fort Lauderdale | 45-foot Corinthian catamaran / call to confirm |
| Seafish | 561-305-6472 | Deerfield Beach | 26-foot Ocean Star dive boat / 6 |
| Sea Hunter | 754-222-7771 | Pompano Beach | 34-foot Island Hopper dive boat / 12 |
Broward County Local Dive Shops
| Dive Shop Name | Telephone | Shop Location |
|---|---|---|
| AQUI Water Sports | 754-800-4635 | Lauderdale-By-The-Sea |
| Brownie's Southport | 954-462-5570 | Fort Lauderdale |
| Divers Cove | 954-473-1220 | Davie |
| Dive Gear Express | 954-977-6009 | Pompano Beach |
| DXDIVERS | 954-420-0009 | Deerfield Beach |
| Force-E Pompano | 954-943-3483 | Pompano Beach |
| Gold Coast Scuba | 954-616-5909 | Lauderdale-By-The-Sea |
| Lauderdale Diver | 954-467-2822 | Fort Lauderdale |
| No Shenanigans Diving | 954-800-7147 | Coral Springs |
| Scuba Network | 954-491-7793 | Fort Lauderdale |
| Sea Experience | 954-770-3483 | Fort Lauderdale |
| Underseas Sports | 954-564-8661 | Fort Lauderdale |
Palm Beach County Dive Boats
| Dive Boat Name | Telephone | Boat Location | Length / Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurelia | 561-840-8750 | Riviera Beach | 46-foot / 26 divers |
| Down Deep | 772-600-8288 | Tequesta | 36-foot / 22 divers |
| Emerald | 561-248-8332 | Jupiter | 42-foot / 13 divers |
| Little Deeper | 772-600-8288 | Riviera Beach | 38-foot / 20 divers |
| Sexy Walrus | 561-448-4142 | Boynton Beach | 36-foot/ 16 divers |
| Marin | 561-840-8750 | Riviera Beach | 36-foot / 19 divers |
| Miss Jackie | 561-222-3822 | Riviera Beach | 33-foot / 6 divers |
| Narcosis | 561-630-0606 | Riviera Beach | 48-foot / 20 divers |
| Pirate's Obsession | 561-714-1483 | Lake Park | 40-foot / usually limited to 15 or fewer divers |
| Republic IV & VII | 561-745-7807 | Jupiter | 42-foot / 20 divers |
| Salty Too | 561-247-1119 | Jupiter | 30-foot / 14 divers |
| Sandy's Sunday | 561-776-5974 | West Palm Beach | 30-foot / 11 divers |
| Scuba Club Kyalami Too | 561-844-2466 | Riviera Beach | 40-foot / 20 divers |
| StarFish Scuba | 561-212-2954 | Boynton Beach | 34-foot / 14 divers |
| The Wetter The Better | 561-253-4294 | Palm Beach | 36-foot / 20 divers |
Palm Beach County Local Dive Shops
| Dive Shop Name | Telephone | Shop Location |
|---|---|---|
| Brownie's Palm Beach Divers | 561-844-3483 | Palm Beach |
| Florida Freedivers | 561-848-0678 | North Palm Beach |
| Florida Scuba Divers | 561-270-5788 | North Palm Beach |
| Force-E Boca Raton | 561-368-0555 | Boca Raton |
| Force-E Boynton Beach | 561-810-4451 | Boynton Beach |
| Force-E Riviera Beach | 561-845-2333 | Riviera Beach |
| Jupiter Dive Center | 561-745-7807 | Jupiter |
| Pura Vida Divers | 561-840-8750 | Riviera Beach |
| The Scuba Club | 561-844-2466 | North Palm Beach |
Marine Conditions, Forecasts, and Local Cameras
Useful local links can help with planning, but no forecast replaces calling the boat if forecast conditions become a concern.
NOAA and Buoy Reports
NOAA marine forecasts are useful broad-area guidance, but local diveability can differ by inlet, wind direction, current, site choice, and operator judgment. Divers prone to seasickness should be cautious when forecasts report seas above 5 feet with winds above 15 knots, especially with easterly winds.
Windfinder for Deerfield Beach
Local dive boat captains often look at Windfinder wind, wave, and weather forecasts for Deerfield Beach. Windfinder currently describes its forecasts as being computed four times daily, with predictions shown in 6-hour steps for up to 10 days.
Live Streaming Cameras
Beach and inlet cameras can help experienced local divers estimate near-shore surface conditions before committing to a trip, though shallow inlet conditions may look worse than the open ocean depending on tide and wind direction.
Water and Air Temps for Greater Fort Lauderdale
Broad seasonal averages for trip planning.
| Month | Water °F | Air °F | Water °C | Air °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71 | 66 | 22 | 19 |
| Feb | 73 | 67 | 23 | 19 |
| Mar | 75 | 71 | 24 | 22 |
| Apr | 78 | 74 | 26 | 24 |
| May | 80 | 78 | 27 | 25 |
| Jun | 84 | 81 | 29 | 27 |
| Jul | 86 | 82 | 30 | 28 |
| Aug | 84 | 83 | 29 | 28 |
| Sep | 83 | 82 | 28 | 28 |
| Oct | 79 | 78 | 26 | 26 |
| Nov | 76 | 73 | 24 | 23 |
| Dec | 73 | 68 | 23 | 20 |
Typical Sport Diving Boat Trip in Southeast Florida
These are broad local expectations rather than fixed rules; specific operators may differ slightly.
Booking Policies of Area Dive Boats
- Make reservations a few days in advance. Weekends, holidays, technical trips, and lobster mini-season often require earlier reservations. Make reservations directly with the boat.
- Expect many standard local two-tank charters to fall roughly in the $100 range before tanks, rental equipment, parking, and gratuities.
- Divemasters and mates work for gratuities, which are not included in the charter price; at least $10 per tank is customary.
- Parking may not be free depending on boat dock location. Public parking is often charged by the hour.
- You will usually be required to complete an assumption of risk and liability waiver before departure. In many cases, these are completed online using your cell phone.
- Many operators require advance cancellation notice, often 48 hours, for refund eligibility.
- The captain may cancel or change dive sites, profiles, and surface intervals due to weather, sea conditions, diver experience levels, or other vessels already diving or fishing the planned site.
Preparations
- Make sure your dive equipment is complete and dive-ready.
- Most local sport-diving operators can arrange AL80 tank rentals with air or 32% Nitrox, but availability varies by operator.
- Pack a towel, sun block, sunglasses, hat, medications, special food or beverages, cash for tips and parking, and any other personal items you need.
- Check in at the dock with the captain or crew at least 20 to 30 minutes before trip departure time.
- Ask about acceptable parking locations after unloading. Rapid towing of improperly parked cars is commonplace.
- Bring proof of qualification to dive.
- Do not make assumptions about weather or sea conditions. If you are concerned, call the boat.
- If you are prone to seasickness, consider taking a motion sickness medication the night before the trip.
Pre-Dive
- Trip length is commonly about 4 hours, and boats generally depart on time.
- Travel time to the first dive site is often less than 30 minutes.
- You will hear a safety briefing and a report of present conditions at each dive site.
- Commercial dive charter captains are US Coast Guard licensed for the vessel and operation.
- Commercial dive charter boats with more than 6 passengers are USCG inspected (CoI) and will carry a divemaster, mate, or crew member in addition to the captain.
- Commercial dive boats must carry safety and communication equipment.
- Many local dive boats also carry first aid supplies and emergency oxygen.
- Boats will provide drinking water, and some also provide ice, sodas, or snacks.
- Many boats have an emergency marine head on board, but facilities vary.
- Some boats have a limited-volume freshwater rinse on board.
Dives
- Sport trips commonly include two dive sites, often a wreck and reef or two reefs.
- Wreck dives are often made using a buoyed descent line attached to the wreck.
- Florida law requires open-water divers to display a divers-down warning device.
- Boats provide a dive flag, float, and simple line management device for each buddy team.
- Open-water divers should stay within 300 feet of the flag or buoy.
- You determine your dive profile, though divers may be asked to be back on the boat by a specific time or limit runtime to 60 minutes.
- Surface intervals vary by site, first-dive depth, current, schedule, and operator practice; typically 30 minutes for Nitrox divers and one hour for air divers.
- Ask the operator in advance about solo diving, technical profiles, rebreathers, scooters, or any dive plan outside the standard sport-diving profile.